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In light of the recent Colorado shooting spree, James Homes was clearly influenced by the Joker. Obviously there's more to it than just that. But the bottom line this isn't the first time a lunatic's gone on a murderous rampage imitating something he's seen on TV or film.
So, my question is this -- anybody feel the need to be a bit more selective and responsible as to what you put on the page, lest it gets produced into a film and some pshycho watches it and decides to imitate it?
What these guys do doesn't influence what I write. They've had a fucked up upbringing in one way or another and look to pop culture as an excuse to give their actions meaning.
Just my take, but I'm not exactly known for my emotional responses. I look at facts and the facts I see are that this was a message, pure and simple.
Society may have a certain responsibility and I believe writers are in that category. That said, a man’s predisposition to violence is one as steeped in history as the great pyramids.
Batman didn’t make the sad bastard do what he did, IMO.
The urge to kill did.
Sure, they will weave a tale stating his delusional tendencies and tack them to a movie, but the dirty underbelly of humanity is such that murder feeds. Murder is the ultimate God move as a human and murder is something only one in a million people dare to step across and experience.
Usually, the act itself isn’t lived out anywhere near the fantasy. In fact, most of the time, in confession, a murderer will tell you, they hardly remember it.
The movie is a scapegoat. Society wants to “box in” a reason why he did it. Fact is, he simply wanted to murder and found an avenue for which to fill out that urge.
Speaking for myself, I guess I do feel a certain sense of responsibility not to add any more violence to an already violent world. I recently saw the film "God Bless America", and frightenly related to the protag's plight. Of course he only killed people who deserved it. Reality TV stars, politicians, people who talk on their cell phones during a movie. Not that, that makes it any better.
In any event, we as screenwriters clearly have the ability to influence this world in a good way as well as the bad. The recent tragedy in Colorado makes me suddenly more conscious of what kind of vibes I choose to send out with my writing. Still, it's not easy.
Writing violence can be so much fun. But it can also have devestating consequences.
Let's all write family friendly fare for the Lifetime network!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was simply asking for your "personal" thought on the subject". Sarcasm really isn't necessary.
But on a serious note, I suppose if one of your family members was a victim of the Colorado shooting you might have a different response to the proposed question. Not trying to start a heated debate. Just sayin'...
Ah, I knew this would come to the discussion boards, eventually.
I think that the movies have nothing to do with the shooting. I think it all has to do with the way the guy was brought up, the society he grew up in and the people surrounding him. Not to mention the fact that any wackjob in America can buy a gun (at least that's my understanding of the law over there. Not too sure.). James Holmes is clearly mentally unstable, which I feel is the major contributor to the shootings.
But on a serious note, I suppose if one of your family members was a victim of the Colorado shooting you might have a different response to the proposed question. Not trying to start a heated debate. Just sayin'...
...no.
According to you anyone who writes or comments on anything, novels, screenplays, blogs whatever should think twice about what they write because some idiot out there might want to act it out.
According to you anyone who writes or comments on anything, novels, screenplays, blogs whatever should think twice about what they write because some idiot out there might want to act it out.
This isn't about "according to me". This is about a recent event. And I'm talking strictly about movies, which as you already know, starts with a screenplay. It only takes one spark to light a fuse. And there's a lot of short fuses walking around out there. Again, not trying to start a heated debate. Just looking for personal beliefs, thoughts and opinions on the subject.
I personally, in both my writing and in the films I prefer, have no problem with violence, but tend to have a problem with senseless violence. The whole torture porn thing. First of all, senseless violence is lazy, cheap story telling. Yes, watching a cute girl have her throat sliced gets a reaction out of an audience. But what kind of talent does it take for that?
I think it's reasonable to feel some sense of responsibility in what we write, or what is filmed. I don't know where that line is, and I'm really not going to suggest how anyone should draw it. I'll merely say that it's a good thing if one at least has a hint of a conscious about their contribution to the collective intellectual and moral stew of our time.
People have been comitting acts of violence, murder, torture throughout the ages, long before printed or filmed media were available. Mal adjusted individuals will align themeselves with whatever violence they can identify with, be it a film or a tiger mauling it's prey.
A writer has a voice and a responsibility. Sometimes we should show what is morally right and sometimes what is morally wrong and the consequences of those actions.
The morally questionable stuff that is protrayed as 'normal' in day time soap, is far more damaging than the violence protrayed in films.
If people look to film as their moral compass, that says alot about society and parenting.
PS: Out of respect for those who lost their lives, I also think you should retitle this thread something like 'The Responsibility of the Writer'. That would be your first responsibility . . .
I think it's reasonable to feel some sense of responsibility in what we write, or what is filmed. I don't know where that line is, and I'm really not going to suggest how anyone should draw it. I'll merely say that it's a good thing if one at least has a hint of a conscious about their contribution to the collective intellectual and moral stew of our time.
A writer has a voice and a responsibility. Sometimes we should show what is morally right and sometimes what is morally wrong and the consequences of those actions.
The morally questionable stuff that is protrayed as 'normal' in day time soap, is far more damaging than the violence protrayed in films.
If people look to film as their moral compass, that says alot about society and parenting.
Well said.
PS - Eoin, not sure if I agree with your suggestion to change the title of this thread, but so be it.
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