Violence Portrayed in Media

Violence Portrayed in Media

Video games and films are the most common domains where violence is portrayed. The two domains, directly and indirectly, impact the others in the industry. Proponents of violence in media argue that it provides an avenue to release aggression; that watching others participate in violence as it happens lowers the watcher’s violent tendencies. Opponents perceive violence as a heinous act that people should shun. What if the best of both worlds were combined into one. The necessary controls to distribute and publish media portraying violence will instill authority and governance. Films, video games, music, and television have a larger audience and can have adverse effects if violence spreads. Therefore, a framework to evaluate violence portrayed in films is integral to governing the domain.

The first and most important initiative is to effect age limits on the nature of the content, but it already exists. Efficient management and effective enforcement of guidelines can provide clarity and control. Levels/categories of violence should be adopted and enforced effectively. It is mandatory to use domains where control is easy. Current media consumption trends could pose a more significant threat because of sharing over the internet. The policy formulation process will be the core of operations to fix the systemic part of the problem. Legally-established boundaries will be the foundation of the change, followed by structural changes (Anderson & Gentile, 2008). A control to restructuring publishing and distribution of media portraying violence is crucial to this step. Ideally, dictating media distribution will be sufficient.

Secondly, creating awareness will help people to make responsible choices. Stopping people from consuming violent media is not enough because they will resist and find new ways to do it. Showing them the impacts of violence portrayed in films and other media on behavior and general personality is an efficient first stage of this approach. The effects of such media on one’s aggression should be the second logical step. It will show people how the two are directly related to negative impacts on people. They understand that their choice will be entirely up to them. It is essential to clearly and concisely outline the consequences of the various available choices. By creating awareness, people will have the knowledge and consequences of the issue to make their own choices responsibly.

Once the two recommendations are in place, a disruptive change in the infrastructure will spearhead the control of media consumption. A change in infrastructure changes the boundaries of safety. It is vital to let people benefit from watching violence portrayed in media, but it should be controlled. The shift to introduce control will facilitate monitoring changes and eliminate the chances of adverse effects (Sekarasih, Walsh & Scharrer, 2015). Allocating special infrastructure for the consumption of such media will provide continuity for everyone in the industry. A unique, custom-made, and automated domain is efficient. However, it will still require oversight to ensure compliance with other legal structures in the industry.

Establishing a framework of control through policy and creating awareness will address the people’s concerns. It will be counterproductive to the creative industry to eliminate avenues of representation. With the regulatory framework in mind, creators will be producing content for specific demographics. The regulatory framework in the boundaries established will establish control in the initiative. It will reduce and eventually eliminate the harmful effects of violence portrayed in media. However, regulators must enforce it for it to be effective. The government can spearhead these activities through the functions of a specialized agency. Morals, ethics, and social norms must be respected and protected, as should people’s safety.

References

Anderson, C. A., & Gentile, D. A. (2008). Media violence, aggression, and public policy. Beyond common sense: Psychological science in the courtroom, 281-300.

Sekarasih, L., Walsh, K. R., & Scharrer, E. (2015). “Media violence is made to attract and entertain people”: Responses to Media Literacy Lessons on the Effects of and Institutional Motives Behind Media Violence. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 6(3), 1-13.