There's a popular discussion on the side-effects of consuming violet content in media, whether it be horror films, video games or even the news. Many believe that this exposure to violent media can have a direct negative impact on us - resulting in anti-social and possibly even harmful behaviour. However, there is research that suggests otherwise.
In this article we'll go over some of the main incentives to experiencing brutality in media.
1. It's realistic
Outlets like movies and video games give us an opportunity to experience events we wouldn't normally face. Although our number one take-away when watching a film or reading a book is entertainment, we find even more value in our exposure to new information. As humans, we are inherently curious. Consuming violent content lets us satisfy this innate thirst for knowledge.
What is more, looking at violent media is an opportunity for us to confront and make sense of violence as a painful, yet essential fact of our reality. This, in a way, lets us feel more prepared when we are to face similar issues in our own lives, and gives us reassurance in finding the solutions and handling the experience.
As an end result, consuming unrestricted content allows us to tackle issues in a more naturalistic (and often brutal) way, as opposed to the glamorized or sanitized portrayals of PG-rated content.
2. It's safe
Witnessing gory and violent media is a way for us to spectate a dangerous situation without any trouble or negative consequences. Yes, watching a home invasion film will bring you a significant amount of stress and paranoia, but it won't actually summon a group of masked strangers behind your couch.
As Helen Keller said:
"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold."
Even more, watching violent content might even have more visible benefits than drawbacks.
It has recently been proven that this seemingly 'unpleasant' viewing experience is actually pretty familiar. Like going to a theme park, watching a horror film puts us in a controlled state of anxiety (similar to that when riding a roller coaster) and causes our adrenaline levels to spike. By the time we see the end title, our brain releases serotonin (that's the happy hormone) - making us experience sudden relaxation, also known as catharsis. It's no coincidence that horror, like theme parks, is most popular amongst teens.
This chemical sensation lets us consume violent and horror-inducing content, whilst reducing our stress levels and making us feel more at ease as an end result. Yes, you got that right - this is proof that watching horror films is actually relaxing!
3. It's human
Observing violent content has moral implications.
When we're made witness of a stressful or traumatic event we often end up empathizing with the victim. In that way, violent media is frequently designed to trigger that compassionate response and make us reflect on our experiences and emotions.
As dark fiction writer Joe Hill put it:
“Horror was rooted in sympathy . . . in understanding what it would be like to suffer the worst.”
For what it's worth, this second-hand experience of traumatic events is what allows us to stay in touch with our emotions and, in time, is what gives us the motivation to take a stand against issues of injustice, abuse and oppression.
That being said, we're still far from fully decoding the complete meaning of fear and with it our strange and at first glance unreasonable fascination with it. As horror junkies we more than anyone are curious to know what exactly is it we gain from violent media and how it affects our psyche - be it for better, or worse. One thing is certain - scientists are dedicated to figuring it out. And until then all we can do is sit back and enjoy the horrifying ride.
Related topics:
Footnotes:
CITATION: Keller, Helen (1940). Let us have faith. Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc.
CITATION: Hill, Joe (2007). Heart-Shaped Box. William Morrow.
Bartsch, Anne; Mares, Marie-Louise; Scherr, Sebastian; Kloß, Andrea; Keppeler, Johanna and Posthumus, Lone (2016). More Than Shoot-Em-Up and Torture Porn: Reflective Appropriation and Meaning-Making of Violent Media Content (Article), In: Journal of Communication, Vol. 66, Issue 5., p.741-765.
Kerr, Margee (2015). Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear. PublicAffairs.
Comentarios