Virginia Tech Violence
I'm writing this entry at 5:30 p.m. while the latest headlines read "Virginia Shooting Kills At Least 33". At least 22 were injured, with four of them in surgery and the conditions of three others being described as "undetermined". All anyone can do now is wait and see if any of those injured will join the list of fatalities before this horrendous day is finished in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The identification of the gunman, who killed himself with a shot to the head has been made difficult by the severity of the wound and the lack of ID in his pockets. A federal law enforcement official said it was hoped that purchase records for handguns found near the body would give the answer.
The details of where he struck first and exactly how some of his victims died will be aired over and over in the media for days to come and many a head will be shaken in perplexity, while people ask each other how such a thing could happen. I am sure, however, that attendance at the "shock" movies will not drop off because of this tragedy. I am sure that the box office take for movies like "Grindhouse" will not suffer in the least. It should, though. Dear god, it should.
"Grindhouse" is a double-feature pairing the efforts of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, both directors famed for making blood-soaked shock movies. According to USA Today, "the challenge facing two directors known for pushing the limits of movie violence is finding new lines to cross." Both the directors, in fact, say some parts of the films "deliberately try to go too far in a bid to shock even the most jaded fans." The problem with that, I think, is that when it gets right down to it, you can never show the reality of violence with actors on a movie set. I have to wonder if Tarantino and Rodriguez aren't both a little disappointed that they couldn't have been there at Virginia Tech today with their cameras rolling. Think of the limits they could push by working that footage into their next productions.
The part that bothers me so much is that these men are allowed to continue producing the sick garbage that has them living in style and luxury. It bothers me so much that there is no law against showing the garbage they produce. The latest insult to intelligence to roll from their cameras may be rated "R" but that means basically nothing. Any kid of any age could be out there tonight downloading and watching pirated versions. That means any kid of any age could be using it for a nice little afternoon of entertainment. They could be learning how to be one of those jaded fans the directors spoke of. What is there to stop such a jaded young fan from going out onto the streets and into our schools to look for their own way to push the limits of violence?
What bothers me so very, very much about the fact of these two directors(and any others like them) making the movies they do is the fact that anyone could actually call them entertainment and be willing to sit and watch them. I can not help wondering what goes through the viewer's mind as they watch a killer "murder his buxom female prey with his customized hot rod." What kind of viewing pleasure do they find in such scenes? What are they thinking to go and view such assaults on the general perception of the value of human life?
We live in a society that glamorizes violence. We live our day to day lives surrounded by others who willingly watch portrayals of violence that would sicken the most war-hardened vet if they were to see such a thing really happen. Recently, I saw footage of a Canadian vet who had served in Viet Nam, a war known for its incredible brutality. This man spoke of some of his buddies being blown apart without much show of emotion, but then he began to say what his worst memory was. He choked up and had to wait a moment before he could go on. He said the scene haunts him every day, before he described it. A little girl had walk out of the trees in front of him one day in Nam, a little girl he guessed to be no more than 4 years old. He said she smiled at him just before she stepped on a mine. He said pieces of flesh landed on him and then he could say no more. I am sure Tarantino and the others of his ilk cold make that vet's nightmare into a real money-making scene, if they felt so inclined. Worse, I am sure that people would line up and pay to see the movie they put it in.
When will we, as a society, realize that violence like the tragedy that stalked the campus of Virginia Tech today does not arise out of a vacuum? When we will decide that there has to be a limit placed on the portrayal of violence in the movies and the video games that are devoured with regularity in our homes and movie theatres? To say that my questions are an overreaction is something I expect to hear. Too many people hide their head in the sand when they find themselves facing something they'd rather not acknowledge. Too many people will say that there is no connection and that kids know the difference between movies and real life.
Don't get me wrong. I am fully aware that this is a multi-factor situation of cause and effect. To change this situation, we would need to rethink the discipline in our schools and the attitude of people like Charlton Heston and his gun-totin' buddies, among other things. The movies are not the only cause, but I do believe they are a serious part of it all.
I think the rising incidence of events like the one today at Virginia Tech should begin to sound alarm bells in society's mind. How could there not be a connection? I believe the burden of proof should now be laid on those who want to produce such "entertainment". Why aren't there more people worried about the mentality of those who find such entertainment to be a good way to spend their time and money? When will we connect Columbine, Virginia Tech, and all the other violent rampages that end innocent lives with the glamorization of violence in which our society indulges? We continue to pay for it to be produced and then we wring our hands in horror when someone brings it out of the movie theatre and into the reality of our schools and our own lives.
I am sure that the families of the victims at Virginia Tech will view gratuitous portrayals of violence very differently now than they may have before. Why should it have to take such an occurrence for anyone to stand up and say, this is enough? When will Quentin Tarantino find himself out of business?
The identification of the gunman, who killed himself with a shot to the head has been made difficult by the severity of the wound and the lack of ID in his pockets. A federal law enforcement official said it was hoped that purchase records for handguns found near the body would give the answer.
The details of where he struck first and exactly how some of his victims died will be aired over and over in the media for days to come and many a head will be shaken in perplexity, while people ask each other how such a thing could happen. I am sure, however, that attendance at the "shock" movies will not drop off because of this tragedy. I am sure that the box office take for movies like "Grindhouse" will not suffer in the least. It should, though. Dear god, it should.
"Grindhouse" is a double-feature pairing the efforts of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, both directors famed for making blood-soaked shock movies. According to USA Today, "the challenge facing two directors known for pushing the limits of movie violence is finding new lines to cross." Both the directors, in fact, say some parts of the films "deliberately try to go too far in a bid to shock even the most jaded fans." The problem with that, I think, is that when it gets right down to it, you can never show the reality of violence with actors on a movie set. I have to wonder if Tarantino and Rodriguez aren't both a little disappointed that they couldn't have been there at Virginia Tech today with their cameras rolling. Think of the limits they could push by working that footage into their next productions.
The part that bothers me so much is that these men are allowed to continue producing the sick garbage that has them living in style and luxury. It bothers me so much that there is no law against showing the garbage they produce. The latest insult to intelligence to roll from their cameras may be rated "R" but that means basically nothing. Any kid of any age could be out there tonight downloading and watching pirated versions. That means any kid of any age could be using it for a nice little afternoon of entertainment. They could be learning how to be one of those jaded fans the directors spoke of. What is there to stop such a jaded young fan from going out onto the streets and into our schools to look for their own way to push the limits of violence?
What bothers me so very, very much about the fact of these two directors(and any others like them) making the movies they do is the fact that anyone could actually call them entertainment and be willing to sit and watch them. I can not help wondering what goes through the viewer's mind as they watch a killer "murder his buxom female prey with his customized hot rod." What kind of viewing pleasure do they find in such scenes? What are they thinking to go and view such assaults on the general perception of the value of human life?
We live in a society that glamorizes violence. We live our day to day lives surrounded by others who willingly watch portrayals of violence that would sicken the most war-hardened vet if they were to see such a thing really happen. Recently, I saw footage of a Canadian vet who had served in Viet Nam, a war known for its incredible brutality. This man spoke of some of his buddies being blown apart without much show of emotion, but then he began to say what his worst memory was. He choked up and had to wait a moment before he could go on. He said the scene haunts him every day, before he described it. A little girl had walk out of the trees in front of him one day in Nam, a little girl he guessed to be no more than 4 years old. He said she smiled at him just before she stepped on a mine. He said pieces of flesh landed on him and then he could say no more. I am sure Tarantino and the others of his ilk cold make that vet's nightmare into a real money-making scene, if they felt so inclined. Worse, I am sure that people would line up and pay to see the movie they put it in.
When will we, as a society, realize that violence like the tragedy that stalked the campus of Virginia Tech today does not arise out of a vacuum? When we will decide that there has to be a limit placed on the portrayal of violence in the movies and the video games that are devoured with regularity in our homes and movie theatres? To say that my questions are an overreaction is something I expect to hear. Too many people hide their head in the sand when they find themselves facing something they'd rather not acknowledge. Too many people will say that there is no connection and that kids know the difference between movies and real life.
Don't get me wrong. I am fully aware that this is a multi-factor situation of cause and effect. To change this situation, we would need to rethink the discipline in our schools and the attitude of people like Charlton Heston and his gun-totin' buddies, among other things. The movies are not the only cause, but I do believe they are a serious part of it all.
I think the rising incidence of events like the one today at Virginia Tech should begin to sound alarm bells in society's mind. How could there not be a connection? I believe the burden of proof should now be laid on those who want to produce such "entertainment". Why aren't there more people worried about the mentality of those who find such entertainment to be a good way to spend their time and money? When will we connect Columbine, Virginia Tech, and all the other violent rampages that end innocent lives with the glamorization of violence in which our society indulges? We continue to pay for it to be produced and then we wring our hands in horror when someone brings it out of the movie theatre and into the reality of our schools and our own lives.
I am sure that the families of the victims at Virginia Tech will view gratuitous portrayals of violence very differently now than they may have before. Why should it have to take such an occurrence for anyone to stand up and say, this is enough? When will Quentin Tarantino find himself out of business?
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