I think people are becoming desensitized to violence and porn, and it's quite worrying.
But I don't think only cinema is to blame; there's also our perception - due to the media - that the world is a much more violent place today than it really is and the general upbringing of children, especially in the UK and US, which is based on what material gains and education you can provide and disregards the importance of attatchment and security.
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 16 2009, 11:01 AM BSTMe too. I like horror films - it's specifically the ones that centre on torture that worry me. As Sooty says - it concerns me that kids especially are watching this grotesque cruelty and are becoming desensitized to truly harrowing images of screaming people being tortured in the most unimaginable way.
I have the same concerns about young people watching Coming of Age and becoming desensitised. 
Mind you where do you draw the line? I mean I love Peckinpah, Tarrantion and Cronenberg. And they're one and all nasty bastards.
Do we say no to stuff that we consider bad art?
I mean look at the news for the last week we've had endless footage of a policeman beating some one to death.
I suppose the hard question is it's access to information these days.
I mean in days gone by 18 meant kids couldn't get into cinemas and most families only had one TV in the lounge.
Now if you've got a pound you can go to an internet cafe and watch everything from beheadings to torture.
Certainly alot of prostitutes charities have noted a disturbing increase in customers wanting to fulfill increasingly violent fantasies.
With endless access to what ever images we wish to see. Are we reaching the stage that we've got more information than we can handle and censorship wouldn't be such a bad thing?
I think you have to work on why some people enjoy it and why others want to avoid it.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 16 2009, 11:18 AM BSTI think you have to work on why some people enjoy it and why others want to avoid it.
You're leaning dangerously close to making a value judgement about people who enjoy it.
Is that an inherently bad thing? I mean the law on violent images in pornography is being strengthened because such material has been linked to some very nasty violent crimes.
Quote: sootyj @ April 16 2009, 11:23 AM BSTIs that an inherently bad thing? I mean the law on violent images in pornography is being strengthened because such material has been linked to some very nasty violent crimes.
Yes, but I think the enjoyment you get from that sort of imagery is as much masochistic as sadistic.
Quote: chipolata @ April 16 2009, 11:25 AM BSTYes, but I think the enjoyment you get from that sort of imagery is as much masochistic as sadistic.
Either way, it might not be that healthy. A lot of violent criminals have very low self-esteem, for example.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 16 2009, 11:27 AM BSTEither way, it might not be that healthy. A lot of violent criminals have very low self-esteem, for example.
Yes, but are you advocating more censorship because some people get off on or use the stuff to egg themselves onto greater crimes. After all, nobody wants to ban the Quran yet it clearly eggs on a lot of people to do bad bad things.
When I was younger I could watch any horror and not be affected by it. I thought it was sick... but recently I can't watch anything gruesome without wanting to be sick! 
Maybe this is where smart censorhip comes in? Heaven knows how it would work.
But there is a quanitifiable diference between Picasos Gurnica, The Bible and Hostel.
Quote: chipolata @ April 16 2009, 11:28 AM BSTYes, but are you advocating more censorship because some people get off on or use the stuff to egg themselves onto greater crimes. After all, nobody wants to ban the Quran yet it clearly eggs on a lot of people to do bad bad things.
No. I'm saying you don't need censorship if people are in their right minds. That needs prevention, whereas censorship is a cure - or rather a sticking plaster over a gaping, pus-seeping, flesh cut made by a rusty cheese wire soaked in acid. 
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 16 2009, 11:46 AM BSTNo. I'm saying you don't need censorship if people are in their right minds.
So we need censorship for people in their wrong minds? How would that work again?
The last horror I watched was 'Dracula has risen from the grave' (mid sixties Hammer). My brother's mate was a projectionist and I got in at a very under age age and from then on I have not been interested.
And how big a big girl am I? The picture scared me so I think that says a lot.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ April 16 2009, 11:46 AM BSTNo. I'm saying you don't need censorship if people are in their right minds. That needs prevention, whereas censorship is a cure - or rather a sticking plaster over a gaping, pus-seeping, flesh cut made by a rusty cheese wire soaked in acid.
I mean filth porn and nastiness for educated, "sane" elite?
We accept that in a fair society certain things are not acceptable; encouraging law breaking, paedophilic images, racism etc.
The question is how far do we extend or not extend these laws.