Rottenberg Under The Gun Analysis

EVANS OHENE-DJAN

PRO. JOHNSON

ENGL 102

14 Sept 2015

TITLE

It is interestingly sad how debates on gun violence and gun control is being handled in our society by our top leaders and lobbyist. Gun control has become a serious issue and a national epidemic, however, the debate is far from over. In the article “under the gun” by writers Rottenberg, Rice and Franich, for entertainment weekly, the writers discussed the failing of gun control laws and the increase in gun violence. By setting sides of their argument, the writers discussed violence in movies, TVs and videogames and how this violence impact our society, thus allowing their audience to decide for themselves.

This article surfaced with the shooting at sandy hook elementary school when

lobbyists placed blame at the door steps of the entertainment industries accusing them for producing movies, TV shows and videogames with violent content. In the wake of the sandy hook shooting, the executive vice president NRA Wayne LaPierre in a press release accused the entertainment industry for their share of gun violence in our communities and neighborhood. He said “the entertainment industry “portray life as a joke and murder as a way of life, and they have the nerve to call it entertainment.” Adding that the industry do not care what the release to the public in the name of movies TV shows etc.
In their defense the entertainment industries acknowledge the need to address violence in their materials.

This was echoed by producers, actors, actresses and chairmen of the various entertainment industries. They stress the need and readiness to the part of the national convention on gun violence. However the writers emphasis hypocrisy on the part of the entertainment industries seeing they have done little to discourage gun violence in their premiers. Even though actors and actress banded together for a public-service announcement to urge enactment of stricter gun-control laws, what follows is ironical as these same actors and actresses are seen wielding guns in subsequent

premiers.
On the margin of the article, have quotes with smiling faces from most celebrities on the issues about guns in the industries yet nobody in the industry want to speak publicly on the issue. And representatives for the major studios declined to comment on this story, referring EW to the MPAA. Moreover actors from most popular couldn’t grant interviews because they’ve been asked by their directors not comment on this issue.
The article “Under the Gun” does not provide any solution on the epidemic of gun violence facing the nation nor what the entertainment industries should do to discourage gun violence in our society, however, it does provides its audience with an interesting read, however varied viewpoints and logical arguments.

Nothing is going to change as the debate goes on when neither side wants to assume responsibility for this epidemic and the pointing of fingers. The writers provided weak arguments in their publication since it focused merely on the audience of the EW, and it failed to condemn its audience who are basically interested in violent content movies, TV shows and Videogames. The publication does not appeal to the majority of audience whose interest is outside the EW. However I think the entertainment industries could not be blamed or claim responsibility for gun violence in our societies, they are only depicting what is already happening in our communities.

Take a look at the movie “City of God” co-directed by Fernando Marielles and Katia Lund and released in 2002, this movies is based on real life event and depicts the growth of organized crime in Cidade de Deus a suburb of Rio de Janeiro between the 1960’s early 1980’s. This movie received four academy awards in 2004. Can the producers of the movie be blame for promoting gun violence? Absolutely not! Because today’s entertainment audience want contents with violent scenes and this is how they appeal to their audience. The

industry tries to portray how our society have developed the belief in gun violence.
There is more to the issues of gun violence and laws than the writers published, most notably is the prevalence and accessibility of guns in our society. Anybody can go to a gun shop to purchase a gun without proper background check by the seller. Also amongst the issue is hate crime, gang related violence and the likes. It is imperative that our leaders and lobbyist to play their responsible role to make sure our communities and the nation is devoid of gun violence by enacting stricter gun laws.

Work Cited
Franich, Darren, Lynette Rice, and Josh Rottenberg. “Under the Gun.” Entertainment Weekly.
Feb. 8 2013: 34 – 38. Print.
"Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Men." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.