The Effects DebateThe Effects Debate

ill Effectsill Effects

By Martin Barker & Julian PetBy Martin Barker & Julian Petley ley

The anti anti-effects campaignThe anti anti-effects campaign

Petley & Barker begin the 2Petley & Barker begin the 2ndnd Edition of t Edition of their now seminal book by claiming:heir now seminal book by claiming:

‘‘We have to show the ill effects of the cWe have to show the ill effects of the campaigns run by the ‘effects’ campaiampaigns run by the ‘effects’ campaigners…The complications that come witgners…The complications that come with real knowledge h real knowledge don’t fit banner headdon’t fit banner headlines, therefore tend to get ignored.’ lines, therefore tend to get ignored.’

Schlesinger et al Women Viewing Schlesinger et al Women Viewing Violence (1992)Violence (1992)

Interviewed women across a wide Interviewed women across a wide range of class, age and ethnic groups. range of class, age and ethnic groups.

Part of the findings was that for many Part of the findings was that for many women there is women there is an important an important distinction between something distinction between something disturbing and nonetheless wanting it disturbing and nonetheless wanting it to be shown.to be shown.

Only in a few cases such as Only in a few cases such as The The AccusedAccused (rape scene) did strong (rape scene) did strong feelings lead to a call for censorship. feelings lead to a call for censorship.

Schlesinger Quote…Schlesinger Quote… ‘‘The issue is not whether depictions or violence The issue is not whether depictions or violence

increase the likelihood of similar violence among increase the likelihood of similar violence among potential perpetrators, but the potential perpetrators, but the feelings and feelings and reactions that it creates among those who are the reactions that it creates among those who are the actual or potential victims of violenceactual or potential victims of violence. Are women . Are women likely to feel more vulnerable, less safe or less likely to feel more vulnerable, less safe or less valued members of our society if, as a a category, valued members of our society if, as a a category, they are with some frequency depicted as those they are with some frequency depicted as those who are subjected to abuse? If so, the portrayal of who are subjected to abuse? If so, the portrayal of violence against women may be seen as violence against women may be seen as negative, even if women viewers have never negative, even if women viewers have never experienced such violence and/or its likelihood is experienced such violence and/or its likelihood is not increased.’ (1992) not increased.’ (1992)

Schlesinger studies men…(1998)Schlesinger studies men…(1998)

Study of 88 men aged between 18 and 75Study of 88 men aged between 18 and 75 The men studied The men studied East EndersEast Enders, , Trip Trap Trip Trap

(TV drama addressing issues of sexual (TV drama addressing issues of sexual violence), a documentary about street violence), a documentary about street fighting and two Hollywood box-office fighting and two Hollywood box-office successes. (successes. (Basic InstinctBasic Instinct & & Under SiegeUnder Siege))

The men suggested that a line was drawn The men suggested that a line was drawn between realistic violence-which could between realistic violence-which could make you stop and think- and unrealistic make you stop and think- and unrealistic violence such as the two Hollywood films. violence such as the two Hollywood films.

Defining Violence (1999) by David Defining Violence (1999) by David MorrisonMorrison

The research was commissioned by all the The research was commissioned by all the major broadcasters and carried out by major broadcasters and carried out by Leeds University…set out to discover the Leeds University…set out to discover the ‘subjective meaning of violence.’‘subjective meaning of violence.’

The subjects of the study were shown a The subjects of the study were shown a wide variety of material and in a wide variety of material and in a significant methodological move, were significant methodological move, were given the chance during discussions to re-given the chance during discussions to re-edit the footage as a means of clarifying edit the footage as a means of clarifying what they meant by the term ‘violence.’ what they meant by the term ‘violence.’

3 types of violence as defined by 3 types of violence as defined by Morrison’s research: Morrison’s research:

Playful violencePlayful violence: Acted violence…seen as unr: Acted violence…seen as unreal, little significance beyond its entertainmeneal, little significance beyond its entertainment value. t value.

Depicted ViolenceDepicted Violence: Characterised by ‘realis: Characterised by ‘realism’ and may assault the sensibilities.m’ and may assault the sensibilities.

Authentic violenceAuthentic violence: Violence depicted in a wo: Violence depicted in a world that the viewer can recognise such as domrld that the viewer can recognise such as domestic violence…closer to the life of the viewer estic violence…closer to the life of the viewer with potential to be very graphic. with potential to be very graphic.

MorrisonMorrison The research found that behaviour which is The research found that behaviour which is

judged to be judged to be appropriateappropriate, , fair and justifiedfair and justified - -even when overtly violent- is not usually seeven when overtly violent- is not usually seen to be serious or ‘really violent.’ e.g. Nen to be serious or ‘really violent.’ e.g. Nobody is bothered when a ruthless villain is obody is bothered when a ruthless villain is punished at the end of a Hollywood film.punished at the end of a Hollywood film.

Petley & Barker therefore suggest that in orPetley & Barker therefore suggest that in order to understand violence, you have to under to understand violence, you have to understand the moral codes that different audderstand the moral codes that different audiences bring to bear as they watch. iences bring to bear as they watch.

Positive Pleasures…Positive Pleasures…

What about those who enjoy material which What about those who enjoy material which is condemned by the moral campaigners as is condemned by the moral campaigners as ‘corrupt?’ ‘corrupt?’

Annette Hill (1997) pointed out that many Annette Hill (1997) pointed out that many viewers had a conscious awareness that viewers had a conscious awareness that violent movies test viewers in various ways violent movies test viewers in various ways and that and that anticipation & preparation are anticipation & preparation are essential aspects of enjoymentessential aspects of enjoyment in viewing in viewing violent films. Also, viewers built violent films. Also, viewers built relationships with certain screen characters relationships with certain screen characters whilst establishing a safe distance from whilst establishing a safe distance from others others

John Fiske & Robert Dawson -199John Fiske & Robert Dawson -1996)6)

Studied some homeless American Studied some homeless American men and their attitudes to film texts. men and their attitudes to film texts.

These men These men took pleasure from anti-took pleasure from anti-establishment violenceestablishment violence and read the and read the text in ‘opposition,’ cheering text in ‘opposition,’ cheering moments that most viewers would moments that most viewers would have felt to be the senseless have felt to be the senseless destruction of life. destruction of life.

Children & The MediaChildren & The Media

Hodge & Tripp (1986) studied Australian childrHodge & Tripp (1986) studied Australian children and their response to a mock-horror cartooen and their response to a mock-horror cartoon called Fangface. They explored how children n called Fangface. They explored how children make sense of characters, (good & evil) action make sense of characters, (good & evil) action and narrative. and narrative.

The two showed that a series of changes take pThe two showed that a series of changes take place as children grow up as they lace as children grow up as they learn to ‘malearn to ‘manage’ the distinction between fantasy and renage’ the distinction between fantasy and realityality. Story forms/cartoons arte a way of testin. Story forms/cartoons arte a way of testing out their judgements/models of the world. g out their judgements/models of the world.

David Buckingham (1996)David Buckingham (1996) ‘‘Children respond to and make sense of television in the light of Children respond to and make sense of television in the light of

what they know about its formal codes and conventions, about gwhat they know about its formal codes and conventions, about genre and narrative and about the production process. In these reenre and narrative and about the production process. In these respects spects they are much more active and sophisticated users of the they are much more active and sophisticated users of the medium than they are often assumed to be.’ medium than they are often assumed to be.’

Parents were more concerned that their children might be frightParents were more concerned that their children might be frightened or traumatised by violence on television than they might be ened or traumatised by violence on television than they might be to imitate it. This is a key point which needs further research! to imitate it. This is a key point which needs further research!

‘‘Negative responses are most common in children but rarely seNegative responses are most common in children but rarely severe or long lasting.vere or long lasting.

He also suggested that although children became habituated to He also suggested that although children became habituated to violence, violence, it did not desensitise their perceptions of real-life violeit did not desensitise their perceptions of real-life violence, whether mediated by TV or not. nce, whether mediated by TV or not.

Darnell Hunt (1997)Darnell Hunt (1997) Studied the TV coverage of the 1992 LA riots, Studied the TV coverage of the 1992 LA riots,

after the Rodney King incident. after the Rodney King incident. Hunt argued that people responded to the Hunt argued that people responded to the

coverage in light of ‘coverage in light of ‘raced subjectivityraced subjectivity,’ in ,’ in short the ethnic groups that they felt they short the ethnic groups that they felt they belonged to. belonged to.

White viewers watched the footage quietly White viewers watched the footage quietly whilst whilst black & Latinos became animated black & Latinos became animated when watching the footagewhen watching the footage. Yet Latinos sided . Yet Latinos sided with white viewers to condemn the looting with white viewers to condemn the looting and fires. and fires.

Hunt argues that everyone responded Hunt argues that everyone responded through their through their sense of the racial community. sense of the racial community.

Steven Poole (2000) Trigger HappySteven Poole (2000) Trigger Happy

Points to the importance of logics in games.Points to the importance of logics in games. Studied the beat-’em-ups genre and suggestStudied the beat-’em-ups genre and suggest

ed that ed that once committed, the gamer must then once committed, the gamer must then make sure that they know the rulesmake sure that they know the rules. Far from b. Far from being uncontrolled mayhem, it is eing uncontrolled mayhem, it is necessarily conecessarily constrained. nstrained.

Also pointed out that many games play upon fAlso pointed out that many games play upon fantasy/science-fiction conventions and that antasy/science-fiction conventions and that mmuch of the pleasure gained is based on this foruch of the pleasure gained is based on this foreknowledgeeknowledge. .

Barker & Petley (Conclusion)Barker & Petley (Conclusion) The Columbine High School in Littleton, The Columbine High School in Littleton,

Colorado evoked the usual suspects. Rock Colorado evoked the usual suspects. Rock music because the two boys seemed to music because the two boys seemed to enjoy it- the fact that opera was being enjoy it- the fact that opera was being played by one of them at full volume played by one of them at full volume before the shooting raised no objections. before the shooting raised no objections.

The news media blame such events as The news media blame such events as Columbine on the Columbine on the ‘effects’ of films, music, ‘effects’ of films, music, video games and internetvideo games and internet, , it is the news it is the news media themselves which have really had media themselves which have really had the marked and measurable influence. the marked and measurable influence. (e.g. The Fox network) (e.g. The Fox network)