Thursday, March 3, 2011
Graphic Footage
When it comes to war and showing graphic footage on the news, there is much debate over how much is too much. Should the media even hold back at all? While you want to show the realities of war, you also want to have respect for peoples sensibilities. I think graphic footage should be aired, but to a certain degree. You should show enough to get the message across, to give people an idea of what war actually is. But at a certain point enough is enough. I don't have to see the nastiest footage that's out there, and i really don't want to. There should also always be a warning before any really graphic footage is aired.
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I agree; I think part of the problem is that while it's true that a lot of stuff in that happens in war is too graphic to be shown on the news, once you start censoring many people get all whiny about their rights being trampled on. I don’t know where it says in the constitution that we have a right to see graphic footage of fellow American soldiers dying, but it seems that once you start telling the media that you can’t show certain things because it will upset people’s sensibilities, all of a sudden everyone wants to see it. But I agree that the media should be morally responsible and should censor itself.
ReplyDeleteWe discussed this in our class as well. Violence is censored for television ratings in general maybe there should be some sort of rating system out there. However, anyone who does not want to see certain images can make a point of not looking/not watching certain channels. I think some people feel more involved and connected when they see these things.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Raisel's last point. What gives one the right to not care about what is going on? If people are being killed, children are starving to death, natural disasters raging, then all of humanity should be watching it. Graphic images aren't sensational, they expose the truth. It is the only way people will be motivated to get up and help. If you just change the channel on human suffering, or change the channel because it offends your "sensitivities," then you are desisting from being a part of humanity. You take one step further away from caring. I think displaying the truth, should be the goal, and that sometimes means viewing disturbing images in order to share in the human experience of suffering and pain.
ReplyDeleteI didn't say all graphic footage should be censored, just that there should be a line drawn somewhere. Secondly being able to watch graphic footage doesn't make one more attached to humanity. The ability to watch blood and guts draped across a TV screen may prove that one has a stronger stomach, but not that one cares more about the situation. I resent the idea that "I care less" because I don't enjoy watching violence.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that "If people are being killed, children are starving to death, natural disasters raging, then all of humanity should be watching it." is really not true. Watching doesn't solve any problems. Action is the only solution. If you intend to watch videos of bodies strewn across the floor and starving children but do not intend to act any further, then you are not helping "Humanity" anymore than someone not watching