by Zachary Heil

Created on: August 19, 2008

Gratuitous scenes of violence in modern movies, are more often than not, unrealistic to say the least. For all intents and purposes, they're simply the equivalent of a joke's punchline: an exaggeration. When a child lies, it is often quite easy to expose their exaggeration. Nothing is dubious in those laughable moments, and so the same approach can be used for violence in films. Deciphering fact from fiction, in movies, is no arduous task. Considering the ease or manipulation and exaggeration, most of these scenes end up being parodied in satires anyway.

Pornography's only goal is to sexually arouse and entertain consumers. It has no association with violence other than the occasional fetish involving physical pain. If you were to ask someone what kind of response they had to a particular violent scene in a film, it would be very doubtful and naive to expect them to say they were sexually aroused. The movie - 300, although littered with unintentional homo-eroticism, serves it's violent purpose without inducing sexual arousal. Imagine the pain, struggle, fear, and suffering Spartan soldiers must have gone through. War is very realistic, and to merely suggest violence, undermines it's quality to affect people on many different levels.

The movie - SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, helped depict not only the intense bravery and courage of American soldiers, but also the graphic realism of important historical events. Seeing the actors losing limbs, becoming lifeless bodies, and the cries for their mothers, could inspire a wide spectrum of emotions. Patriotism can swell, the desire to protect and serve your country could arise as well. The graphic realism of death and suffering can also shift philosophies about war and peace.

The films of yesteryears were only devoid of graphic violence for two reasons. Censorship was the most powerful of the two, as it was woven into all forms and mediums of communication. Many people at the time seemed to have forgotten the first amendment (many still do), and thought they were doing something on behalf of other's best interests. The other reason violence barely existed in older films was, it was a young industry (it still is).

The more ambiance you can place in any artistic project, the more opinions you can inspire and the more thoughts you will provoke. Depth is as important in film as any other artistic medium, of which watering-down breeds simplicity. When you suppress an idea, word, or expression, you cease to be progressive. Openly

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