Violence

[Keroin]

This weekend, one of the conversations among the gals turned to violence, specifically violence in movies and television. As I was the only one of seven women who didn’t seem at all bothered by that kind of violence, it made me question why.

What kind violence bothers you and what kind doesn’t?

I’ll put my answer in a post in order to keep the OP short and sweet.

 

[Keroin]

For me, I am completely OK with *most* fictional violence. I might flinch a bit during the raunchier bits or burst out laughing, in disbelief, at the really over-the-top stuff but that’s about it.

I do not watch slasher/gore type horror movies simply because I find them inane. I do not want to be grossed out just for the sake of being grossed out. Mindless action, however, I am fine with.

And though I can watch fictional violence, if it is “based on a true story” violence or a re-creation of violence that has actually happened, then it does disturb me. I will still watch, though, because sometimes I think it’s good to be disturbed. Movies such as The Killing Fields, Schindler’s List, Hotel Rwanda…yeah, that stuff sticks with me. The murder scene in Heavenly Creatures is one that continues to haunt me, and I’ve even met and conversed with one of the real life characters/murderers.

Non-fictional violence is what really, really gets me. That’s the stuff that gives me nightmares.

And yet, I love consensual, real life combat. Martial arts. Love it.

I don’t watch BDSM porn but I’m sure it wouldn’t bother me as long as I knew it was consensual. If it wasn’t, and I knew it wasn’t, I would be disgusted. Well, actually, I just could not watch that kind of porn. Ever.

I find it curious, the kind of lines my brain has drawn. Which violence it considers acceptable, even enjoyable, and which violence it finds repulsive. Maybe it’s because I know how the fictional stuff works? I’ve been stabbed, shot, bludgeoned, drowned, etc, etc. I know the bullets are blanks, the bullet wounds are caused by tiny explosives hidden in a protective vest and the blood is corn syrup mixed with food colouring. Maybe. I really don't know.

So what are your reactions to fictional/non-fictional violence?

 

[00Syd]

It only bothers me that fictional violence in films and TV is treated with a million times more lenience than sex is.

Other than that, I have no problem with it.

 

[ownedsubgal]

fictionalized violence in any form does not bother me. even a dramatized portrayal of a real life violent tragedy does not bother me, as like Keroin i think it's good to be disturbed sometimes. i also feel it's important to portray the reality of life and all of it's not so pretty bits.

graphic violence on any news program before 11PM bothers me a great deal, only because children and other sensitive, vulnerable people may be watching and they simply should not be exposed to that nonchalantly over the dinner table.

 

[Keroin]

It only bothers me that fictional violence in films and TV is treated with a million times more lenience than sex is.

This bothers me quite a bit, too. Sex is infinitely more healthy than violence, IMO, and yet in N America it is viewed as just the opposite. Does not compute.

fictionalized violence in any form does not bother me. even a dramatized portrayal of a real life violent tragedy does not bother me, as like Keroin i think it's good to be disturbed sometimes. i also feel it's important to portray the reality of life and all of it's not so pretty bits.

graphic violence on any news program before 11PM bothers me a great deal, only because children and other sensitive, vulnerable people may be watching and they simply should not be exposed to that nonchalantly over the dinner table.

There's much about TV news that I find disagreeable. It's not so much the graphic violence that bothers me as the slant they so often give it, especially concerning coverage of war.

 

[Netzach]

The fake violence/real violence continuum has been debunked again and again, but people keep harping on it.


It's easier to worry about where violent people get their ideas from than actually try and DO anything preventive. That involves some kind of social welfare and screw that, we're American. Censorship is cheaper.

 

[Primalex]

It bothers me when violence is practiced as an end in itself.

 

[00Syd]

The fake violence/real violence continuum has been debunked again and again, but people keep harping on it.


It's easier to worry about where violent people get their ideas from than actually try and DO anything preventive. That involves some kind of social welfare and screw that, we're American. Censorship is cheaper.

Yes, this.

 

[where]

I'm incredibly squeamish about any kind of violence apart from boxing.

It's not that I think it creates violence, I'm just squicked out by it.

 

[BiBunny]

I admit it. I'm a watcher of fluff.

I don't like dead bodies being scattered around in movies. I watch to be entertained, not disturbed. And at the risk of sounding like a whiny baby, it really doesn't take much in the way of violence to disturb me. In real life, doubly so. I yelled at Kitty the other day because she killed a spider instead of just taking it outside.

 

[Keroin]

I'm incredibly squeamish about any kind of violence apart from boxing.

It's not that I think it creates violence, I'm just squicked out by it.

So, what is it about boxing, do you think, that makes it a more palatable form of violence for you?

I admit it. I'm a watcher of fluff.

I don't like dead bodies being scattered around in movies. I watch to be entertained, not disturbed. And at the risk of sounding like a whiny baby, it really doesn't take much in the way of violence to disturb me. In real life, doubly so. I yelled at Kitty the other day because she killed a spider instead of just taking it outside.

Nothing wrong with any of that, though I admit some surprise. I'm of the impression that you like the more extreme forms of BDSM, BB, so I would have thought that violence, especially fictional violence, wouldn't disturb you all that much.

Hm. Interesting.

 

[BiBunny]

Nothing wrong with any of that, though I admit some surprise. I'm of the impression that you like the more extreme forms of BDSM, BB, so I would have thought that violence, especially fictional violence, wouldn't disturb you all that much.

Hm. Interesting.

Well, your impression's right. That's why it's so weird, LOL.

 

[graceanne]

This weekend, one of the conversations among the gals turned to violence, specifically violence in movies and television. As I was the only one of seven women who didn’t seem at all bothered by that kind of violence, it made me question why.

What kind violence bothers you and what kind doesn’t?

I’ll put my answer in a post in order to keep the OP short and sweet.

I don't like violence in movies, no matter how light. Most violence I just ignore, but if a movie is really violent I won't watch it.

 

[Keroin]

I don't like violence in movies, no matter how light. Most violence I just ignore, but if a movie is really violent I won't watch it.

Hm, see, now I'm starting to worry a bit, lol.

Seriously, as I sat discussing this topic with my girlfriends, I was amazed at the vast difference in our tolerance levels for fictional violence. I said, "Wow, I must really be desensitized." I guess I am.

One girl couldn't even watch Lord of the Rings because she found the battle scenes too violent. Another was shocked that I had been able to watch Silence of the Lambs, not once but several times, as she couldn't even finish one viewing.

But then, I can remember working on a show where we had lots of down time and were really bored and so started a game of soccer with some of the crew...using a severed head as the ball. (No, not a real one but a damn realistic one). So maybe my lack of "ick" when it comes to portrayals of violence is really just from constant exposure? Hm.

 

[graceanne]

Hm, see, now I'm starting to worry a bit, lol.

Seriously, as I sat discussing this topic with my girlfriends, I was amazed at the vast difference in our tolerance levels for fictional violence. I said, "Wow, I must really be desensitized." I guess I am.

One girl couldn't even watch Lord of the Rings because she found the battle scenes too violent. Another was shocked that I had been able to watch Silence of the Lambs, not once but several times, as she couldn't even finish one viewing.

But then, I can remember working on a show where we had lots of down time and were really bored and so started a game of soccer with some of the crew...using a severed head as the ball. (No, not a real one but a damn realistic one). So maybe my lack of "ick" when it comes to portrayals of violence is really just from constant exposure? Hm.

I have watched LotR's, but I leave the room during the violent parts. Me, K, and my cousin went and saw the first one in the theatre and I spent most of the movie in the lobby, and I still was royally creeped out for days.

I have no intention of ever watching silence of the lambs. Ever. When K gets movies like that I either go to bed early or take a bath while he's watching his show.

That said, maybe it's not a desensitization but because you do that kind of work. You can look and say 'oh, I know how they did that', whereas the rest of us are just like 'oh, ew!'.

 

[Keroin]

I have watched LotR's, but I leave the room during the violent parts. Me, K, and my cousin went and saw the first one in the theatre and I spent most of the movie in the lobby, and I still was royally creeped out for days.

I have no intention of ever watching silence of the lambs. Ever. When K gets movies like that I either go to bed early or take a bath while he's watching his show.

That said, maybe it's not a desensitization but because you do that kind of work. You can look and say 'oh, I know how they did that', whereas the rest of us are just like 'oh, ew!'.

Maybe. Though, if I'm honest, I've always liked action movies, and violence just seems to come with that genre...and it never bothered me before I knew how it worked.

L is like me and can watch just about any kind of fictional violence. He only has to turn his head when someone gets an injection or gets blood taken. Then he waits for me to tell him it's over so he can watch again.

I thought LOTR was mild, as violence goes.

 

[graceanne]

I thought LOTR was mild, as violence goes.

Probably was, after all I'll watch the movie. If it was constant violence I wouldn't have been willing to watch it at all.

Part of why I watched it, though, is cause it's one of K's favorite movies, and it is his favorite book. On the other hand, his favorite movie is Aliens, and I have NO intention of watching it.

 

[where]

So, what is it about boxing, do you think, that makes it a more palatable form of violence for you?

.

dunno... two half naked men getting sweaty and physical?


seriously. It's kind of ritualised. it has rules. there is an etiquette.

and they are two half-naked men getting sweaty and physical

 

[Daddy2mylilgirl]

One girl couldn't even watch Lord of the Rings because she found the battle scenes too violent.

Those are the best parts in the movie IMO.

I am very much desensitized to it all. I like action/violent movies as much as a comedy.

I've grown up on the internet so I've seen A LOT worse than what ANY movie or TV show could portray or come up with.

I've always been into police movies/shows. Anything with cops in it and I would watch it even from a young age. So, I find there is nothing more satisfying than watching the good guys kick the bad guys ass or even kill them. Whether it's police vs criminals or LotR good vs bad. And it doesn't matter how gory or violent it gets.

 

[graceanne]

I admit it. I'm a watcher of fluff.

I don't like dead bodies being scattered around in movies. I watch to be entertained, not disturbed. And at the risk of sounding like a whiny baby, it really doesn't take much in the way of violence to disturb me. In real life, doubly so. I yelled at Kitty the other day because she killed a spider instead of just taking it outside.

I just noticed this.

I wouldn't say I'm a watcher of fluff, because I watch so little TV. I find very little tv or movies that are worth my time to watch.

That said, I won't kill bugs either. I look the other way if someone else does, but I refuse to kill something that's running for it's life and hiding from me. In other words, if it bit/stung me all fair and it's getting squished.

 

[Keroin]

dunno... two half naked men getting sweaty and physical?


seriously. It's kind of ritualised. it has rules. there is an etiquette.

and they are two half-naked men getting sweaty and physical

Interesting. I was curious because boxing is the one form of combat I don't like. Compared to MMA I find it kind of boring and also the competitors take so many blows to the head that it just isn't healthy.

But yes, sweaty, half naked men = good.

Have you watched any MMA?

Those are the best parts in the movie IMO.

I am very much desensitized to it all. I like action/violent movies as much as a comedy.

I've grown up on the internet so I've seen A LOT worse than what ANY movie or TV show could portray or come up with.

I've always been into police movies/shows. Anything with cops in it and I would watch it even from a young age. So, I find there is nothing more satisfying than watching the good guys kick the bad guys ass or even kill them. Whether it's police vs criminals or LotR good vs bad. And it doesn't matter how gory or violent it gets.

Oh man, I was 17 when the original Lethal Weapon came out and I can't remember how many times I went to see it. That fight scene at the end was just so beautifully, brutally real!

I have a thing about fight scenes. Either make it really, really realistic or go WAY over the top, (a la Jackie Chan), I hate that middle ground stuff. Too cheesy.

Mind you, if you go back and watch that film, the scene where Riggs handcuffs himself to the jumper then pulls him off the roof with him? Well, you can see their hands come apart in the wide shot. Still, double high falls are tricky, tricky, tricky...good gag.

I stay away from internet violence. I can't know if it's real, so I just don't go there.

 

[Keroin]

Probably was, after all I'll watch the movie. If it was constant violence I wouldn't have been willing to watch it at all.

Part of why I watched it, though, is cause it's one of K's favorite movies, and it is his favorite book. On the other hand, his favorite movie is Aliens, and I have NO intention of watching it.

I won't tell you how many times I've seen Aliens.

K's right, it's an awesome movie!

 

[where]

Interesting. I was curious because boxing is the one form of combat I don't like. Compared to MMA I find it kind of boring and also the competitors take so many blows to the head that it just isn't healthy.

But yes, sweaty, half naked men = good.

Have you watched any MMA?

nah... we don't get mma un the uk. but i like the purity of boxing. it has to be a good fight though.

 

[Keroin]

nah... we don't get mma un the uk.

You don't? Bummer. Michael Bisping is an excellent fighter...no match for our boy GSP but still worth watching.

 

[Netzach]

It's kind of weird what works for me or bothers me versus what doesn't. I can't explain why or why not.

I'm not one of those people that liked Clockwork Orange or Caligula. Barf. Maybe that specific kind of seventies stylization just doesn't work for me. Also I really resent shock value crap. I love Pulp Fiction and I detest Kill Bill. I don't like feeling like my chain is being jerked by film violence - Pulp Fiction had enough actual ideas to shock ratio that it works for me - Kill Bill doesn't. If it's in service to an actual idea then I'll go along pretty OK. It's that feeling of "wow I bet this shocks your bourgeois sensibilities doesn't it?" that I really resent from directors.

I LOVE prime era Takeshi Kitano, especially Fireworks which has some majorly violent moments, as punctuation - and I found the violence really beautiful in it. If it moves the story along it's OK. Kind of like singing.

Then there's stuff like watching the Stan Brakhage autopsy footage or a video of a sky burial - where it's not corn syrup and food dye. I'm OK with that some of the time and not others, it's really just where I'm at on a given day. I think dead people being cut up is OK, people being killed is not my cuppa, now that I think about it. I can handle war footage when it's aftermath, even particularly horrible - or wounded being evacuated, I don't want to watch people being taken out. I can cope with a still photo of just about anything.

I was exposed to a lot of film studies stuff, and it's interesting how old really disturbing filmic imagery actually is. The carriage scene in Potemkin and the eyeball slicing in Un Chien Andalou still make me wince more than Takeshi Mike or Wes Craven or anything that tries hard.