The effect that media has on viewers is a topic of great debate and concern in communities all over the world. There has been much research and endless debate surrounding the impact violence in media has had on the viewing public, especially when considering films. This research has produced countless theories and approaches in the attempt to explain what exactly happens to viewers when they watch these violent programs. While there are many debates and approaches surrounding the effects of media, some of the more popular include moral panics, hypodermic needle theory, the limited effects model, and mean world syndrome. The Warriors (1979) is an American film directed by Walter Hill. This movie is a drama centered around a New York City gang,
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The problems associated with this theory are the assumption of a passive audience and that individuals have no difference between one another. With critics assuming that The Warriors (1979) would cause an increase in violence among gang members, they are using, likely unknowingly, the hypodermic needle theory. This suggests that individuals in gangs barely have minds of their own and they simply do as they are told to do, which is completely untrue. If this were true, This kind of dialogue also creates a sense of otherness that these individuals are different from higher class citizens and should be treated as such. This is unhealthy dialogue in the struggle to understand one another and to create a society where everyone can prosper. While many newspaper columnists claimed The Warriors (1979) was irresponsible and irredeemable in its showcase of gang violence in New York City, I would argue the opposite. “Warriors, come out to play”: Considering the Role of Films in Moral Panics about Cinema Violence (2016) states that the movie takes the lives and concerns of its characters seriously, including their frustration with the American Dream. The movie did not glorify or condemn street gangs, but rather simply showed an entertaining drama with a happy ending. It was obvious that the director, Walter Hill, took certain situations seriously in the film. For …show more content…
This theory says that the media is only one factor amongst many and only sometimes can the media be the only factor. Rather, there is a two step flow of communication: from the media to opinion leaders to the general public. “Warriors, come out to play”: Considering the Role of Films in Moral Panics about Cinema Violence (2016) states that there were a number of incidents surrounding the release of The Warriors (1979). Most of them reported of altercations leading to death by groups of black youth. While it may be convenient and easy to blame these incidents solely on the movie, there is always the possibility that other factors were present as well, as the limited effects model suggests. It’s not justifiable to just blame the movie for the violence that occurred surrounding the
The problems associated with this theory are the assumption of a passive audience and that individuals have no difference between one another. With critics assuming that The Warriors (1979) would cause an increase in violence among gang members, they are using, likely unknowingly, the hypodermic needle theory. This suggests that individuals in gangs barely have minds of their own and they simply do as they are told to do, which is completely untrue. If this were true, This kind of dialogue also creates a sense of otherness that these individuals are different from higher class citizens and should be treated as such. This is unhealthy dialogue in the struggle to understand one another and to create a society where everyone can prosper. While many newspaper columnists claimed The Warriors (1979) was irresponsible and irredeemable in its showcase of gang violence in New York City, I would argue the opposite. “Warriors, come out to play”: Considering the Role of Films in Moral Panics about Cinema Violence (2016) states that the movie takes the lives and concerns of its characters seriously, including their frustration with the American Dream. The movie did not glorify or condemn street gangs, but rather simply showed an entertaining drama with a happy ending. It was obvious that the director, Walter Hill, took certain situations seriously in the film. For …show more content…
This theory says that the media is only one factor amongst many and only sometimes can the media be the only factor. Rather, there is a two step flow of communication: from the media to opinion leaders to the general public. “Warriors, come out to play”: Considering the Role of Films in Moral Panics about Cinema Violence (2016) states that there were a number of incidents surrounding the release of The Warriors (1979). Most of them reported of altercations leading to death by groups of black youth. While it may be convenient and easy to blame these incidents solely on the movie, there is always the possibility that other factors were present as well, as the limited effects model suggests. It’s not justifiable to just blame the movie for the violence that occurred surrounding the