The Impact of Motion Media on Youth

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Natural Born Killers is a famous Hollywood film, which was directed by Oliver Stone in 1994. William Oliver Stone is one of the most innovative film directors in the Hollywood film industry. Stone tends to use strong and violent images in his films, to shock, affect and capture the attention of the audience. Inspired by Joseph Conrad's novel Lord Jim and George Harrison's music, Stone taught English at the Pacific Institute in South Vietnam, while serving time in the Army. After his return, he eventually graduated from film school at New York University in 1971. Stone has won three Academy Awards. His first Oscar was for Best Adapted Screenplay for Midnight Express (1978). Natural born Killers is Oliver Stone’s most infamous masterpiece. Despite the broad variety of his work, Stone’s fame is synonymous with Natural Born Killers, a film notorious for both its content and its effect. The film is about two youngsters, who suffered from similar traumatic childhoods, fell in love and became mass murderers; furthermore, their actions are recklessly glorified by the media. The film outraged large sections of the public, and was blamed for scores of tragedies throughout America. On the surface, Natural Born Killers has lots of implications of brutality, and may seem as advertising violence. However, it is unfair to blame any movie for crimes committed by other people. If taken the time to look into human development, it is clear that a viewing of such entertainment could trigger violent acts, but definitely not initiate them. A critical question that the society has been struggling with for the past two decades is who is to blame? The film revolves around Mallory (played by Juliette Lewis) a teenage girl who is abused by her awful family... ... middle of paper ... ...ovie Natural Born Killers by announcing “If ever a film deserved to be banned, this is it”, causing a level of hysteria around a film not seen since Kubrick’s controversial classic A Clockwork Orange was released in 1971. The movie is still cited in murder cases as the trigger for teenage killing sprees, and is mentioned in dispatches whenever Hollywood is criticized for its levels of violence. However, it is unfair to place blame any one individual or movie. If taken the time to look into human development, it is clear that such ruthless and inhuman acts of murder cannot be gained by watching one movie. A viewing of such entertainment could trigger acts, but definitely not initiate them. If the society wants to make a difference and change the perception of the youth, then better education should be promoted and moral-life lessons should be taught to youth as well.

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