Tag Archives: movies

PG-13 Movies More Violent?

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A study published by the Anneberg Public Policy Center and Ohio State University puts forward evidence that PG-13 movies are more violent than those that are rated R. The methods of the study are quite interesting. Reserachers examined the top 30 highest grossing films each year since 1985 (420 movies in total). They then searched for the firing of handheld guns “with the intent to harm or kill a living being…” Overall, the number of PG-13 films depicting such violence was larger than R-rated ones. 

Researchers are disturbed by these findings because of the correlation between visualization of guns and aggressive behavior in people. In 2010, the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin published a study that said that when people see a gun in the same room, they behave more aggresively. Though the study didn’t directly attach their findings to guns in movies, experts are still wary of what the effects might mean. 
In addition, the study by the Policy Center found that the amount of gun violence in PG-13 movies has more than tripled since 1985. In light of the recent plague of gun violence across the country, many people have been quick to deny the correlation between violence in entertainment and real life, but this trend should still make people stop to think. Regardless of whether or not there is a causal effect involved, the irony of these findings in PG-13 movies is unavoidable. 
Parents are typically opposed to letting their kids watch R-rated movies. When I was growing up, my dad did everything he could to keep me and my younger sister from seeing them. However, he had no problem watching PG-13 movies with us. Yet, as this study shows, he was actually condoning a larger proportion of violence by relegating us to watching only PG-13 movies. 
From my experience, this has a lot to do with Americans’ feelings about sex and violence. A lot of R-rated movies receive this rating because they involve sex scenes and sensuality. On the other hand, it’s perfectly fine for people to get blown to bits in a PG-13 film. Many Americans fear exposing their kids to sex, and they’re more comfotable letting them see violence on the big screen. This is a pretty odd worldview, to me, and I think it has an impact on the way our country’s children behave. 
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Scared $#*tless

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Insidious, The Conjuring, Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Shining. Classic examples of horror films. This is an over 400 million dollar business in literally scaring their audiences out of the theaters, keeping them awake at night, and frightening them to never walk down that dark hallway alone. Why? Even after all those moments during the movie where we hide our faces or scream obscenities at the screen, we find ourselves as a community going back and purchasing tickets again and again for those off putting (yet thrilling) movies.

     It’s a well known fact that most humans seek pleasure and happiness, but that doesn’t answer why these horrifying movies can provide these pleasurable experiences. In an article by Science Daily, two dominant theories rule in science as to why this peculiarity may be. The more obvious of the two would be that the individual is actually excited for this movie, the exact opposite of petrified. Another idea is that the horrific trance throughout the movie can possibly turn into relief once the plot has concluded. If your feelings on these theories are similar to mine, then you will be grateful that Eduardo Andrade of UC, Berkeley and Joel B. Cohen of University of Florida are masterminds behind a newer study that may disprove these theories. 
     The pair conceived an idea that viewers are “happy to be unhappy.” If their ideas are correct this could spin past theories around, citing that movie-goers could possibly experience negative and positive feelings simultaneously. A sense of euphoria may overwhelm the audience as they stimulate both scared and relieving sensations. These ideals, according to Andrade and Cohen, could be applicable to thrill seeking sports or high risk activities. “When individuals who typically choose to avoid the stimuli were embedded in a protective frame of mind, such that there was sufficient psychological disengagement or detachment, they experienced positive feelings while still experiencing fearfulness,” the authors explain.
     So the next time you find yourself questioning why you are sitting in a sold-out midnight premiere of The Devil Will Find You Part II, remember that those dual sensations of relief and horror will make your stress during the movie all worth it.horrormoviegoers.jpg

Photo courtesy of news.discovery.com

Science of the Vampire

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  With my Vampire Diaries season premiere excitement considered, I’ve been thinking about vampire.jpghow the idea of a vampire came about. Is there hard evidence to these creatures in the past or is it just a fictional book made movie like Harry Potter?

 Hollywood has made the blood sucking vampire one of the most feared creatures on television and in movies. From shows like The Vampire Diaries to movies like Twilight and Dracula, the vampire has been scaring kids for decades. But what is it about the vampire that seems to make people hang garlic from their doors in fright?

   Fox News tells the world that there are logical explanations to all aspects of a vampire, like a disease where one is allergic to the sun causing blisters of the skin. Or the fact that an iron deficiency can give a person the need to eat a large bloody steak, rich in iron. Plus the fact that different insects, such as the mosquito, feed on human blood. There are logical explanations for all of the intriguing characteristics of a vampire.

  As far as history is concerned, there have been many “vampire scares” throughout the years. Bulgaria is known for vampires, as just in 2012 skeletons were found with rocks in the mouths and iron rods through their heart dating back to the middle ages. Discovery had posted this article about the execution of these so called “vampires”.

  Vampires seem like a silly thing to view as being as real as in the movies, plus their is no hard scientific evidence to prove they are real. However, seeing as they live off of human blood, I’d much rather they stay in the fictional category.