Too many violent movies have dulled or obliterated the character trait that humans need to practice charity and concern for others’ suffering. Empathy.
Thank you thank you thank you. I thought maybe I was weird, well, actually I am, but when I try to relax in the evenings, I don't want to have violence and "There's a serial killer on every corner" on every program and in every movie as a way to unwind. I read the news. Death, destruction, and hate are covered for the day. I look for something to make me laugh, smile, or just feel happy for a while. Or inform me. I like historical programs or movies. This is why I read a lot of novels. It takes me someplace sane. To show just how much I like to escape reality for a bit, my favorite books are the most hilarious paranormal fiction books I can find. The more absurd and funnier they are, the more centered I feel. See, I told you I was weird.
So true Diane! the most popular TV shows for over 20 years have been the Forensic and lawyer shows that make it seem like we live in a lawless country but other than the orange traitor and ongoing nightmare of mass shootings - all crime has actually been going down for 40 years now! But you would never know that with the men and now sadly women detectives dancing with guns on TV and in films every night stoking our fears. Just a daily review of the top 10 on Netflix tells the whole story. Hollywood really is like a Babylon that poisons the soul of our nation. We need more feel good shows and films!
I directed and began an elementary school in San Diego focused on social intelligence teaching and modeling self awareness, conflict resolution and empathy in children from kindergarten through fifth grade. So I applaud this article but wish you had said she a few times or every time instead of he and him.
I reverted to the generic he for mankind, Jill, because I grew before pronouns he/she or they were popular. Thanks for noting it, and I’ll keep your comment in mind before I do another one. I’ll bet you were a great teacher. I’m a retired English teacher 💙
Probably because too many parents pay more attention to their cellphones than what the kiddies are watching or doing. If you can parents on drugs, even worse. Nice parents are wonderfully aware.
I really find all the way violence is casually inserted into what is meant to be general viewing disturbing, apparently I'm oversensitive! A lot of the violence towards women definatley has sexual overtones, what are we doing!
I shudder at many parents behavior. No wonder their children act out for attention as parents are in their phones and then exploding at the child for not eating, sitting still, or talking back.
Glad you included teachers here...we must show empathy in all areas and at the youngest of ages. Plant empathy seeds is my new favorite phrase when talking with new moms; when I’m in primary classrooms... show by example! Great piece Diane!
Thank you so much Diane for a very thoughtfully written essay. At the risk of my sounding just plain goofy, a social psychology professor in my junior year of college, 1969, remarked that Sesame Street modeled violence. The Cookie Monster snatching a cookie away from others. Bert whacking Ernie’s head for really no good reason. He explained that at the age of pre-schoolers and young elementary school pupils, the animation and colors were attractive. The characters “cutting up” was just jolly good fun. Playing. Most fellow students (guys) either eye rolled or stared at the floor.
I remember when “Grand Theft Auto” first appeared. My early teen age son had started enjoying video games. Upon seeing GTA I remarked to his mother (that marriage died a slow death. Both sides) that the games portended trouble for youth. For society. Herself an early elementary school teacher just blew off my concerns. Sort of the “everybody’s doing that. What’s the big deal!”
To me this is a very big deal. Thanks for your good efforts on this and all the rest you care about.
Gary, That was also the time of other violent television from Wiley Coyote blowing up himself instead of Roadrunner, Elmer Fudd out hunting rabbits, and the original Hawaii Five-O (Jack Lord version) was considered the most violent show on TV (pre cable days). The difference being everyone knew it was fake. That all started changing with closer to real life video games.
Your observation helps fill out the beginnings of the march toward 21st century mass killings in the post WW II era. Owning my conspiracy theory thinking, I wonder if DOD had a hand in shaping the cartoons and later, video games, as a set up for the Viet Nam war? With the draft for coercion, securing enough tin soldiers fell into place easily. Slogans and buzz words enticed enlistment: The Silent Majority; Weapons of Mass Destruction; The Moral Majority? To fan the flames of christo-fascism. Dwight was right! Eisenhower.
I think you have at least three different theories simmering, but also some documented facts. Eisenhower was definitely correct on the military-industrial complex. It’s all based on fear and greed. Primal instincts wrapped into jobs creation. A preponderance of military recruiting offices located in lower socioeconomic zip codes. Starting with Vietnam, upper middle class white kids got draft deferments (although the requirements steepened college/grades/marriage/kids) everyone else got sent. The draft ended, the military recruiting offices stayed around for lower class whites but mostly non-whites. Racism at its finest. (Side note: between teenage and young adult obesity and early career criminal records, the military cannot meet their recruitment quotas)
Thanks Michael. You’re correct about multiple theories. My son is in year 17 of his enlistment in USAF. He was nearly denied the opportunity due to a misdemeanor offense for pot use, although his charge had been expunged. His recruiting officer, having seen excellent scores on preliminary tests, had to go to bat for him, eventually having to contact a second level officer for approval.
From demanding basic training after enlistment, the new guys and some women assigned to his flight, generally lack mechanical skills and participation in activities that would have built strength or stamina. Their expectations for advancement resemble participation”trophies.” As such, an order given requiring follow-up to ensure compliance often prompts tears and then filing a formal complaint about his not-so-warm fuzziness. The Air Force recruiting numbers are currently abysmal, compensated for by loading up current staff with the work of two or three, or simply not recruiting to fill empty positions.
I believe this bodes ill for our Nation’s defenses. He’s decided to bow out at 20 years for the sake of his own well being and that of his family. When he conveyed this to his higher ups, their response was “whatever.” In turn, he can’t sit for the Master Sergeant exam since sewing on that strip requires him to serve at least two more years past 20. A mark of truly valued service.
Fascinating! I’m not surprised that poor whites and blacks were enlisted with promises of how much money they could earn and send home. It happened in other wars.
You know, Gary, I hadn’t thought about the Viet Nam War enlistment as a factor, but you make sense. That topic you should write about in your substack!
Absolutely spot on Diane! It is so hard to find movies to watch that aren't thrillers and horror movies. Even romcoms and comedy often have violence in them.
When we’re searching for a movie on a week end night, it seems regardless of railings the words: “Drug use, brief nudity, smoking, violence” always appear. For rom coms, for you name it. Because all that sells.
I will never forget having sat with my family over a televised version of the Marlon Brando/Al Pacino "Godfather", with the severed and quite bloodied horsehead, the machine-gunned Godfather (Marlin Brando), but where with Al Pacino's innocent and pure bride in her natural beauty, the innocent breasts were blurred out! I can assure you, I had no prurient interest, but a woman has natural beauty that has nobility and dignity and sensual innocence. So a twenty-year-old with her womanly dignity and nobility was censored but we saw the bloodied horse and humans?
I spend little time with movies, as you can tell by the age of the example I cite. A great part of this arises from violence and lack of interesting dialogue or story.
My own garden is in literature (Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, e.g.) and philosophy (John Locke, David Hume). Movies: Not so much. For the reasons you give.
Diane: You hit the nub of a problem that is wider than arts and entertainment. One-quarter of our country enthuses over Orange-Insanity irrespective of the truth or the consequences. Lack of Empathy, indeed!
Thanks, Armand! The humanities are all about vicariously experiencing literature, art, music—and the current maga-book banners are the Puritanical censors no one needs. I never dreamed that we would have stooped down low to put pants on nude sculptures or paint over images in books. It’s deplorable.
Interesting that you referenced the movie that I walked out on when the horse’s head appeared on screen. And think I was on a date at the time. My memory of what happened later has dimmed but I know I never saw the rest of the film.
I’d agree with Patris. I saw The Godfather in a theater when it first came out when I was maybe 13 or 14 (at the time rated R, and theaters did check to see if the under 17 persons bought tickets with and entered with an adult). I’d already read the book and knew the movie closely followed the book. I saw it with a friend of the same age and was accompanied by either his dad or my mom; in either case the adult too had already read the book. We all knew what to expect. All normal people and all left the theater unchanged. The friend’s dad was a naval officer (Captain) and my friend is now a retired admiral.
For the that time period I remember the same for a few other rated R movies including the Exorcist and Patton.
It’s worth seeing, not only for the superb acting and near-Renaissance photography, but the fidelity to the culture - that is, like it or not, American.
Thank you thank you thank you. I thought maybe I was weird, well, actually I am, but when I try to relax in the evenings, I don't want to have violence and "There's a serial killer on every corner" on every program and in every movie as a way to unwind. I read the news. Death, destruction, and hate are covered for the day. I look for something to make me laugh, smile, or just feel happy for a while. Or inform me. I like historical programs or movies. This is why I read a lot of novels. It takes me someplace sane. To show just how much I like to escape reality for a bit, my favorite books are the most hilarious paranormal fiction books I can find. The more absurd and funnier they are, the more centered I feel. See, I told you I was weird.
Away from negativity and ill will? Reading historical novels is one of my favorite escapes.
Yes! I love historical novels as well.
So true Diane! the most popular TV shows for over 20 years have been the Forensic and lawyer shows that make it seem like we live in a lawless country but other than the orange traitor and ongoing nightmare of mass shootings - all crime has actually been going down for 40 years now! But you would never know that with the men and now sadly women detectives dancing with guns on TV and in films every night stoking our fears. Just a daily review of the top 10 on Netflix tells the whole story. Hollywood really is like a Babylon that poisons the soul of our nation. We need more feel good shows and films!
Indeed. Christopher. The list of shoes featuring gruesome murders, cadaver shows, and worse far outnumber shows with good plots.
for diane k24
Writers capture essence,
with words
as their palette,
they paint.
Their stories
wrap around souls,
comforting, provoking,
I hold them dear,
for they dare to dream
and share those visions,
drawing from the
wells of imagination,
sculpting
realms beyond our grasp.
Could I, too,
sketch worlds with my words?
I’m saving this, Gloria! Your words always paint pleasant images in my mind.
❤️
So right, our nature must be nurtured. The seeds must not only be planted, they must be tended.
I directed and began an elementary school in San Diego focused on social intelligence teaching and modeling self awareness, conflict resolution and empathy in children from kindergarten through fifth grade. So I applaud this article but wish you had said she a few times or every time instead of he and him.
I reverted to the generic he for mankind, Jill, because I grew before pronouns he/she or they were popular. Thanks for noting it, and I’ll keep your comment in mind before I do another one. I’ll bet you were a great teacher. I’m a retired English teacher 💙
I don’t think it’s intentional on the part of the parents. I think it’s just not something they ever considered.
Probably because too many parents pay more attention to their cellphones than what the kiddies are watching or doing. If you can parents on drugs, even worse. Nice parents are wonderfully aware.
I really find all the way violence is casually inserted into what is meant to be general viewing disturbing, apparently I'm oversensitive! A lot of the violence towards women definatley has sexual overtones, what are we doing!
I agree wholeheartedly, Rita. The gun violence is over the top on screen and in the streets.
I shudder at many parents behavior. No wonder their children act out for attention as parents are in their phones and then exploding at the child for not eating, sitting still, or talking back.
True. I see so many parents controlled by their children. Ugh.
Glad you included teachers here...we must show empathy in all areas and at the youngest of ages. Plant empathy seeds is my new favorite phrase when talking with new moms; when I’m in primary classrooms... show by example! Great piece Diane!
Excellent!
Thank you so much Diane for a very thoughtfully written essay. At the risk of my sounding just plain goofy, a social psychology professor in my junior year of college, 1969, remarked that Sesame Street modeled violence. The Cookie Monster snatching a cookie away from others. Bert whacking Ernie’s head for really no good reason. He explained that at the age of pre-schoolers and young elementary school pupils, the animation and colors were attractive. The characters “cutting up” was just jolly good fun. Playing. Most fellow students (guys) either eye rolled or stared at the floor.
I remember when “Grand Theft Auto” first appeared. My early teen age son had started enjoying video games. Upon seeing GTA I remarked to his mother (that marriage died a slow death. Both sides) that the games portended trouble for youth. For society. Herself an early elementary school teacher just blew off my concerns. Sort of the “everybody’s doing that. What’s the big deal!”
To me this is a very big deal. Thanks for your good efforts on this and all the rest you care about.
Gary, That was also the time of other violent television from Wiley Coyote blowing up himself instead of Roadrunner, Elmer Fudd out hunting rabbits, and the original Hawaii Five-O (Jack Lord version) was considered the most violent show on TV (pre cable days). The difference being everyone knew it was fake. That all started changing with closer to real life video games.
Your observation helps fill out the beginnings of the march toward 21st century mass killings in the post WW II era. Owning my conspiracy theory thinking, I wonder if DOD had a hand in shaping the cartoons and later, video games, as a set up for the Viet Nam war? With the draft for coercion, securing enough tin soldiers fell into place easily. Slogans and buzz words enticed enlistment: The Silent Majority; Weapons of Mass Destruction; The Moral Majority? To fan the flames of christo-fascism. Dwight was right! Eisenhower.
I think you have at least three different theories simmering, but also some documented facts. Eisenhower was definitely correct on the military-industrial complex. It’s all based on fear and greed. Primal instincts wrapped into jobs creation. A preponderance of military recruiting offices located in lower socioeconomic zip codes. Starting with Vietnam, upper middle class white kids got draft deferments (although the requirements steepened college/grades/marriage/kids) everyone else got sent. The draft ended, the military recruiting offices stayed around for lower class whites but mostly non-whites. Racism at its finest. (Side note: between teenage and young adult obesity and early career criminal records, the military cannot meet their recruitment quotas)
Thanks Michael. You’re correct about multiple theories. My son is in year 17 of his enlistment in USAF. He was nearly denied the opportunity due to a misdemeanor offense for pot use, although his charge had been expunged. His recruiting officer, having seen excellent scores on preliminary tests, had to go to bat for him, eventually having to contact a second level officer for approval.
From demanding basic training after enlistment, the new guys and some women assigned to his flight, generally lack mechanical skills and participation in activities that would have built strength or stamina. Their expectations for advancement resemble participation”trophies.” As such, an order given requiring follow-up to ensure compliance often prompts tears and then filing a formal complaint about his not-so-warm fuzziness. The Air Force recruiting numbers are currently abysmal, compensated for by loading up current staff with the work of two or three, or simply not recruiting to fill empty positions.
I believe this bodes ill for our Nation’s defenses. He’s decided to bow out at 20 years for the sake of his own well being and that of his family. When he conveyed this to his higher ups, their response was “whatever.” In turn, he can’t sit for the Master Sergeant exam since sewing on that strip requires him to serve at least two more years past 20. A mark of truly valued service.
Goodness!
Fascinating! I’m not surprised that poor whites and blacks were enlisted with promises of how much money they could earn and send home. It happened in other wars.
You know, Gary, I hadn’t thought about the Viet Nam War enlistment as a factor, but you make sense. That topic you should write about in your substack!
Yes, Michael. The video games changed everything. Suddenly it was fun to zap people
Thanks, Gary! I saw all kinds of violent cartoons, but times have changed. The evening news shows violence. It’s hard to escape.
Absolutely spot on Diane! It is so hard to find movies to watch that aren't thrillers and horror movies. Even romcoms and comedy often have violence in them.
When we’re searching for a movie on a week end night, it seems regardless of railings the words: “Drug use, brief nudity, smoking, violence” always appear. For rom coms, for you name it. Because all that sells.
I don't mind a little of the other stuff, it's the violence I have a hard time with.
Diane K24: Exactly! You hit the nub of it.
I will never forget having sat with my family over a televised version of the Marlon Brando/Al Pacino "Godfather", with the severed and quite bloodied horsehead, the machine-gunned Godfather (Marlin Brando), but where with Al Pacino's innocent and pure bride in her natural beauty, the innocent breasts were blurred out! I can assure you, I had no prurient interest, but a woman has natural beauty that has nobility and dignity and sensual innocence. So a twenty-year-old with her womanly dignity and nobility was censored but we saw the bloodied horse and humans?
I spend little time with movies, as you can tell by the age of the example I cite. A great part of this arises from violence and lack of interesting dialogue or story.
My own garden is in literature (Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, e.g.) and philosophy (John Locke, David Hume). Movies: Not so much. For the reasons you give.
Diane: You hit the nub of a problem that is wider than arts and entertainment. One-quarter of our country enthuses over Orange-Insanity irrespective of the truth or the consequences. Lack of Empathy, indeed!
Great comment.
Thanks, Armand! The humanities are all about vicariously experiencing literature, art, music—and the current maga-book banners are the Puritanical censors no one needs. I never dreamed that we would have stooped down low to put pants on nude sculptures or paint over images in books. It’s deplorable.
Interesting that you referenced the movie that I walked out on when the horse’s head appeared on screen. And think I was on a date at the time. My memory of what happened later has dimmed but I know I never saw the rest of the film.
I’d agree with Patris. I saw The Godfather in a theater when it first came out when I was maybe 13 or 14 (at the time rated R, and theaters did check to see if the under 17 persons bought tickets with and entered with an adult). I’d already read the book and knew the movie closely followed the book. I saw it with a friend of the same age and was accompanied by either his dad or my mom; in either case the adult too had already read the book. We all knew what to expect. All normal people and all left the theater unchanged. The friend’s dad was a naval officer (Captain) and my friend is now a retired admiral.
For the that time period I remember the same for a few other rated R movies including the Exorcist and Patton.
It’s worth seeing, not only for the superb acting and near-Renaissance photography, but the fidelity to the culture - that is, like it or not, American.