Task Six: Violence in the Media

1. What is this text, and where did you first see it?

This text is a clip from the film Edge of Darkness. It shows a woman who has gotten out of the front passenger seat of a car. She then gets hit by an oncoming car traveling at a very high speed. I viewed this film with my mother and father at our home.

2. What type of violence is being represented in this media text? (Sanitized, choreographed, gratuitous?)

I think the violence being represented is gratuitous. Not only does the scene startle you, but it makes you want to turn away. The scene happens very quickly, and it does not give you the oportunity to make a choice of whether you want to view the violence or not. As well, the distance that the woman travels after being hit by the car was very far, and somewhat unrealistic.

3. What classifies your choice as either justifiable or gratuitous? Explain your reasoning.

I do not feel that the scene is overly gratuitous. It is slightly overdone, and the fact that you are not given enough time to make the decision of watching it or not makes it gratuitous. As well, the woman had just helped someone, and she was rewarded by being hit by a car. I feel that the circumstances make it more gratuitous. If it had been an antagonist being hit by a car I think that the reaction from people may have been different, but that is obviously not the case.

4. Can anyoen view this image, or is it controlled by a rating? Do you agree with the availability of this text? Can children view this text?

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rated this film R, meaning that children under 17 are able to view this film with the accompaniment of either a parent or an adult guardian. This means that it is possible under certain circumstances, for a child of any age to see this film. I do not feel that it is appropriate for anyone under about 16, not only due to the graphic violence scenes, but the fact that the plot is simply too complex for them to grasp.

5. What is your personal reaction to this piece of media?

My personal reaction to this piece of media is that it is over the top. Although it does get a "how did they do it" reaction, and it does entertain, I feel they could have accomplished the same thing by changing this particular scene. I kinow that other people probably have a different opinion about the scene, but I feel that it is gratuitous. I am not usually someone who is affected by violencce scenes, but this particular one did make me turn away. Within the few minutes of getting to know the character, you feel pathos for her because she decides to help a father looking for his daughter's killer even though she has her own family at home to protect. You are made aware of the risks she is taking to do something good for someone else. I do not feel that killing her was necessary, or at least not the method and graphicness used.