Violent America

As Americans, how do we define ourselves? Do we identify with the local communities that we grow up in? Or do we have a national self-image that “true Americans” must subscribe to?

The answers to these questions are constantly being written and re-written, evolving with the times and with our understanding of the world. However, when looking at American media over time, a disturbing notion comes to the surface.

We are a violent nation.

For decades, the popular media we have produced has shown images of violence without consequences.

From brutal westerns (like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly) to gritty crime films (like Dirty Harry), cinema is filled with images of hyper-masculine men running about, guns a-blazing, shooting down bad guys one shot at a time. Fast-paced action films follow such a typical formula that explosions and car chases have become expected in the summer blockbusters that fill our multiplexes.

And then there’s popular music. While film is filled with images of violence, many musical artists fuse violent imagery into their lyrics, singing about gang raping and drive-by shootings. These themes have found themselves on our radio airwaves and have become a part of the American pop cultural image.

With movies and music so steeped in this violent mentality, it’s not surprising that video game companies have been releasing more and more games featuring graphic violence. In the Grand Theft Auto series, players can beat up prostitutes with baseball bats and run over pedestrians with cars. Playing these video games is a way of living out the violent images we see in other forms of popular American media.

What affect are these violent forms of media having on our perception of masculinity? If you were to solely look at popular media, it would seem as if the dominant American male is a hyper-masculine, hyper-heterosexual figure who has no qualms about instigating violence. When characters like Dirty Harry and Niko Bellic are the figures we grow up seeing in the media, they must have some affect on the predominantly male audience that watches and studies these characters.

But, this isn't just a male phenomenon. Popular media has defined women as being passive and fragile, awaiting the help and support of a strong male figure. As much as "entertainment violence" helps support a masculine stereotype, it reinforces long withstanding stereotypes of women as well.

Let me be clear; I’m not advocating the censorship of popular media. That would be counter to creative development. However, when this excessive violence becomes commonplace, I believe that it is important to look at the music we’re listening to, the movies we’re watching, the games we’re playing and realize the social significance of these forms of “entertainment.” Only then can we see our media for what it truly is.

Why, how and when did we start down this path towards media violence? I can’t begin to answer that. However, one thing is for certain.

We live in a violent America. And it doesn’t look like we’re going to pacify our media anytime soon.