tsk, tsk. kids these days.

One reason you see violence and sex so often associated (as in, "In America they promote violence and suppress sex, while in Europe they promote sex and suppress violence) is because, to the human psyche, they're very similar. They both provide psychological pleasure in the same way - in a sense, violence has become sexualized. Similarly, in many non-american films, sex is depicted quite violently. I don't think you can necessarily condemn any country for an emphasis on one or the other, per se, as humans (particularly men) are naturally drawn to and aroused by both.

Though, yes, I agree that the way the MPAA assigns its ratings based on violence and sex are ridiculous.

And who combined sex and violence better than Michael Davis in Shoot 'Em Up!

quote:

Originally posted by Cinematical:
Though, yes, I agree that the way the MPAA assigns its ratings based on violence and sex are ridiculous.

You guys should all watch This Film Is Not Yet Rated if you haven't yet. Great documentary on how ridiculous and shady the whole MPAA ratings board is.

That is a great film.

Tru dat!

In my opinion, I think we need to EVOLVE as human beings. We need to be exploring space, not sitting on earth, waging wars and *****ing about sex on TV, or in films. I mean, COME THE F--K ON, SEX is what makes us and we can't even look at that with maturity... instead we focus on it as a bad thing. I'm not saying I do not believe in censorship, what I'm saying is we point the blame for these "bad things" that happen to us on sex and violence (among other things.) As a species, we need to evolve and advance. Though I don't expect that to be happen for a long time. At least not in my lifetime. (And I'm not being cynical at all... hah)

Ironic that curse words are censored on this website

(it's understandable)

But I can't see how we're going to "evolve and advance" if we have an irresponsible approach to this constant bombardment of unfiltered information. Of course there's a place for freedom of expression; I don't want to be driving down a freeway and see scrolling news headlines on billboards telling me how many more people have just died. It would be nice to choose when a particularly evil tidbit might pop out at me (I was in line at Disneyland and the television monitor above the coffee counter was broadcasting about a toddler found stuffed in a suitcase!) I wish we could evolve in a way that appreciates not all of us want our kids watching South Park or American Dad. At this point, though, the industry's responding to the demand, which creates the market. Nobody cares as long as everyone makes money...(And I'm not being cynical either )

quote:

In my opinion, I think we need to EVOLVE as human beings. We need to be exploring space, not sitting on earth, waging wars and *****ing about sex on TV, or in films. I mean, COME THE F--K ON, SEX is what makes us and we can't even look at that with maturity... instead we focus on it as a bad thing. I'm not saying I do not believe in censorship, what I'm saying is we point the blame for these "bad things" that happen to us on sex and violence (among other things.) As a species, we need to evolve and advance. Though I don't expect that to be happen for a long time. At least not in my lifetime. (And I'm not being cynical at all... hah)

I find it pathetic that the same person wanting maturity and evolution is trying to make a film called "Blow Job" ripped off from another filmmaker.

Ouch. Warhol didn't coin or own rights to the phrase "blow job"! Aren't film titles recycled all the time anyway? (Although I'm sure no one would make a film called Citizen Kane)

quote:

Originally posted by hsteinbrick:

I find it pathetic that the same person wanting maturity and evolution is trying to make a film called "Blow Job" ripped off from another filmmaker.

First off, before you attack my film for being immature, why don't you wait and see it? It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to have ANY opinion of my film, considering I haven't made it yet. That's sort've like you naming your film something and me automatically discrediting you simply because the title. I would NEVER do that as a filmmaker... as I consider that a huge mistake... and a very close minded one at that.

At least your provocative title has provoked a lot of comment, Mark! I'm looking forward to reading your script. It's cute that people are accusing you of ripping off Warhol, who was a master at riffing/ripping off the ideas of others...

I'm not sure what this thread is exactly about. Are we opining about the fact that the world is violent today, or that we hear about violence so much?

People have always been crazy. Ever hear of Jack the Ripper? The Civil War? Violence has always been around. And yes, we always hear about it. I think what's more damaging is the bizarre fixation on people like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Miley Cyrus. These people aren't even real, they're cyphers, yet there are people who literally dedicate their lives to following these people's every exploit.

The whole world has never been able to immediately access every possible detail about the violent episodes you refer to the way we do now. All of us from birth on are bombarded by the media. It's inescapable. People like Paris, Britney, Miley are real people and it's so easy to forget that all of those violent depictions aren't just someone's fantasy like Hansel and Gretel; there is torture and evildoers do unleash horrors on our planet. It's disturbing (we're not barbarians anymore) that our culture deems recreations of this appropriate entertainment suitable for any audience without parental controls. Granted we don't put peoples heads on spikes anymore or encourage our kids to use someone's guillotined head as a soccer ball, but our bloodlust is as prevalent as ever!

to answer the original poster's question:

i think what is wrong with kids these days is the fact that they're human... Despite the archetype society that people idealize, people are people... replace people with robots... problem solved.

People get the most satisfaction out of enriching the lives of others, but this goes against human nature which involves looking after the self before the group.... why doesn't communism work? because it goes against human nature... if humans were capable of shedding their instinct of self preservation, anarchy would be the ideal form of government... why be violent? because it is easier than trying to love. What makes it hard is that when you try to love, the payback is far greater...but you have to work for it, and as the western world will show you: it is much easier to make somebody else work to make you happy, than to take the time to do it yourself.

i think that when you get to the bottom of it, it isn't about what people see on TV or in films. It's about the fact that what people see on tv (free market economy at work) is the easiest and quickest means of getting any kind of satisfaction out of life.....

do people go out and shoot kids in their school because they saw it on TV? Of course not! They do it, because it is the easiest and quickest, and most obvious way of getting any kind of satisfaction out of a life devoid of love....and when you you get down to human nature, it makes sense.

my $0.02...sorry for rambling

I'm not saying we should go Vulcan; although humans have choice, instant gratification is impulse driven, which diminishes the capacity for conscious choice. For me, it's about how immature brains process immature content. It's a concern.