Read through the entire blog posting (see link below), with these questions in mind:
- Choose 2-3 points from the article that you found especially interesting or thought-provoking. You may quote directly from one writer’s comments (copy/paste, if you want to) or summarize a broad idea that shows up in several responses. For each point, add a few sentences of your own thoughts on why you find the idea interesting/thought-provoking.
- Find one major point of disagreement in the different responses to violence. Summarize the two or three (or more?) different opinions on the issue, trying to represent each point of view as fairly and accurately as you can. (~6-10 sentences)
- Where do you stand on the issue of violence in films, after reading many different opinions on the issue? Explain/defend your position.
Here's the link to Jeffrey Overstreet's blog entry on Christian responses to violence in film: http://lookingcloser.org/more/articles-interviews/wrong-right-and-r-rated-part-three-killing-the-violence/
One idea that I thought was really interesting was Michael Elliott. What he said was that violence is good in the right context. Such as Saving Private Ryan, where it depicts what happened honestly. If you had skipped over the violence, you would be looking at it very unrealistically and would get a false sense. He also says how some people go too far and use their “artistic freedom” as a reason. So basically, you need to use the right amount, without going too far, but also not too little.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I found interesting was the thought of why do we like violent movies in the first place. Lansingh talks about how it is the violence that is solved in a short amount of time that draws us because it is concluded. Whereas real-world violence is often left unsolved or takes a long amount of time to be solved. Then we should not get caught in the “film-world” because God calls us to help solve the things in the real world.
I would have to say that one point that is disputed about is when violence is necessary and when it isn't that bad. The thing on one side that is emphasized a lot is context of the violence. If the violence is expressed to show how realistic things are, it is in the right place. Then if it is in an unnecessary place, it shouldn't be there at all. The other side of the argument is that we should abstain from all violent movies because they still show how unrealistic things are. This side says that violence is corrupting people and glamorizing violence so we get desensitized.
I have to agree with the context side. I have seen some movies where violence is a big part and without it, it wouldn't tell a good story or the truth. However, there are some movies that do get a little excessive. I may point that out as a flaw in a movie, but I don't consider it a terrible movie because of it. It is a thing to be considered and thought about, but not dwelt on too much.
Peter T. Chattaway, a film critic for Christianity Today and Books & Culture, and an associate editor at B.C. Christian News, agrees that onscreen violence has its place: “It’s a question of how those things are portrayed.” Those things he is talking about is violence. I found this interesting because if violence is portrayed as only killing and blood every where for no reason, it shouldn't be in a film or watched. If there is violence and it is used to prove something, to show good/right and if it has meaning then it is fine. Like Peter said it all matters on how violence is portrayed.
ReplyDelete“In a proper context, depicting violence can be used to send valuable messages to those mature enough to view it in its context." This is what Michael Elliot says. I found this interesting because it is what I found a lot of critics said and because it is something I agree with. I agree with it because I think that if there is violence put into a film it shouldn't just be fill space, but it should be put in the film because it is proving something or because it has meaning a ties into the film and what the film means.
One thing that I disagree with is that it is said in this article that, Parental responsibility is a serious problem today; otherwise, how could so many kids so regularly consume “violent meals”? I don't think it is the parents fault, but it is their kids fault for putting themselves in front of that violence and watching it.
I think that violence is good to have in some films and bad to have in others. Violence is good to have in films when it is meaningful and actually plays a role in the movie and isn't just filling space. I do not believe that violence should be in a film just to get more money, but to show and prove something. Violence must have a reason.
I agree with Michael Elliot. He brings up a very good point that I think is realistic and true. Violence in film can be good and bad. There are some films that take it way over the top and there are also films who use the right amount. The context of the violence is very important. If you are showing violence that has actually happened and fits into the story then it is okay. War movies are a great example of movies with realistic violence. The horror movies that are created for no reason than to try and scare you are not good. These movies are unrealistic and use pointless violence. You have to show the violence in context.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Chattaway did a good job of defending the film "Pulp Fiction." He says that it has been criticized by a lot of people. I have not seen the movie but it sounds like it is trying to send a message that violence is bad. It describes how when one man encounters God he changes his ways. I think that when some Christians look at violence in films they get so out of wack that they don't even catch that the film is actually trying to advertise a good message. To criticize a film, you have to make sure that you know everything about it. The people who write reviews on these movies need to look deeper than just looking at the amount of violence in the films.
Cartoon violence and real violence. Some say that there is no difference and that we should ignore all of it. These people are called purists. Others say that cartoon violence is okay and realistic violence is okay when it is in context. The people that say to ignore violence all together are very strict. Some even say that it is a sin for a Christian to go to an R rated movie. They say that no matter what, violence is always wrong. No matter the level of violence, it can always affect people in a negative way. They disagree with the people who say that violence in context is okay. The people who say that violence in context is okay say that if there is a movie that "needs" violence then it is okay. Certain movies can show violence because they show reality.
I think that violence in film is not bad as long as you are not acting out the same violence in reality. Some movies use pointless violence and that is out of line. I think that violence in context is a very good thing for people to see because it shows them what the real world is like. The super hero movies that use Imaginary violence is also okay because it is not realistic. No matter what, you can not let yourself be affected by the violence.
One of the ideas that caught my eye was Peter Chattaway's view on violence. The main point in Peter's view of violence in movies is all about how it is portrayed. He focused on the movie Pulp Fiction and how people think that it is "hyperviolent" in other words too violent but Peter points out that the violent people get what they deserve in the end and those who turn from their violent ways roll off into the sunset. I find this really interesting because essentially it does not really matter how violent a film is if in the end their is a good reason for the violence.
ReplyDeleteAnother one of the views that caught my attention was Steve Lansingh's point of view. Steve said "Although we tend to assume it’s our sin nature or American bloodlust, I believe a stronger attraction is the order these movies impose on a chaotic world. The real-life violence we read about in newspapers is so often senseless and unsolved, but in the movies, there’s a reason why things happen." I found his points interesting because i can definately understand where he is coming from on his points. When he says that we like violence in movies because order is always being restored because of it and he is right. It is very true that we all like seeing the "bad guys" get what they deserve in terms of violence and this is partly why we like seeing violence in movies.
Two people who have a different view on violence for children are Christopher Tomkinson and Rich Kennedy. Rich thinks that even though the violence is unrealistic it can damage a kid's morales and even their faith. Christopher argues that we should not prtoect children from the violence in the movies. He claims that it gets the kids thinking about violence and morals in a constructive way. There is another person who says that if we aren't able to handle violence in movies with our kids how are we going to be able to handle it and teach our kids about it in real life. Kids eyes will be open sometime to violence so why not train them about it through unreal movies.
After reading many movie critics view on violence I must say that I agree with the ones who say that violence can be necessary. I think violence is something that will always exist in our world and if we don't have it in movies then we are creating something untrue. I do not have a problem with violence especially if it has a good message behind it. I strongly agree with Peter when he talks about the film Pulp Fiction and that even though it is very violent all of the violence has a purpose.
We are creatures that learn by example, and as Christians, we are exhorted to keep our minds focused on what is honorable, excellent, and worthy of praise. But does that mean we should seek to remain ignorant of such real-world behaviors as sexuality, strong language, and violence? Should we teach our children to “see no evil”?
ReplyDeleteI believe that as Christians it's important to see evil in the world so we can address it and learn from it. I don't think it's right to keep it away from kids, they will never learn about the real world then. There are certain things that maybe a kid at a certain age should look at in a movie, but if you shelter them from some stuff such as violence, bad language, sexuality, drugs and partying. They are more likely to experience it themselves, if they see a movie with it in then that could make them not make those choices later on in life. See you can learn from movies what happens to yourself when you do stuff like that.
“We live in a violent world. Films naturally reflect that.” This quote seemed to hit me when I was reading it. The quote speaks for itself, we do live in a violent world, some films speak of that. Hotel Rewanda,Hostel, saving private ryan and etc... Now, I think violence in films can bring a light to things,I think that in every violent movie that is a good side and the good things can happen from the bad things. We can also learn from films what not to do. To me violence can help people understand what can or does happen out in the real world and can make a understanding of why stuff happens.So overall violence isn't all bad in my viewpoint.
Parental responsibility is a serious problem today; otherwise, how could so many kids so regularly consume “violent meals”? How could so many get their hands on guns to act out what they see on television? To me I think it's untrue that everyone thinks that just from watching violent movies and films are what causes kids and teenagers to go up and start shooting random people and planning attacks on malls or schools. To me what causes those actions are the mental illnesses or something is wrong psychologically with the person or they are chemically imbalanced. Once again watching violent films aren't the cause of that. When watching what some people/ critics consider what are "bad films" thats when your discernment has to come in. If you watch them for entertainment and for discerning and etc thats ok. If people misuse violent movies because they want to act it out thats trouble. (But those who usually do that are mentally ill.)The kind of violence like cannibalism and like the saw movies thats sick violence and on my part its nasty and gross. I don't really like to watch those kind of movies because of the content. Those kind of films are a little iffy and hard to think about it as a good thing. So I guess overall I draw a line at those kind of films. I mean I know some of them are scary, well made and stuff and people like to be scared when they watch films like that, which mainly those people are watching it for entertainment then anything else. But ya not a big fan of those gory, very much violent horror flicks. In conclusion, violence that has a good intent to have an good impact is good to watch but if it's just brutal and disgusting then no, I would say it's bad to watch. But thats only my opinions. I guess I mainly watch movies for the entertainment more than anything. So there could be mixed feelings towards different types of movies.
I think that film violence isn't so bad I mean if you know that it's like not okay to do what ever it is they are doing in the movie I think tho as christians we have to be careful how much violence that we watch but i don't think that the violence is really that much of a problem.
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