The Culmination Theory

The culmination theory!!!

This is the first stage of my research into my hypothesis. This theory in a nutshell suggests that if a person is subjected to the viewing of many violent films over the years it could effect there view on violence making them less sensitive to the aspect and effects of it or maybe even make them a violent person.

IN DEPTH...

(Information retracted from www.northallertoncoll.org.uk on the 6th/Nov/2008 )

The culmination theory suggests that while no one media text while have no great effect on the viewer years and years of watching violence may make you less sensitive to violence in reality or years of watching women being miss-treated in soaps on T.V may make you less sensitive to the idea in reality. However the difficulty of this theory is that it is really difficult to prove and many people have tried to prove it in the past with no real success. Many people have a general sense that the media does in someway effect our behavior but it is extremely difficulty to determine to what extent it is effecting people. This however does not prove that there is no link between the two!

If this theory however was true it would mean that films such as Snatch and Rock 'n Rolla will influence the people who watched it particularly with the younger generation to commit crime as they may like the gangster lifestyle that is portrayed in the films.

Evidence?

In 1974 Stanley Kubricks film A Clockwork Orange was banned in Britain due to numerous cases of violence said to be linked to the film.

(Film Description taken from www.thefileroom.org 06/11/08)

The film based on a book of the same name, takes place in a future England and follows a teenaged gang leader who enjoys rape and ultraviolence. He volunteers for a rehabillitation programme which removes his desire for violence, but leaves him suicidal.

The British Board of Film had realeased an uncut version of the film rated X and immediately received a number of complaints that the film would damage society by inspiring teenagers to violence. Throughout 1972 and 73 police had linked several cases to the film that had been committed by teenagers. One of the culprits in a particular case admitted to reading the book which was enough proof for the public to slate Kubricks work. Stanley Kubrick then took it on himself to ban the film from being viewed.

It wasnt untill Stanley died that his family brought the film back out in 1999

This renowned action in film history would suggest that the culmination theory to extent is correct and that this text has effected them. However there are many things that would go against this theory.

Also these actions could fall under the Hyperdermic Syringe theory which is a more basic, monkey see monkey do theory where which people are seen to just copy what they see on screen.

 I will have to take a more in depth look into reprts on the crimes linked to the clockwork orange to see the truth.