Violent and Scary Entertainment
... a link were established” (Jaeger, par. 9). If facts continue to accumulate then movie companies in American will find themselves in quick sand without a safety line. However, banning violent and scary movies, media, and video games denies the first Amendment and is an unrealistic goal. It is the right of the movie industry to produce and construct any movie in which they see fit. Screen writers and movie directors have the right of free expression just as any other human in the United States. Free expression is along side with the right to be creative, unique, and especially the right of free speech. If our society and government take away our right of free expression in movies then what will be next. Our forefathers stated and applied this rule with just cause in hope for future offspring to live freely and without a monarchy. If this right were easily taken away from society wouldn’t it be just as simple to take away any other rights we posses. No matter how hard communities try to ban violence it will continue to be present in our media, movies, and games. It is part of life that is unable to be removed. It will continue to show its ugly face in the houses and streets of our communities and across the country. I do not feel that the upper class America realizes that some of the violence portrayed in movies is real for the less fortunate in bad areas and communities in the United States. Are we to only protect those with enough money enabling them to live in a sheltered area? What are we to do about those who experience violence in there street everyday? Undoubtedly, violent movies cause young children to mimic the violent actions portrayed by the actors. For example, many young children watch programs such as Power Rangers and The Roadrunner. These movies use violence in a comedic fashion. What does this tell our societies young? It says that violence can be rewarding, fun, and does not have any real lasting effects. In the show Power Rangers, the main characters are heroes who use violence, such as kicking and punching, in order to overcome their rivals. This is telling children that they can overcome a problem with being physical and in conclusion they will be the hero. The article, Media Violence: What Kids Learn by Dr. Charles Schwarzbeck, poses another great example of how kids mimic violence. In the article an 8-year old boy was watching a movie that showed children and adults karate and weapons to fight each other. When he encountered his younger sister he proceeded in twisting his sister’s arm and hitting her in the face with a heavy roll of paper. Her arm was sprained and she required medical attention (Schwarzbeck, par. 1-3). On the other hand, the article states that violence in the media can have a slightly positive influence on children and learning. Children can turn the negativity they see in the movies into positive actions. Schwarzbeck states, “Violent movies can become lessons in social interaction (Schwarzbeck, par. 14). Instead of acting violent towards another classmate students will learn that it is wrong to hit or kick other kids. Parents play a major roll in converting the negativity of violence and horror in movies to a positive learning experience. The quote, “I suggested that all family members be allowed to push the pause button, to talk about the movie. In this way, heroes, fears, social norms, alternative ways of acting, and the importance of aggression can be talked about” (Schwarzbeck, par. 15). Violence is too popular and rooted in our society that it will never disappear from view. It is the choice of the parent to have their children watch these movies without them and learn on a negative aspect, or to take the time to watch the movie with their children and teach them how to positively absorb the information that is being viewed. In addition, violent and scary movies have long lasting physical and mental affects on children and teens. In a study at the University of Wisconsin 90 percent of the study’s participants reported a media fright ration form childhood or adolescence. Today abut 26 percent still experience a residual anxiety today (DeGroat, par. 2). Some of the mental effects that the participants experienced were inability to sleep through the night for months, to avoidance of the situations portrayed in the movies. Other mental effects were bedtime fears, recurrent nightmares, daytime flashbacks of something frightening, disruption of concentration and study, and a fearful view of the world (Violent Movies, par. 1). The effects of horrific images have more than just mental effects on children. Children tend to become so scared that their bodies begin to react in harmful ways. According to the Wisconsin study, a wide range of symptoms were reported, including crying or screaming, trembling or shaking, nausea or stomach pain, clinging to a companion, increased heart rate, freezing or feeling paralysis, and fear of losing control. More physical effects of scary or violent movies are sweating, chill or fever, fear of dying, shortness of brea...