License to kill…..
Long long time ago, when the media didn’t invade our living rooms, people had to buy tickets to go and watch a movie. Usually parents would decide what was good for their kids and manage to see the movie without them, if need be. And then in black and white, you can’t get very sacred of blood, right?
But now media is everywhere..you go for dinner, there’s TV playing there (even if it is on mute), you go to hotel to stay, the first thing the bell boy does is to switch on the TV in the room. Even hospital rooms and waiting halls are not spared of TV.
And what are the programs dished out on these TV channels? Serials, news, movies, reality shows. And all of them nowadays have a generous dose of violence. Sometimes it is gory with weapons and blood, sometimes it is emotional with tears and taunts. But violence is there to stay.
And speak about movies. Have you come across a poster which did not show blood? Have you seen the newer and newer ways in which torture and killing are done? Now it’s no longer the simple trigger pulling! It’s all about big bad guys wielding primitive weapons and on a killing spree. Sometimes it is the hero who is doing it for cause and other times it is the villain. But the viewer gets caught either way!
How does it impact the viewers? Do people forget after watching and get on with their lives? Or does the violence linger in the mind? Let’s find out.
Damage done to children’s minds
Durga Prasad, the father of a 6 year old daughter who lives in Singapore says, “ My daughter developed lot of fears due to violence in movies. She gets nightmares. She gets so scared, she gets up crying. She is afraid of adult males in places like metro stations and she asks us to take only taxis. Now we are avoiding all our movies.”
The damage done to this kid’s psyche cannot be undone very easily. Think of what kind of a life it is not to trust the goodness in humanity. How will she lead her adult life without using public transport? I am sure she will not express her fears and may be even learn to deal with them, but the subconscious mind will always be in a fearful mode. She will have to unlearn mistrust and learn to trust others.
Ratna, a lady with teenaged kids reacts, “The repeated telecast of gory/violent/tragic incidents like acid attacks, road/train/air accidents, burglary (and the list goes on..) is very disturbing. Actually, the unending repeated telecasts of each and every news item puts me off. It seems so redundant and repetitive.
Almost all the daily soaps in Telugu..There was a case pending in SHRC about a serial too for violation of child rights. Almost all reality shows in Telugu, I hardly watch any of them.
And coming to movies, almost all recent releases always have posters where the hero wields a special weapon and there’s blood all over. And the movies have lot of meaningless violence.”
Sunanda, another parent with two school going children has taken precautions – they don’t have TV at home. They watch DVDs of some cartoons or healthy movies once in a way.
Neelu, the mother of a five year old says,” we watch mostly cartoons for her. She can handle the violence in them. She thinks they are like fights among friends.But once we saw a murder movie and she was really scared. Since then she always asks us before a movie, ‘yeh bachhonwali hai?’”
But how many parents are so responsible? Do they have to sacrifice their entertainment? Don’t they deserve some TV or movie time after a day’s work?
Youth and violence
Deepa, a movie reviewer in her twenties says, “I hate violence in movies. But I watch it. It’s part of my job. But I can never become insensitive.”
Sailaja, a class IX student from Canada believes that there is a small possibility that youth can become violent because of the media they see. They may not realize it.
Sometimes I wonder if real life is learning from movies or reel life is showing the violence from the society. The news channels show crimes worse than those in the movies. So are they learning from movies? I personally feel movie is a very powerful medium and it needs to take itself seriously.
Violence in video games
Sailaja says, “I’ve seen the video games guys play. They’re so violent and guys are addicted, a couple friends of mine were on those games for 8 hours straight last night. I think with so much violence everywhere, people are becoming insensitive”
Gone are the days when video games were about eating carrots, digging a treasure, breaking a wall or winning a princess. Now there are games where the player is a suicide bomber! New weapons, strategies, how many people you can kill and the like are what thrills video gamers.
Fake vs real violence
Sailaja herself doesn’t mind the violence in movies and soaps, as she knows it is fake. But she just can’t stand violence shown in news channels. “It’s real, and makes me sad. I feel the world is getting destroyed.”
At times, the mindless live telecast of violent attacks has even sabotaged the rescue operations as seen in the Taj terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Rahimuddin, a senior citizen says, “ The real crime stories make us feel there is no one to trust. They show how relatives or servants collude to kill old people for property or money. These episodes are enacted and shown. It is very scary. I can’t sleep peacefully. I am afraid to keep servants”
The good side of showing violence in news channels
Another youngster Adil feels this real violence has a useful angle to it, “ Showing atrocities on some castes or sections of society also helps us to realize that these evils need to be eradicated from society. I think it is good that such items are getting national attention and people like me want to do something about it”
A senior citizen Rukmini feels,” when they show real crimes on some shows, we can prepare ourselves to prevent such crimes”.
Media responsibility
Several times gory pictures of earthquakes, terrorist attacks, accidents and murders are flashed on news channels or in newspapers and magazines. There is a small statutory warning somewhere which says that the pictures may be disturbing and should not be shown to children.
Similarly, many of the reality shows have a brief warning about viewers not attempting the stunts shown in the episode.
But these are like the ‘smoking is injurious to health’ type of warnings. Does it really prevent anyone from becoming a smoker?
Media must be more responsible in reporting. In the mad rush for improving TRP ratings, all semblance of ethics and morals are gone. Even laws are not helping. No one cares as they are never enforced.
Is the world really going to dogs? Is doomsday not very far?
Seeing the violence in media, one feels very dejected. Isn’t there no good in the society? Is the world coming to an end? NO. That’s not true.
I believe that media only wants to highlight what is sensational, what is out of ordinary and what is rare. That’s what determines the ratings. Imagine if media showed the sunrise and sunset every day, people wouldn’t care. But the ‘rare’ eclipse will bring lot of eye balls. Astronomically, both events are equally profound.
If media were to cover all the good things in the world, a 20 page newspaper wouldn’t be enough. Nor would a 24 hr news channel. Its only because ‘violence’ is rare it is showcased. And that it has to be shown repeatedly for two to three days.
Few years back when started doing some social work, I was surprised that there are many organizations and many people working for the good of some section of the society or the other. You name the cause and you find hundreds of efforts – education, gild child, environment, old people, destitutes, street children, disabled, peace. The list can go on. None of these efforts get media attention. Even if they do, it is a very small item in a news channel or a small paragraph in a remote corner of page 8 of a newspaper. You need to have specially designated days to remember them – like world disabled day. You don’t have such days for bad, right? Every day is a robber’s day, a terrorist’s day, a murderer’s day..think about it.
What can you do?
So youngsters, there is hope in this world. Take the violence with a pinch of salt! It has always been there in the society. It’s only getting showcased now as never before. But focus on the good. And you will notice that the good keeps growing. This is the power of collective consciousness. If most of the humanity can think good thoughts, the energy levels and frequencies of the society will change and more good will come. If we focus on the bad, THAT will increase. We attract what we think. So when you see a real news item reporting violence, you will do a greater service by sending out your love to the victims rather than hatred for the perpetrators. Not to say they should be left scot free. It’s YOUR focus we are talking about. In any case, law will take action and they will be punished.
Uma Garimella is an expert on teaching learning process and regularly conducts workshops for teachers and students through the organization she founded: Teacher’s Academy. She is a consultant at Centre for Education Technology and Learning Sciences, IIIT-H and Honorary Director, Centre for Faculty Development and Management, NMREC, Hyderabad. www.TheProfessor.in
Long long time ago, when the media didn’t invade our living rooms, people had to buy tickets to go and watch a movie. Usually parents would decide what was good for their kids and manage to see the movie without them, if need be. And then in black and white, you can’t get very sacred of blood, right?
But now media is everywhere..you go for dinner, there’s TV playing there (even if it is on mute), you go to hotel to stay, the first thing the bell boy does is to switch on the TV in the room. Even hospital rooms and waiting halls are not spared of TV.
And what are the programs dished out on these TV channels? Serials, news, movies, reality shows. And all of them nowadays have a generous dose of violence. Sometimes it is gory with weapons and blood, sometimes it is emotional with tears and taunts. But violence is there to stay.
And speak about movies. Have you come across a poster which did not show blood? Have you seen the newer and newer ways in which torture and killing are done? Now it’s no longer the simple trigger pulling! It’s all about big bad guys wielding primitive weapons and on a killing spree. Sometimes it is the hero who is doing it for cause and other times it is the villain. But the viewer gets caught either way!
How does it impact the viewers? Do people forget after watching and get on with their lives? Or does the violence linger in the mind? Let’s find out.
Damage done to children’s minds
Durga Prasad, the father of a 6 year old daughter who lives in Singapore says, “ My daughter developed lot of fears due to violence in movies. She gets nightmares. She gets so scared, she gets up crying. She is afraid of adult males in places like metro stations and she asks us to take only taxis. Now we are avoiding all our movies.”
The damage done to this kid’s psyche cannot be undone very easily. Think of what kind of a life it is not to trust the goodness in humanity. How will she lead her adult life without using public transport? I am sure she will not express her fears and may be even learn to deal with them, but the subconscious mind will always be in a fearful mode. She will have to unlearn mistrust and learn to trust others.
Ratna, a lady with teenaged kids reacts, “The repeated telecast of gory/violent/tragic incidents like acid attacks, road/train/air accidents, burglary (and the list goes on..) is very disturbing. Actually, the unending repeated telecasts of each and every news item puts me off. It seems so redundant and repetitive.
Almost all the daily soaps in Telugu..There was a case pending in SHRC about a serial too for violation of child rights. Almost all reality shows in Telugu, I hardly watch any of them.
And coming to movies, almost all recent releases always have posters where the hero wields a special weapon and there’s blood all over. And the movies have lot of meaningless violence.”
Sunanda, another parent with two school going children has taken precautions – they don’t have TV at home. They watch DVDs of some cartoons or healthy movies once in a way.
Neelu, the mother of a five year old says,” we watch mostly cartoons for her. She can handle the violence in them. She thinks they are like fights among friends.But once we saw a murder movie and she was really scared. Since then she always asks us before a movie, ‘yeh bachhonwali hai?’”
But how many parents are so responsible? Do they have to sacrifice their entertainment? Don’t they deserve some TV or movie time after a day’s work?
Youth and violence
Deepa, a movie reviewer in her twenties says, “I hate violence in movies. But I watch it. It’s part of my job. But I can never become insensitive.”
Sailaja, a class IX student from Canada believes that there is a small possibility that youth can become violent because of the media they see. They may not realize it.
Sometimes I wonder if real life is learning from movies or reel life is showing the violence from the society. The news channels show crimes worse than those in the movies. So are they learning from movies? I personally feel movie is a very powerful medium and it needs to take itself seriously.
Violence in video games
Sailaja says, “I’ve seen the video games guys play. They’re so violent and guys are addicted, a couple friends of mine were on those games for 8 hours straight last night. I think with so much violence everywhere, people are becoming insensitive”
Gone are the days when video games were about eating carrots, digging a treasure, breaking a wall or winning a princess. Now there are games where the player is a suicide bomber! New weapons, strategies, how many people you can kill and the like are what thrills video gamers.
Fake vs real violence
Sailaja herself doesn’t mind the violence in movies and soaps, as she knows it is fake. But she just can’t stand violence shown in news channels. “It’s real, and makes me sad. I feel the world is getting destroyed.”
At times, the mindless live telecast of violent attacks has even sabotaged the rescue operations as seen in the Taj terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Rahimuddin, a senior citizen says, “ The real crime stories make us feel there is no one to trust. They show how relatives or servants collude to kill old people for property or money. These episodes are enacted and shown. It is very scary. I can’t sleep peacefully. I am afraid to keep servants”
The good side of showing violence in news channels
Another youngster Adil feels this real violence has a useful angle to it, “ Showing atrocities on some castes or sections of society also helps us to realize that these evils need to be eradicated from society. I think it is good that such items are getting national attention and people like me want to do something about it”
A senior citizen Rukmini feels,” when they show real crimes on some shows, we can prepare ourselves to prevent such crimes”.
Media responsibility
Several times gory pictures of earthquakes, terrorist attacks, accidents and murders are flashed on news channels or in newspapers and magazines. There is a small statutory warning somewhere which says that the pictures may be disturbing and should not be shown to children.
Similarly, many of the reality shows have a brief warning about viewers not attempting the stunts shown in the episode.
But these are like the ‘smoking is injurious to health’ type of warnings. Does it really prevent anyone from becoming a smoker?
Media must be more responsible in reporting. In the mad rush for improving TRP ratings, all semblance of ethics and morals are gone. Even laws are not helping. No one cares as they are never enforced.
Is the world really going to dogs? Is doomsday not very far?
Seeing the violence in media, one feels very dejected. Isn’t there no good in the society? Is the world coming to an end? NO. That’s not true.
I believe that media only wants to highlight what is sensational, what is out of ordinary and what is rare. That’s what determines the ratings. Imagine if media showed the sunrise and sunset every day, people wouldn’t care. But the ‘rare’ eclipse will bring lot of eye balls. Astronomically, both events are equally profound.
If media were to cover all the good things in the world, a 20 page newspaper wouldn’t be enough. Nor would a 24 hr news channel. Its only because ‘violence’ is rare it is showcased. And that it has to be shown repeatedly for two to three days.
Few years back when started doing some social work, I was surprised that there are many organizations and many people working for the good of some section of the society or the other. You name the cause and you find hundreds of efforts – education, gild child, environment, old people, destitutes, street children, disabled, peace. The list can go on. None of these efforts get media attention. Even if they do, it is a very small item in a news channel or a small paragraph in a remote corner of page 8 of a newspaper. You need to have specially designated days to remember them – like world disabled day. You don’t have such days for bad, right? Every day is a robber’s day, a terrorist’s day, a murderer’s day..think about it.
What can you do?
So youngsters, there is hope in this world. Take the violence with a pinch of salt! It has always been there in the society. It’s only getting showcased now as never before. But focus on the good. And you will notice that the good keeps growing. This is the power of collective consciousness. If most of the humanity can think good thoughts, the energy levels and frequencies of the society will change and more good will come. If we focus on the bad, THAT will increase. We attract what we think. So when you see a real news item reporting violence, you will do a greater service by sending out your love to the victims rather than hatred for the perpetrators. Not to say they should be left scot free. It’s YOUR focus we are talking about. In any case, law will take action and they will be punished.
Uma Garimella is an expert on teaching learning process and regularly conducts workshops for teachers and students through the organization she founded: Teacher’s Academy. She is a consultant at Centre for Education Technology and Learning Sciences, IIIT-H and Honorary Director, Centre for Faculty Development and Management, NMREC, Hyderabad. www.TheProfessor.in
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