Can the Media Influence you for better and worse? A look at influence from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Anyone who knows me, would know that I do not believe that Media specifically the fictional mediums that involve violence, can influence people to commit real life violence. I even recorded an Essay regarding my theory that media in general is a mirror, rather reflecting what we see in our daily lives as seen here:

https://cieir.blogspot.com/search?q=Mirror

However recently I have come to the realization that while I do not think Media is capable of doing so at the very least on a huge scale or believe that it's the direct cause of violence, I do think people through the media have tried and sometimes even succeeded in influencing our actions for better and worse. 

Unlike my video I won't go completely back in time, but mostly highlight moments where Media could influence you for better. 

First let's start with a tame example, Sci-Fi movies of the 1950s.

While many of them have been hailed as classics, others seem to at best not know or at worst outright ignore things for the sake of entertainment only to find some of those things they ignored rubbed off on them in some way.

My personal favorite examples are The Fly and Invasion of The Body Snatchers. Because once looked at through a certain perspective, it's hard not to see it. 

In the case of Invasion of The Body Snatchers. A movie about a group of humans who discover a plot by an alien plant-like race who wish to kill and replace humans. Making them exactly alike in every way, but lacking emotions.  While a terrifying movie on it's own right, it was originally made to be an Anti-Communist Party Propaganda piece. The idea being the Pod People, representing communism one day dominating the world and everyone losing their individuality as the result of it.  However, while everyone is well aware of that message, what they don't know is that due to the result of they based the race of pod people on, it can also double as an anti-environmental message as well. The pod people while a dangerous and deadly group, are basically giant seeds with the bodies being their bloom. The only way to stop them is to cut them down or burn them. No different than killing a human on the surface, however it is often equated to how one can permanently destroy plant life. It comes at no surprise that one of many movies funding back then was predominantly supplied by Oil Men and Slaughterhouse Owners.  People who make their money destroying the earth and try to convince us we're communists if we don't join them. Of course not all of it is in greed and money. Which leads me to the second example:

The Fly. No not the Jeff Goldblum one, but rather the 1958 Vincent Price film. About a scientist who tries to invent a safer alternative to transportation than planes and cars. Only to have a horrific accident that swaps his head and some of his brain to that of a common housefly. Tasking his wife to help him go back to normal. Both films were the subject to downer endings which end with the titular character being killed. Much of the movie, is spent with the characters lamenting the invention of the teleporters due to what happened to the title character. Which as stated in regards to Body-Snatchers is the industrial producers way of saying "Teleport bad, buy a car instead." And while there have been films that were created before and after this, it expanded more into religious territory. Movies like the Fly, Attack of The 50 Foot Woman and The Incredible Shrinking Man among most, have a running theme of science being bad and that anyone who gets hit with it, especially if they are the cause of the thing that created the disaster; get no sympathy and deserve to die in the end. That's right, Religious Influence was also at play in how these kind of movies are created. In this case, Fox, which was beginning to transition from a financially troubled studio to a Christian/Republican-Dominated powerhouse which had branches everywhere. Fom Movies, to TV and Video Games.  

Ironically it was the worst of them, that tipped me off. 

Plan 9 From Outer Space. Created by Ed Wood and was Post-Humorously Bela Lugosi's last film. About aliens who use advanced tech to bring the dead back to life, because they fear humans are stupid and destructive.  Now most studios, where depending on the country and which religion dominates said country due to the owner being of that religion and expecting his or her employees to adhere to those laws along with company rules; they never go out of their way and call themselves by their religion, politics or employers, but rather let their mediums do the talking for them. Plan 9 on the other hand was funded by Valiant Pictures, which was a known Christian company and while mostly funding the movie had put in suggestions themselves.  Such as Plan 9 being changed from the original title: Grave Robbers From Outer Space. However like the previous examples I mentioned, their influence here is just as obvious as even the not so subtle companies. Since despite the Aliens' well intentions, they're robbing graves and die a fiery death which could easily be interpreted as them going to Hell for what they did. 

Just from those three examples and the reception that followed them, one can easily believe that Media can influence us and our actions. Which seemed to be true, since those that enjoyed these movies were mostly men, meat eaters and Christians themselves. However not one of them committed the very violence that would later become subject in eras of filmmaking that follows. 

Welcome to the 1960s. This was a time when the wheels of the Cold War kept turning, but we focused more on fighting our own countries internally while living under constant fear of an external attack. But for good reason, even though this was the era where Civil Rights and Minority Privilege was just getting the ground work, activists had to fight tooth and nail to make sure it stayed there or went away depending on how you viewed it then.  Because of the fight, in an effort to get us to focus on the war anyone that was fighting for Women's Rights, Rights of People of Color or protesting the War on Nam, were labelled communists even if said protesters were war veterans themselves. And like an electronic mirror the media showed both sides in an exaggerated light. 

Even my favorite era of James Bond films, the Sean Connery Era was no exception. While James is a badass in all eras, each one of them has done something very unpleasant to the modern eye and Goldfinger was no exception. Both the movie and book, had a supporting character or in the business "Bond Girl" as they are called, named "Pussy Galore". What many people except hardcore fans know, is that Pussy Galore is in fact a homosexual. A lesbian to be specific. In what is now a controversial scene, James was able to what many activists dread to call "Convert" Miss Galore into heterosexuality as part of a plan to get her to replace the deadly nerve gas, she and her all female flying acrobat team were planning on spraying Fort Knox with, with a harmless sleeping gas. A scene many considered to be rape by the protagonist.  In an effort to soften the controversy, her actress Honor Blackman came up with a backstory in which, Galore wasn't really a lesbian and that she thought she was due to abuse laid out to her by Goldfinger. And because James was the only "Good" man she met, it snapped her out of it completely. It was somewhat backed up by the book only instead of Goldfinger, she was sexually abused by her uncle. Needless to say while I can understand that, I am not a majority so I can understand why any activists would be pissed off at that explanation.  However if you were to accuse this book movie of anything it would be the following:

1. Claiming that Homosexuality is phase.
2. All Asians Eat Cats.

Oh ya, forgot about that one didn't I? Everyone remembers Oddjob, the silent, hat throwing strongman who nearly killed Bond and later starred in a series of funny cough syrup commercials. While it wasn't shown in the movie, the book specifically states that Oddjob a Korean's favourite food is cats and even at one point ate Goldfinger's Golden cat. Then of course you got the usual Connery's charming line between being a charmer and a misogynist. Violently interrogating women and even in the most comic of scenes treating them, like they are less than men. Though surprisingly all of that, wasn't what turned people off in the movie. The movie was well liked by many including but not limited to people who thought Connery was the ideal male role model. What turned people off from the movie was the antagonist himself Goldfinger. Specifically the actor who played him. Many boycotts from Israel and it's supporters were placed on this film when it was found out that the Antagonist was played by Gert Frobe.   What many people don't know is, that Frobe was a member of the Nazi Party in WWII and despite playing a captitalist villain in this time around, many boycott him because they though his mere presence glorified Nazism. As a result, movies like Goldfirnger weren't allowed in theatres in Israel. However, in a surprising twist, many people looked into Frobe's history further. That while he was an official member of the Nazi Party, he used his position to hide and sneak out many many victims of the camps. A notion that caused Israel to lift the ban and apologize. Which makes this media mess of misogyny and homophobia, a diamond in the rough due to one of the few villains having been played by a real life hero.

Of course around that time, both Hollywood and Europe believed that the strongest leads should have been white and Goldfinger was made only 2 years before a certain legend managed to create a spark on television that would snowball into a grand phenomena in the decades to come.

It was 1966 and Bruce Lee was just doing demonstrations of his concept of Jeet Kune Do at Karate Tournaments. One of which inspired producer William Dozier, who was also famous for the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Lee was hired to play Kato, Chauffeur and Butler by day and Partner, Driver, Enforcer and Bodyguard to the titular character by night.  Through Lee's influence Kato went from fistcuffs and basic Karate to an extraordinary Kung Fu master who practically stole every scene they were in. A notion not unnoticed by the executives of Fox TV. At the time, many non-white actors were often reduced to stereotypes, in the case of Black people, they were often portrayed as big lipped, fried chicken eating, water melon sucking lesser than human lives. In the case of Chinese and Chinese Americans, they were portrayed as clumsy goofballs who were only good at building railroads and working minds.  Where Sidney Portier changed that notion one year after this show, with the movie In The Heat of The Night, Bruce Lee opted to change the notion, not just with Green Hornet, but with ideas he couldn't put into play for the next 4 years to say the least. Mainly due to the execs trying to restrain Lee for changing what they viewed as the status quo. To me this lessens the idea that media itself is the influence, because here you see two entities fighting each other on who should be the big influence. All Bruce wanted to do was give people the right to choose who their hero should be, by giving them an option. Whilst all the execs wanted to do was keep their sponsors happy. But point being rather than it being an example of the media influencing us, but gives an example of the reversal. That we influence the media. Needless to say the execs lost, due to Bruce's increasing popularity and their own show getting the same treatment in Hong Kong they tried to burn Lee on. Even going as far as changing the name from "The Green Hornet." to "The Kato Show."

Which leads us to the 1970s. Or as I like to call it. The Idea Melting pot of Media as well as the most problems accused thus far of causing. While every decade has had at least one unique idea that would help change movies for better or worse. None were more out there than the 70s. With flashy colors, campy tones and over the top madness, any idea could be convincing if one puts their mind to it. However while many ideas were good, this was the decade that caused the most accusations of media influence. Here are the highlights.

A Clockwork Orange. Made in 1971 by Stanley Kubrick and based off the book of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The story revolves around Alexander DeLarge a leader of a gang of thugs he calls droogs.  Their motif is burglary, rape and ultra violence. The latter of which Alex has an obsessive fascination of in all forms.  Upon getting caught, Alex tries to get out of jail early, by volunteering for the experimental Ludovico Technique.  A form of aversion therapy in which the subject is given nausea inducing drugs and forced to watch violent and sexual acts.  The result would cause them to be very ill should they think to act on such violence and sexuality. Upon being released, Alex was subjected to tortures by the people he tormented before, culminating in a suicide attempt that cures him and brings him back to his bad self.  I cite this movie among most, as a very unique example due to the following factors:

The first is the themes of the movie itself. Such as political influence and the idea that we could or could not be in control of our inner impulses and should we be in situations beyond our control we often associate our impulses with the outside stimulation around us.  Case in point even before being subjected to the treatment, it's not so subtly implied that Alex reacts very differently to the music played around him. During the famous scene in which Alex put his droogs in their place for trying to rebel, he specifically mentioned that he knew what he had to do, the second he heard a stereo playing.  Implying that his lovely lovely Ludwig Van Beethoven gave him a silent cue to beat up his gang members. Giving the inner notion that media may be responsible for violence within this movie. A meta accusation if you will. Then you have other characters who are also influence by music in various ways. In what was originally meant to be an improvised moment, the infamous home invasion scene had Malcolm McDowell sing Gene Kelly's "Singing in The Rain." while carrying out the dirty deeds. As a result in the later film Frank Alexander, who survived his attack long after his wife passed away from complications of the assault finds the Ludovico influenced Alex at his doorstep. Due to Alex being masked at the time, he didn't recognize him as his intruder, but rather recognized him as the poster boy for the technique. Even offering him food and shelter, in exchange for him helping them whistleblow on the government over it amongst many atrocities.  Giving the little bastard a slight semblance of hope. However that hope was shattered by his own hand, when upon having a relaxing bath, Alex haphazardly sings the song again. Prompting this iconic reaction from Frank Alexander.

Said song not only helping Frank recognize his tormentor but triggering a sever case of post traumatic stress. So in essence, it not only accuses the media of influencing violence, but also triggering those who have been victims of violence.  For the latter it's less about the song itself and more about the context of the situation.  The man was simply at home writing a book, when some young fellows knocked claiming there was a terrible accident.  In an effort to help them they were duped to letting the Droogs in. Causing him to be crippled, while his wife was beaten and gang-raped in front of him, while Alex sang that song. So in conclusion to that at least to me, the media doesn't quite influence anything other than what outside factors try to use it for. Once again making the media a tool rather than the direct cause.

In the next and last factor, I will talk about the movie's impact on the real world and how even the best directors can get duped into the following BS of Media Violence causing real world violence. Not too long after the movie was released, there have been many people going around dressed like droogs having gang wars and other various crimes. When caught, they blame the movie for influencing them.  A blame so powerful it caused Stanley Kubrick, the man who directed the movie to have it banned from his residing country in England.  A ban that has been lifted not too long after his death. I personally do not believe this movie caused a rise in Droogs. I believe that the real life Droogs were already fucked up to begin with and as a result they simply clung onto this movie like Manson clung onto the White Album. They interpreted the movie differently in an attempt to project their own feelings onto it and scapegoated it to avoid taking responsibility for their own wrongs. A notion that has been repeated in 1979 when The Warriors was blamed for the rise in gang violence.


Up next an attempt at a positive example of media influence gone wrong by a death.

Despite the poster being there, this has nothing to do with it, but this was rather a symptom of an attempt to bring more positive influence using media as a tool.  After Bruce Lee returned to Hong Kong, he was approached by Golden Harvest Studios, after the mentioned cult following of The Kato Show.  To put his foot in the door, Bruce had to do two movies under the direction of despised director Lo Wei.

The first being Big Boss, where he plays a Chinese Man entering the workforce in Thailand. A pacifist who until being pushed too far tried everything he could to avoid fighting.  As his newfound fame spreads among his people, he discovers that the Thai workers, are using their factories as fronts for an Opium/Heroin Smuggling Ring. Which he tries to stop. With the exception of thinly showing anti-racism between the Thai and The Chinese, there wasn't really anything I could find remotely influencing about the movie itself. Save for Bruce Lee's performance of course. The next movie on the other hand....

Fist of Fury. Was chock full of propaganda.  This movie was based on one of many conspiracy theories based around the death of Huo Yuanjia, famed founder of Jing Wu School as well as revolves around the life of one of his student's Chen Zhen.  Who believes that Huo is murdered and sets out to expose the murderers and avenge his teacher.  All the while, a rival school that believes Japanese Bushido is superior to Chinese Kung Fu, constantly torments and ultimately kills the Jing Wu school due to Chen's actions. The movie itself is a prime example of someone attempting to use the star power of a known celebrity, to influence and enrage as many fans as possible into siding with the person.  In this case Lo Wei specifically created this movie to restart tensions between Japan and China at a time when war could have broken out before them at the slightest of whims. A notion said star was aware of. Sick of the One-sided racism his own people and fans seemed to eat up, Bruce quit Lo Wei and took the bulk of Golden Harvest with him. But not before making a few changes. While Chen was meant to live in the end, Bruce as another attempt at using media to create a better message, had his variation of Chen killed off in a firing squad. In an attempt to tell his fans that murder is not OK especially in terms of revenge and rage.  As a final "Fuck you" to the man, Lee directed the next Golden Harvest Movie.

Way of the Dragon. Written by Bruce, Directed By Bruce, Starring Bruce and he even did the percussion work for the theme music.   This was one of many attempts where Bruce tried to avoid type casting. In this case rather than be typecast as an easily enraged, but powerful action hero, he tried to branch out in a more comedic setting.  In this Bruce plays Tang Lung, a man from Hong Kong sent to Rome to help his Uncle's friends from going out of business there. Said friends run a restaurant, that is constantly being terrorized by the Roman Mob lead by a man named Boss. Who wan the land their eatery stands on.  While the other movies get dubbed for convenience, this was the only movie in the Bruce Lee library that points out the language barrier. Which is often used for laughs. In this case despite the dubs, Tang Lung can't speak English, so he would need someone who spoke Cantonese or Mandarin to translate for him and vice versa. As a result many scenarios ensue including but not limited to him accidentally following a prostitute to her house.  Of course being a Bruce Lee movie, a fight finally happens and Bruce shows off his skills.  Which in turn causes his friends to admire him as a teacher and his enemies to continue escalating.  It all culminates in a climactic fight in the Roman Colosseum. Where Bruce faces off an American Black Belt, named Colt. Played by Chuck Norris. While the movie itself was mostly for laughs there have been a lot of aesops planted within it.  Since Bruce wrote and direct it, it gave the opportunity to briefly put in his philosophies on life and martial arts. In the case of the latter, Tang Lung mentions that it doesn't matter if the moves are from foreign influences, as long as it can help you out in a fight.  Whereas, Lung himself has had a moment of expressing bigotry based on bigotry he's faced in the past. In the case of the prostitute scene, it all started with Tang having trouble at the bank.  In this case, he didn't trust the banker even though his friend Chen Ching-Hua vouched for him simply because he was Italian like the people that hurt his friends. Later in the movie, Chen tries to give some heartfelt advice to Tang which was meant to invoke "Not everyone who isn't us is a criminal." notion of racism all races had the luxury of being victimized of. Of course this being a comedy movie he takes her advice literal and puts himself in hot water. That said if there was an example of media influencing us in a positive way it's that. Of course it doesn't hurt that we get to see two legendary martial arts fighters go at each other to boot.

However any attempt at further influence for the better was tragically cut short. Which leads to this:

Before Hollywood decided to call Lee back and bring him back to the American Spotlight, Bruce worked on a secret project that if done just right, would have made a massive change in media entertainment.  That was Game of Death.  According to the notes, the movie itself ontop of being action was meant to be Bruce's first Martial Arts, Edutainment movie, where he would finally showcase Jeet Kune Do for all to see. A notion previously touched upon in his guest spot on Longstreet. The original story was as followed. Bruce plays Hai Tien, a martial arts champion sought out by the Korean Mob.  The reason being is that they are after a treasure, rumoured to be inside a pagoda.  However the Pagoda is guarded floor by floor by one or many people.  Each floor showcasing a different martial arts concept.  Tien refuses, until the mob captures his family. Hai Tien and two others storm the pagoda.  The formula would be simple, but still entertaining: They face off against a master or masters of an individual style, the two others with him get beat up to show their concepts won't work and Tien comes in show casing how Jeet Kune Do is superior to that style. With an occasional line from Tien which is taken from Lee's Book. Literally. Sounds like a cool concept right? HA HA!!!! We never got to see it fully. It wasn't even finished by the time Lee got contacted to do Enter The Dragon and as a result, Lee died just as he was about to get back to it. While don't get me wrong, Enter The Dragon is a good movie and had he lived it would have made him a world star rather than just make him limited to America and Hong Kong; I can't help but feel frustrated for various reasons:
The first is that missing out on what could have been is a major sore spot for me. There was so much that could have been done, that would have made this movie much bigger than Enter The Dragon could ever be and it's gone.  The closest you'll ever get to seeing it, is if you watch Bruce Lee: A Warrior's journey. It's one thing to accuse media of influencing, but it's another to miss out on what kind of influence this could be.
The other? Rather than simply piece together his notes, Golden Harvest and Robert Clouse created a disgusting abomination. Feeding into the conspiracy craze Lee's death sparked and inadvertently predicting the death of his son Brandon. Turning what would have been a great gift into the bane of movie existence.

What's really tragic, is that not too long after, media would later be accused of something else entirely. Cursing the people making it.

While some of Warner Bros, was still busy on Enter The Dragon in Hong Kong, the rest had their focus on another unique concept that helped shape media entertainment: Religious Horror. While this wasn't anything new as religious themes have existed in horror stories for centuries, The Exorcist was unique in which it combined the very idea of religion itself with Horror. The movie was a multilayered story revolving around Three Characters: Lankester Merrin, Damien Karras and Chris McNeil. Damien Karras is a Jesuit Priest and Psychiatrist in Georgetown Washington who has suffered a crisis of faith when he loses his mother to dementia and death.   Chris McNeil is trying to figure out what's wrong with her daughter Regan when she starts acting out without warning. From swearing, to violent behavior, to unexplained circumstances that lead her to believe that her daughter is being possessed by a demonic entity. Upon confirmation from Karras that Regan is indeed possessed, Merrin is called into assist Karras in saving the poor girl.  Merrin himself having faced the demon before on many occasions. A once acclaimed movie was later accused of being Catholic Propaganda due to the horrific nature presumably scaring even the most stubborn of atheists into being believers. However that is far from true. However if you want definitive proof that there exists an evil entity trying to put a stop to this movie, look no further than this. Among most things to happen, Linda Blair's career took a swan dive and the set itself caught on fire through unknown means. Leading fans to cry the existence of a curse, believing the devil himself was trying to stop the movie from being made.  Now why does that sound familiar? That's right, because that's what many media detractors have also been trying to do with some going through similar extremes to do so.  While this was the first movie to be accused of being cursed, there have been many before and after that follow the lead.

The Omen, much like Exorcist was trying to cash in on religious horror. However while the Exorcist had had few instances of bad luck. This movie had bad luck all around.  The movie revolves around Robert Thorn, a diplomatic American living in England and expecting a child.  However the child dies upon being born and as a result of trying to hide it from his wife, he secretly adopts a baby in the hospital. Naming him Damien.  As the child grows up a series of bad circumstances leads Robert to believe that Damien may be the Anti-Christ. The Son of the Devil in Human Form. Who is using his family name in an attempt to connect himself to other world leaders and dominate the world for Armageddon. Upon producing this movie a lot of things went wrong. From the animals used for Damien's influence actually attacking the cast and crew, to a series of unfortunate deaths to an airplane even getting struck by lightning. This movie on top of being unfairly compared to The Exorcist ends up having topped it off in curses.

While this trend slowly died down, it made way for something else entirely.

Welcome to the 80s. The Cold War reaches it's peak and you have many things to choose from. Such as a wide variety of action movies, multiple genres of horror from gore-fests to psychological and many more.  However on top of that it was movies between this era and the 90s that were most accused of being a huge influence on the world for better and worse. With some in the movies themselves on top of the usual accusations of propaganda.

 

First Blood was Stallone's attempt to get out of the Rocky spotlight and show what he could really do as an actor, before he got typecasted as an overall action star. It tells the tale of John Rambo, a former green beret and veteran of the Vietnam War. A man who has been through many hardships, from losing his friends in the war, to being treated like garbage at home. As he goes into Hope Washington he is accosted by Sheriff Teasle. A former Korean Vet who looks down at Rambo as nothing more than a Vagrant.  Upon arresting him and subjecting him to his fellow officer's cruelty, Rambo's PTSD sets in and he snaps, beating the officers, escaping and fleeing into the woods. A manhunt for him escalates into war between the two after he accidentally kills one of Teasle's Deputies. It's up to Colonel Sam Trautman to stop the battle.  While there have been many movies before, that have been Pro-Nam and even given some story that offer sympathy to the soldiers, whilst the real world gave next to none. This was one of the first movies to delve deep into the psychology of a vet who went through hell as well as dived into what would make them feel like they're in hell.  Giving heart to a character we as a society would normally spit on and call baby killer. The only influence it can give was to show that soldiers are no different than civilians. But positive or negative, it's not really a big example of media within media accusing media.

Then you have Poltergeist another example of the cursed film trend. However this one is unique compared to them and I shall explain why. The movie revolves around a family being haunted by a group of ghosts who communicate with their youngest daughter through a television set, before eventually kidnapping her.  While there was little to no exact talk about media influencing, there have been media related moments.  Attention to detail regarding the equipment the parapsychologists use in order to capture footage of the ghosts, the remote war between neighbors and of course the main TV being the cause of it all. While one could see it as a coincidence that the whole thing starts with a TV talking to Carol Anne and directly influencing her and ending with a TV getting thrown out; I beg to differ.  Considering that one of the people that helped make this movie, has tried to use media in a different way to influence people.  Let's go back to the 70s just briefly.

Tobe Hooper originally got his claim to fame making the famous slasher film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Many have interpreted this movie among most things as a Pro-Vegan film. Stating that the Cannibals are doing to Sally and her friends are no different than what humans do to cattle or pork or poultry.  A notion that Hooper didn't deny.  And while Spielberg was the main creator of Poltergeist, it's quite easy to tell who's ideas were what in it.  For example, the infamous face tear scene, started with one of the Parapsychologists trying to get something to eat. Among most things, the ghosts mess with him by causing a steak to crawl by itself across a counter and maggots to appear in all the meat products. That along with the gorey face tear, was a definite Hooper moment. So needless to say any anti-media subtext within the film was also Hooper too.

But as the years went on, many have discovered that media itself rather than be a direct influence, can and would be used as a tool to further their own influences around the world. All starting with a warning from the most fucked up master of body horror imaginable: David Cronenberg.

While Cronenberg was already famous with movies like Rabid, Scanners and the Brood, this was the movie many talk about the most when it comes to him. Filmed on location in Downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada; Videodrome starts off with Media Mogul Max Renn, who runs a late night television and adult content TV station called Civic-TV (CityTV in real life.). While looking for new material for this channel, he stumbles upon a snuff show called Videodrome, which seems to be nothing but endless torture porn. However upon watching it, Max ends up suffering from a series of hallucinations as he's caught up in a war between Brian O'Blivion, an activist who believes Television is the next step to a peaceful world and Barry Convex, who believes violent and sexual media are the causes of lowlives and the world becoming soft as a result of immersing themselves in it. The movie itself let's us hear from both sides of the war and even leaves so much ambiguity that it leaves room for us the audience to decide who is right and who is wrong on the matter. Making it the ultimate tool of influence of it's time.  This was a time when the internet was still being worked on. A time when the most universal forms of communication were Radio, Theater and of course Television and even then the channels were limited to the signal and the time of day. Before the internet, this was the thing that was blamed for the world's woes as well as being praised for many highlights and it's ability to reach people from all over the world. Yet while many people have a love-hate for the internet and social media, TV in the end is still the most loved form of multimedia entertainment. This movie is the prime example that media is not an entity, but a tool that one can use their own influence on for better or worse. As for who I side with. There is only one answer to that "Long live the new flesh."

Of course while this was one of the first, it wasn't the only movie to poke fun at media influence for good or bad.

Welcome to the 90s, where the 80s go to die and the 2000s used to mean the end of the world. Ya...used to. This was in my opinion where media in general reached it's peak. Granted there were ways of making it better and making it worse in the 2000s, but this was the tip of the scale. The Cold War was finally over, 9/11 didn't happen yet and many kids including yours truly either watched reruns of old shows or got caught in the gross-out humor trend. But the adults of the time seemed to be at their wits end. Where stories about media influencing violence were very few and often dismissed, this was where the most headaches came from and the headaches of the 2010s continued on from. The only difference between the outrages was the main topic at hand. In the 90s, there have been many controversial shows that got popularized by it, whether they started in the late 80s and gained traction or started in the 90s and became instant hits.

The Simpsons was one of those shows.  While not the first cartoon adult family sitcom, it became the stepping stone for what came after in the 90s to the 2000s. Often always going border-line to even crossing the border in offensive humor among most things.  But while it like other shows were often accused of being bad influences. With George Bush making the famous line "More like the Waltons and less like The Simpsons." They were no stranger to poking fun at those accusing them. From the writers, writing as Marge telling off Barbara to, Marge accusing Itchy and Scratchy for causing Maggie to attack Homer. However while still going on today, back then they barely scratched the surface.

When South Park first started out, it was mainly an R-Rated Peanuts with fart and death jokes, but as the years went by, they too tried to influence people through surprisingly good life lessons.  One of which became the basis for my Electronic Mirror Essay. In the episode "Death", much like Simpsons before it, parents were protesting against a TV show.  In this case where the Simpsons was dealing with violence in the media and whether or not it influences real life violence, South Park went a different direction. One of the tamest controversies compared to the sexual and violent influences being accused in the media, is swearing. Me I see no big deal on swearing and see it as a way to get a fucking point across to those who don't fucking listen. These parents on the other hand see it as the end all be all to childhood existence. While Marge's protest aggressive it may be was peaceful; the parents of South Park went as far as sling-shooting themselves against a TV station killing them instantly and even that didn't work. The episode itself was also pointing out the hyopcritical elements of the parent's protest. In a subplot, Stan's Grandfather Marvin Marsh is trying to get him to kill him after being alive and in agony for 102 years.  Upon caving in, Death arrives and it's assumed he's after the kids for trying to kill Marvin.  However it turns out as part of the running gag, Death was only after Kenny. However during the chase, Stan and the others try to call their parents, but they ignore them claiming to be too busy "protecting" them with their protests.  Which brings the aesop that parents are so focused on what's influencing on TV, that they don't care what happens to their kids in real life. Especially with their life in danger. As well as another aesop, one I have grown tired of seeing. The notion that Parents see TV as their kid's babysitter. And rather than take responsibility and simply change or block the channel, they blame an inanimate object for what's causing their kids to swear or go violent.

Stan: Dammit!!! You know, I think that if parents would spend less time worrying about what they watch on TV and more time worrying about what's going on with their kid's lives, the world would be a much better place. 

Kyle: Yeah, I think that parents only get so offended by television, because they rely on it as a babysitter and the sole educator of their kids.


Hell the reason why many parents get offended is because they see the Television as this magic box that solves their daily problems.  And when said box does something they don't want it to do, they blame it rather themselves for abusing said box.

It didn't help that some kids in the mid 90s up and killed their classmates and the only thing they could blame for their behavior was a bunch of metal posters, horror movies and video games that have been plastered in their room. Which leads me to my final entry of this look.

Scream is the the culmination of everything many detractors have seen as wrong with movies. Even though it's message on top of simply trying to kill the Slasher Genre, was actually pro-media rather than anti.  Scream takes place in Woodsboro which is infamous for the rape and murder of Maureen Presscott.  On the one year anniversary of the case, a serial killer is on the loose killing students and staging them in the form of death scenes in slasher movies.  Their main target being Marueen's daughter Sidney.  Spoilers for those living under a rock, the killers are her boyfriend Billy Loomis and his friend Stu Macher.  As revenge for Maureen having an affair with Billy's dad and breaking his family up.  During the climax of the movie, Billy and Stu plan on killing Sidney, framing her father for the crimes and staging themselves to look like the sole survivors left for dead.  As they prepare, Sidney claims they're sick fucks who watch too many movies. To which Billy responds "NOW SID DON'T YOU BLAME THE MOVIES!!! MOVIES DON'T CREATE PSYCHOS, MOVIES MAKE PSYCHOS MORE CREATIVE!!" That line stuck with me ever since and it brings me to the conclusion of this essay. 

On the whole Media is not the direct influence many detractors of this era along with new detractors of the recent decades bring it out to be.  It doesn't cause violence, racism, sexism or any atrocities we know in the past century. It can however be used as a tool for influence and it's often based on the will of the person using it. Whether it's the exec trying to please their sponsor or the worker that is trying to bring something positive to the table.
If you feel the need to kill someone after watching a horror movie, then there is something seriously wrong with you. Whereas if the person making the movie is saying "You think Leatherface is a monster? Well what makes human meat different than that burger you're eating?" Then that's on the fault of the person making it. He is not the media, he is merely someone who knows how to use that tool well.  Here endeth the lesson.