Essential Meaning of the word “violence” according to Merriam-Webster
1: the use of physical force to harm someone, to damage property, etc.an act of violence
- They need to learn how to settle their arguments without resorting to violence.
- They spoke out against (the use of) violence against women.
- Violence erupted in the streets. [=people began fighting, setting fires, etc., in the streets]
- Movies filled with sex and violence
2: great destructive force or energy
- The violence of the storm caused great fear.
And it’s that last bulletpoint of the first definition i want you to think about: Movies filled with sex and violence.
For me sex and violence are the two opposites. I know that, especially in the US, sex is also considered a form of violence, but i think that’s just a load of conservative bollocks. Sex is, or at least should be, a form of expression of love.
Leaves us with violence in the media. When was the last time you saw a movie in which nobody got killed? When was the last time you watched a news program in which there was no violence shown? Exactly.
95% of popular movies are about somebody killing someone, 90% of the headline news is about somebody being killed in some way.
Violence is everywhere. We are confronted with violence every day. In real life and in movies. My question is: Is there a connection between violence in movies and violence in the streets? Are we making violence normal by forcing it through our throats every single day?
If you look at social media, lots and lots of videos are about hurting someone. Physically hurting, psychologically hurting, bullying, making fun of. It looks like it’s fun to see someone get hurt. Is that because we have completely “normalized” violence and pain? Are violence and pain entertainment now? A movie where a female breast is shown is rated 16+, male genitals make it immediately a 18+. A movie where large numbers of people are killed by the “hero” is classified as 12+. I mean, really?
And what if we stopped showing violence on TV? What if we made our outlook on the world and our society a bit more humane. What if the rules for violence on the internet would be more strickt? Would that make the world a bit more bearable? A bit more friendly? No fear for your neighbour who might look different than you, but in reality never did anything wrong to you. No need to carry a weapon. No need for women to be afraid to walk the street at night?
What do you prefer to see on TV, violence or sex? Your choice.
