Indirect Violence in Film
Генри Бэйкон
Докладчик
профессор
Хельсинский университет
Хельсинский университет
кинозал
2014-03-12
13:00 -
13:40
Ключевые слова, аннотация
The paper deals with so-called relational or indirect violence in films.
Тезисы
Bioculturalist
approach can be fruitfully employed to explain why fictional violence is such
an integral part of both our art an entertainment. In any cultural context aggression
related biological traits are controlled and shaped in order to insure both the
internal order and the security of a community. William Flesch has argued that his
process is guided by the tendency to admire altruistic punishers, who without
self-interest assume the task of punishing evildoers. Spectators of such
actions tend to react to it emotionally, both spontaneously and via reflection,
thus giving the experience both an emotional and a meta-emotional aspect. This
plays an important role in relating to the ways in which resorting to violence
is justified in mainstream films. This scenario has a strong emotional appeal,
even if the spectator would deplore such means in real life contexts. This
discrepancy emerges even more strongly in the revenge scenario, which in a
fictional context can appear satisfying and empowering despite the moral qualms
the spectator might have concerning the ethics of revenge. Because of the deeply
ingrained cult of individuality and doubts about the efficacy of government in
maintaining law and order, these narrative patterns have developed especially
strongly within American popular culture. However, judging by the worldwide
success of such films, their appeal is nonetheless quite universal.