Ethics Newsline®

Mr. Kidder -

Regarding your piece on the possible connections between films and social violence (Newsline commentary, May 29), based on the recent school shooting in Florida, I’d like to make a few observations….

I agree with and support the view that there is indeed a connection between media violence and the social/mental climates that so greatly influence adolescents (and a lot of adults for that matter). I also agree that filmmakers should take some social responsibility for the impacts of the films they produce. And while that may do some good, I question if it is enough. Is it really safe to assume that a “seethe of moral indignation” will indeed reach the box office? After all, there will always be those whose ethical and moral standards fall well below what might be considered acceptable by a majority of the world. So there would always be someone willing to risk social censure and keep on making those kinds of films…. [A]s long as there is a market for violence, someone will be willing to feed that market….

How do we control these issues? How do we encourage or create the tide of moral indignation that will drown the menacing hordes that have nothing but money and fame on the brain? We need a grassroots movement that is supported at the highest levels. We need parents who understand the issues and teach family values that generate that indignation in their children. We need community and political leaders who are willing to take a moral stand. And we need a justice system that will support such a moral stand.

Unfortunately, there is such apathy these days on so many issues of importance. It shows in declining voter turnout numbers, it shows in the pleas from our schools for greater support in parent/teacher groups, and it shows in the increasing number of incidents like the school shooting in Florida. Even if a great number of filmmakers choose to make ethical and moral decisions with regards to the films they make, will we as a society embrace those decisions with enough enthusiasm to sustain the movement? Aye — there’s the rub.

– M. Nall
Fort Lauderdale, FL