Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Natural Born Killers Moral Panic - 1,416 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

... dia exposure. I feel that people panic and blame the media in order to find some way of justifying the behaviour of such people. People find it far less frightening to think that someone in society has committed a crime because of the influence of a 'video nasty', than to think that they did it because of the sort of person they are. "the moral panic about television violence may deflect attention away from other possible causes of social unrest K" (pg 14, The Media Studies Book- A Guide for Teachers) I feel that the above quote is very true, and I feel that it is important not to blame the media but to look at other contributing issues and factors. When a moral panic occurs, people think that it must be a general social effect when it is more likely to be a deviant minority.

Moral panics often lead to tightening up of film classification by the British Board of Film Classification (B. B. F. C. ) Watersheds and film classifications play a big role in the effect of the media, as they are there to govern what is suitable for people to watch. If it wasn't for these controls, I feel that the media would have a much wider social effect. The watershed is the 9 pm pivotal point of evening television.

The programmes before the watershed must always be suitable for viewing by children and the earlier they are, the more suitable they must be. This means that programme makers should always take into account the time that their programme is being transmitted when considering the content. Scenes of violence may well make a programme unsuitable for pre- 9 pm placing. Often the voice that introduces the next programme will alert viewers if it contains content that is violent, sexual or distressing. As the following quote says: "Forewarned is forearmed, and with clear information, viewers can and do exercise their choice" (Will Wyatt) The BBFC is a private company, set up by the film industry because of fears of government control.

The board was once very secretive about their operations but now they conduct a lot of market research to find out what audiences think and publish the reasons for their actions regarding film controls, on their web-site. They have also become a lot more relaxed, and films that have been previously banned such as A Clockwork Orange and Natural Born Killers, have now had their bans lifted. Controls over films often depend on what is happening at the time, and this is also true of television programmes. An example of this is the recent restrictions on films showing acts of terrorism, due to the tragic events in America. Sensitivity is very important at such times. Concern over young people's access to violent videos rose in the early 1990 's.

A number of highly publicised crimes of aggression in which a violent film was implicated (most notably the linking of the James Bulger murder with a video, Child's Play 3) resulted in further restrictions being enacted in 1994. The BBFC now has to take into account the psychological impact of videos on children and the possibility that they will present inappropriate role models. As I have already mentioned, inappropriate role models can be very damaging for children. I feel that violence in computer games is becoming a lot more of a problem than it once was. Due to the increase in technology, computer games are now more like films, with very realistic looking characters and settings.

An example of such a game is Grand Theft Auto 3 for the Playstation 2. It is a controversial game in which you 'become' the man who is able to run people over, shoot people and become involved in police chases. It is very graphic, as when you run over somebody it shows blood and plays a realistic sound. The game was banned in Australia as it was deemed too violent. In Britain it has been given an 18 certificate, but I feel that this won't prevent children from being able to play it. They will just borrow it from someone older.

I dont feel that certificates on games are as restrictive as they are on films. The news can be regarded as the most violent programme in the television schedule, and the reality of what is being shown can make it particularly disturbing for an audience. On September 11 th, the terrorist attacks in America and their aftermath were broadcast live on the news all day, and on every channel. This meant that people were witnessing the most violent act the world has ever seen, at first hand. I feel that this sort of viewing is bound to have an effect on an audience, but I feel that the effects can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, the news should shock viewers.

The violence that everyone witnessed could have the effect of educating people about how awful terrorism and violence is and how many lives can be devastated by it. It can also help us to empathize with the people involved. On the other hand there is the risk that too much violence being shown could either cause people to become more fearful of the world they live in or desensitized to violence. Both of these effects could damage peoples' quality of life. It must be considered that the more viewers are shocked the more it will take to shock them. I will now discuss the possible positive and negative effects of the film The Terminator.

The Terminator was made in the eighties, at a time where people were afraid of advances in technology. The cyborg in the film is a machine that looks human, which could also reflect the fear about developments in medical science. I feel that The Terminator could have the effect of making people feel that they have a reason to be afraid of technology, and could therefore make them more fearful of the world they live in. I feel that the film goes a long way to prevent imitation because it makes it clear that he is a machine by showing him removing his eye. This will prevent people identifying with his character and therefore reduce the chance of copycat crime. Violence is presented as futile in the film, which is a positive thing.

The machine is finally defeated by the intelligence of the female protagonist, Sarah, who would provide a positive role model for females. The cathartic element is also worth considering, as the film would release aggression within the audience and give them a chance to experience violence in a safe environment. To conclude this essay, I feel it is virtually impossible to measure the effects of violence in the media, as the media cannot be isolated from all other potential influences in society. I agree that children and the mentally ill are vulnerable and should always be protected by film classifications and watersheds, so that they do not view unsuitable material. Parents should also be responsible enough to make sure their children do not view unsuitable material on the television. I don't think that it is the content of the media that causes people to commit crimes, but more to do with the unstable or vulnerable individual who is not able to distinguish fiction from reality.

The media doesn't tell people to go out and commit crimes but it could trigger psychological problems within a person or generate mixed messages which people wrongly interpret. Most responsible adults are able to distinguish fiction from reality and adapt what they are viewing with their own beliefs and personal experience. Most people take a 'middle way', and only 'take in' what they agree with, disregarding the rest. I feel that the media is always going to be connected with negativity and regarded as powerful, but for most people it only as powerful as we allow it to be. Bibliography Articles: Wyatt, Will, 'The Problem of Violence', BBC Handbook- Guidelines for T. V Producers Regarding Violence and Censorship Books: BBC Handbook- Guidelines for T. V Producers Regarding Violence and Censorship Lusted, David, The Media Studies Book- A Guide for Teachers (London: Routledge, 1991) Asa Berger, Arthur, Media Analysis Techniques (CA: Sage, 1999, 2 nd Ed. ) Filmography Child's Play 3 - Universal Pictures, 1991 Clockwork Orange, A - Warner Bros. , 1971 Fight Club Natural Born Killers Terminator, The - MGM, 1984


Free research essays on topics related to: role models, commit crimes, clockwork orange, natural born killers, moral panic

Research essay sample on Natural Born Killers Moral Panic

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com