Is Violence in Films Responsible For Children's Agressive Behavior?

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Is Violence in Films Responsible For Children's Agressive Behavior?

Violence on screen is often offered to the young population, which responds to it in so different ways. Children's psychological development is based on social experiences and imitations. Children are influenced either by their families (direct source of influence) or by their surroundings (indirect source of influence). The question I will be exploring is the responsibility of the violence in films in children’s aggressive behavior. I will discussthe points of view of the magazines, Economist and Journal of Popular film & Television, and a web site

(http://www.bmarsh.dtai.com/courses/eng/2312/231/ramos.html)

According to web site, screen violence is responsible for children’s aggressive behavior. For Ramos, the author screen, violence is a significant contributor to youth’s aggressiveness. He gives us some examples as sources for violent behavior: Jerry Springer Show, Power Rangers, Cops, and South Park. They all display different forms of violence. They are all scheduled "between 3pm and 9pm, when the audience is mostly children and teenagers. The networks are targeting children and teenagers as viewers for violent shows because this audience ensures high ratings. Ramos refers to Lily (network representative) who said that "It is ‘show business’ not, ‘show art’, we are giving to the people what they want to buy." The author thinks that the networks are more concerned by profits than education and entertainment. The excessive display of violence on TV has a negative influence on its viewers. Extensive viewing of television violence by children and teenagers causes greater aggressiveness. The author refers to Szaflik who also thinks that ‘watching a s...

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... The situation is so serious that Hollywood and some networks (NBC, for example) are willing to find a way to address the issue. For the new millennium, they are planning to eliminate the gratuitous portrayal of violence on the screen. And I think that it is vital to explain certain film techniques such as Montage (Editing) to children. It will probably help them to understand that what they see on screen is not realistic. Violence exists in our nature but screen violence is a technological manipulation.

The capitalist society requires from its inhabitants some kind of aggressiveness. And children and teenagers who are the future of that society need to be aware about it. Nowadays, it is tough for any weak person to succeed. So, screen violence, which is in fact the reproduction of our violent society, can be useful for children if it is presented in right way.

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