desensitized to violence
I once read a blog entry about how this person refused to watch horror films and graphic TV shows because they desensitize us to the reality of violence. Unfortunately, I don’t remember whose blog I was reading.
I have been a fan of horror films since I was very young… too young to be watching that kind of violence. I don’t know why I liked scary movies, but obviously millions of people do. So when I read this blog entry, I didn’t understand why he would boycott horror films.
Tonight, I sat down to watch Saw 3. I had been wanting to see it for a long time and I’ve seen the first two films in the series.
In the first few minutes, I watched a man beat his foot until it was disconnecting from his body. He then twisted his ankle to break the rest of it off. Still within the first 5 minutes, I saw a men with thick chains going through his hands, feet, shoulders, and mouth. There’s no point in saying what happened next.
I can’t think of a time I’ve ever shut a movie off. But I did this time. After watching 5 minutes of this violence, I asked myself why I was enduring it.
What interest do I have in seeing human beings torn apart? What does it contribute to my life and how does it shape me as a person? It has no value, and no purpose. It’s merely a competition to see how much agony they can squeeze into 2 hours.
I suddenly have no recollection of why I’ve watched any horror film in my life. I truly don’t know what the point was.
I still consider Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho my all-time favorite film. But that’s more of a mystery, and the purpose is suspense. It’s not just a bunch of people dying.
So whoever wrote that initial post, I’m sorry I don’t remember. But I did remember what you said, and I see your point with absolute clarity. Thank you for that.
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Hey there Nate! I have always been a fan of OLD horror films (1930′s to the early 1960′s) I love the sets and costumes and erieness of them (not to mention the sillyness of them). And for the most part, they are very harmless. The good guy always wins and saves the day.
However, I must say that most new horror films are so cruel and down right lustfull in their passion for gore and violence. Most arn’t even scarry. Just gross. I don’t undrestand why people want to put themselves through that. I hate to see people victimized or hurt.
I guess thats why I like comedies and romances the best. They just make you feel good. Anyway, that’s my two-cents worth!
Take care….
I had a friend who slavishly watched every single one of those “Faces of Death” videos from the 80′s. I saw about ten minutes of one and returned it to the store. There just didn’t seem to be a good enough reason to watch it. I think Texas Chainsaw Massacre was when the genre changed to emphasize gore at the cost of suspense.
yeah i cant handle gross movies…i try to avoid them. im delicate. okay, kidding…kinda.