Summary of Do Video Games Kill by Karen Stemheimer In the commentary, “Do Video Games Kill”, Karen Sternheimer brings to light an interesting and incredibly controversial subject; are video games to blame for youth gun violence? She maintains that due to many biased opinions; political, religious and advocacy groups, the media have failed to provide ample information to the public resulting in the inability to form an educated opinion, in turn causing a mass hysteria resulting in tougher security guidelines in schools, stricter juvenile laws and far less personal and parental responsibility. An incredibly popular first person shooter video game, Doom, is ripe with gratuitous violence. So much so that it has been blamed for several mass shootings, perpetrated by middle-class, white, young-adult males. The media, politicians, advocacy groups as well as the FBI are steadfast in claiming that the only rational explanation is that of the individuals falling prey to the aggression inciting video game.
Argument The Hart-Celler Immigration Bill was passed over forty years ago, on Oct. 3, 1965. “The legislation, which phased out the national origins quota system first instituted in 1921, created the foundation of today's immigration law.” Today, the unexpected has happened and has created the greatest wave of immigration in our nation's history. More than eighteen million legal immigrants, over triple the number during the previous thirty years, as well as undocumented millions of illegal immigrants have come to America since the law's passage. And the new immigrants are more likely to stay in America for the remainder of their lives. In addition, this new, inflamed immigration flow came from countries such as Asia and Latin America.
The quixotic nature of the fans hatred is unbearable to say the least, impractical as can be. By becoming extremely religious and exemplifying great leadership qualities, Ray has tried to ameliorate his public image. Ray is also a gregarious man, enjoying the company of many others. However, the fastidious fans that hate on Ray are never going to let him live down the murder
Tony's actions put a strain between him and Johnny, to the point where the two of them know that they can't exist with the other, in the end Tony kills Johnny. The film caused a lot of controversy when it was first released due to its depiction of the world of gangsterism, and was banned or deeply censored in many states. “A story of relentless hunger for power and wealth, carried out with violence” (Cinematrio). With various themes and motifs, unforgettable editing, and an important deeper message, “Scarface” is truly one of the most memorable and influential films of all times. The mise-en-scene in “Scarface” makes for an engaging film.
The issue on the sale of firearms is a highly disputed one. There are those that believe weapons should be completely banned, undoubtedly resulting in a decrease in crime and murder. However, to those who love to hunt and shoot skeet, this would be extremely unfair. Many people rely on guns as self-defense, never causing unjust harm. It is a debate that has no right answer, and two justifiable sides.
By capitalizing on thrillers like aggression, much of entertainment has distorted human character and promoted violence. Many producers exploit violence because sensational material sells; chances for a show's success increase about 16% if it is violent. Sex, violence, and profanity in movies have therefore increased in the past decade.
It is necessary to take a closer look at whether or not violence in the media really is responsible for this development and then to examine what censorship may entail before taking such a far-reaching decision. Many concerned people, ranging from worried parents through to reputable psychologists, deplore the ever-present nature of violence in the media, claiming that this is the reason why people are increasingly prepared to commit violent acts. They argue that violence is being propagated as normal or even entertaining. Violence is in the newspapers, on the news, in film plots and in cartoons. Violence is a source of laughter in children's programs; films present it as staple fare; it is served as pseudo-information in sensation-hungry newspapers and on reality TV; and it is even glorified by some musicians in their lyrics and performances.
They believe this was a right that they were given by our Four Fathers, which is clearly not true. Yes, they have the freedom of speech but when should the freedom be taken away? What about the rights of the innocent victims and their families? Hate crimes, because of their nature will always lead to violence and this is not a freedom that people should have. In my opinion, the penalties for hate crimes should continue to be more severe than that of a regular crime because so many innocent people are injured and even killed simply because they are different.
Though there still exists many restrictions on what one can depict on TV and in movies, many citizens argue that we need more regulations on what can and can not be seen in the theater or one's living room. However, these loosing of the bonds on television and cinema is, in actuality, a liberation of creative freedom that artists in America rightly deserve. That is not to say that sex and violence should always be considered creative expression, but in the battle to protect our morals, it is morally wrong to chain down our nation's artists with restrictions that hold back their ability to channel their creative vision and hold the mirror up to society and life. The primary purpose of the visual arts is to reflect, in one medium or another, our history as a society and the nature of our existence as human beings. This is the duty of filmmakers.
Many people attribute the increase in violent youth to the increase of violence in the media. There is a common belief that television, films and video games are to be blamed for making children deem that violence is not only acceptable, but a necessary way of solving conflict. Some blockbuster movies that top the charts tend to be action-packed, such as the Terminator in 1984 or films about superheroes that save the day by destroying the villains. Superman, Batman and Spiderman are the perfect examples. The youth are then influenced by observing these behaviours and mimicking the actions of these so-called heroes.