Do you guys think that the ending of the hays code has contributed to the increasing violence today!
Personally I feel as though when they started to show people films loaded with the idea of killing and violence it influenced peoples actions subconsciously.
It can be a part of a number of things at the time of the expiration of the Hays Code. Predating that were the violent Watts riots a few years prior. The code expired in 1968, but coincidentally, the Vietnam War was occurring at the same time, and I would argue that with the combination of the expiration of the Code and the new exposure to the horrors of war (think of all the war films that came out and depicted graphic scenes of death) broke new ground for how violence was depicted in the media. People were coming back from the war with horror stories and we turned around and made them into films! When we stopped sugarcoating violent scenes in film I believe it really opened our mind up to a new visual sense of human violence. While I personally believe that emotional effect is heightened by these depictions of violence in film, you could argue that a psychologically disturbed person finds inspiration in such thing. -Aaron Swaidner
Perhaps, but at the same time making movies about the horrors of war may have helped change people's minds in a different direction; instead of seeing war as a glorified and honorable thing, it became something illogical and shameful. I guess the social waver in either direction goes into what the media and filmmakers decided to show.
I don't know if I would say shameful. Showing the horrific side of war in a way makes it more honorable. To see what these men and women go through to keep the rest of us safe gives a whole new perspective to their service. I think for some, these war movies make others respect those who serve that much more because now they can see a small glimpse of what they saw. In my opinion, that's what those movies were meant for.
Correlating particular social problems to film representations is tricky business. There's lots of debate about how violence might be related to increasingly violent depictions in film, but no one has been able to come up with certain proof of it. The other aspect of this is in most major cities violent crime has actually dropped substantially, yet it's probably not the case that films are less violent. Significantly, I doubt anyone would ever show that the drop was due to fewer violent films or less violent depictions. Often the debate about sex and violence in film (or comic or TV, etc.) has more to do with a particular group wanting to promote itself than any verifiable connection between the two.
Professor Kaufmann's answer is a good one, especially that last sentence. I was going to say something sarcastic and blame it on video games (like those who do so to promote their own agenda). Is it true that their is increasing violence today? The history of the world is built on violence. You could argue better technology and weapons has made society more violent, but that doesn't change the fact that, unfortunately, human kind has a very bloody past. I could argue that I don't remember society being as violent as it is today, but when I was younger I didn't care as much as I do now, so I wouldn't have been looking out for it. Finally, I have watched a lot of movies in my life and they haven't subconsciously influenced my actions in a violent way, nor have they of anybody I have ever met.
"You could argue better technology and weapons has made society more violent, but that doesn't change the fact that, unfortunately, human kind has a very bloody past."
I agree with what was said here but it could also be said that better technology has been able to showcase the violence across the world.
100 some years ago, an act of violence in a small remote town might have gone unnoticed by many thousands of miles away but now you can get that news on your television, phone, internet around the clock. So is it the technological advancements that make it seem more violent?
Absolutely. Even something as simple as a camera photograph could reveal the horrors that were happening that nobody would have been the wiser for before. One example would be the Boer War that happened between the British and the Boers in the very earl 1900's. The British started putting these people into concentration camps, people ended up dying in great numbers, and when pictures of these women and babies came out, the world saw the British in a different light. Atrocities like this would never had gotten out had it not been for the camera. Now, we only have to turn on a television to see what is happening all over the world. It definitely brings to light things we never would have seen in the past before recent technology.
I think that producers put out movies that people want to see. For some reason people love seeing violence take place. For me personally, I like the gory movies like Saw and The Hills Have Eyes because I know that they are fake. They ending of the Hays code has just made it easier to produce movies like that. Although, there is a sort of fun mystery with these old movies to be able to have freedom of creating your own scenario to the scene.
I think that producers put out movies that people want to see. For some reason people love seeing violence take place. For me personally, I like the gory movies like Saw and The Hills Have Eyes because I know that they are fake. They ending of the Hays code has just made it easier to produce movies like that. Although, there is a sort of fun mystery with these old movies to be able to have freedom of creating your own scenario to the scene.
I just figured ya know seeing different , violent ideas in movies and television shows maybe awakened an idea that this "violent" act is possible...and maybe i can get away with it......kinda going against the hays code of abiding by the laws and serving justice for wrong doing and things like that.... it almost created somewhat of a, want in people to attempt to do something bad and not be caught. Like in double indemnity how the professor said he.... wasn't really interested in killing her husband or having Phyllis but he did want to be able to outwit his partner and get away with it
I'm still not convinced that seeing violence make someone want to go do it, but - I do think we have all become much more desensitized to it. I agree it's good when it come to war and crime to make us aware of what some are capable of doing. I've watched shows and read articles how people can get worked into a frenzy by watching or listening to "the crowd" - think Frankenstein. I do like scary movies (more on the supernatural side), but I have to say that I'm perplexed by why people like to see others hacked up or whatever. We may never know, but it's an interesting discussion.
It can be a part of a number of things at the time of the expiration of the Hays Code. Predating that were the violent Watts riots a few years prior. The code expired in 1968, but coincidentally, the Vietnam War was occurring at the same time, and I would argue that with the combination of the expiration of the Code and the new exposure to the horrors of war (think of all the war films that came out and depicted graphic scenes of death) broke new ground for how violence was depicted in the media. People were coming back from the war with horror stories and we turned around and made them into films! When we stopped sugarcoating violent scenes in film I believe it really opened our mind up to a new visual sense of human violence. While I personally believe that emotional effect is heightened by these depictions of violence in film, you could argue that a psychologically disturbed person finds inspiration in such thing.
ReplyDelete-Aaron Swaidner
Perhaps, but at the same time making movies about the horrors of war may have helped change people's minds in a different direction; instead of seeing war as a glorified and honorable thing, it became something illogical and shameful. I guess the social waver in either direction goes into what the media and filmmakers decided to show.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would say shameful. Showing the horrific side of war in a way makes it more honorable. To see what these men and women go through to keep the rest of us safe gives a whole new perspective to their service. I think for some, these war movies make others respect those who serve that much more because now they can see a small glimpse of what they saw. In my opinion, that's what those movies were meant for.
DeleteYes, it provides more respect for the people that have gone through war, but at the same time make us want to prevent war altogether.
DeleteCorrelating particular social problems to film representations is tricky business. There's lots of debate about how violence might be related to increasingly violent depictions in film, but no one has been able to come up with certain proof of it. The other aspect of this is in most major cities violent crime has actually dropped substantially, yet it's probably not the case that films are less violent. Significantly, I doubt anyone would ever show that the drop was due to fewer violent films or less violent depictions.
ReplyDeleteOften the debate about sex and violence in film (or comic or TV, etc.) has more to do with a particular group wanting to promote itself than any verifiable connection between the two.
Professor Kaufmann's answer is a good one, especially that last sentence. I was going to say something sarcastic and blame it on video games (like those who do so to promote their own agenda). Is it true that their is increasing violence today? The history of the world is built on violence. You could argue better technology and weapons has made society more violent, but that doesn't change the fact that, unfortunately, human kind has a very bloody past. I could argue that I don't remember society being as violent as it is today, but when I was younger I didn't care as much as I do now, so I wouldn't have been looking out for it. Finally, I have watched a lot of movies in my life and they haven't subconsciously influenced my actions in a violent way, nor have they of anybody I have ever met.
ReplyDelete"You could argue better technology and weapons has made society more violent, but that doesn't change the fact that, unfortunately, human kind has a very bloody past."
DeleteI agree with what was said here but it could also be said that better technology has been able to showcase the violence across the world.
100 some years ago, an act of violence in a small remote town might have gone unnoticed by many thousands of miles away but now you can get that news on your television, phone, internet around the clock. So is it the technological advancements that make it seem more violent?
Absolutely. Even something as simple as a camera photograph could reveal the horrors that were happening that nobody would have been the wiser for before. One example would be the Boer War that happened between the British and the Boers in the very earl 1900's. The British started putting these people into concentration camps, people ended up dying in great numbers, and when pictures of these women and babies came out, the world saw the British in a different light. Atrocities like this would never had gotten out had it not been for the camera. Now, we only have to turn on a television to see what is happening all over the world. It definitely brings to light things we never would have seen in the past before recent technology.
DeleteI think that producers put out movies that people want to see. For some reason people love seeing violence take place. For me personally, I like the gory movies like Saw and The Hills Have Eyes because I know that they are fake. They ending of the Hays code has just made it easier to produce movies like that. Although, there is a sort of fun mystery with these old movies to be able to have freedom of creating your own scenario to the scene.
ReplyDeleteI think that producers put out movies that people want to see. For some reason people love seeing violence take place. For me personally, I like the gory movies like Saw and The Hills Have Eyes because I know that they are fake. They ending of the Hays code has just made it easier to produce movies like that. Although, there is a sort of fun mystery with these old movies to be able to have freedom of creating your own scenario to the scene.
ReplyDeleteI just figured ya know seeing different , violent ideas in movies and television shows maybe awakened an idea that this "violent" act is possible...and maybe i can get away with it......kinda going against the hays code of abiding by the laws and serving justice for wrong doing and things like that.... it almost created somewhat of a, want in people to attempt to do something bad and not be caught. Like in double indemnity how the professor said he.... wasn't really interested in killing her husband or having Phyllis but he did want to be able to outwit his partner and get away with it
ReplyDeleteI'm still not convinced that seeing violence make someone want to go do it, but - I do think we have all become much more desensitized to it. I agree it's good when it come to war and crime to make us aware of what some are capable of doing. I've watched shows and read articles how people can get worked into a frenzy by watching or listening to "the crowd" - think Frankenstein. I do like scary movies (more on the supernatural side), but I have to say that I'm perplexed by why people like to see others hacked up or whatever. We may never know, but it's an interesting discussion.
ReplyDelete