Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
HUMN 341
Assignment 5-1: Cyber Bullying
Weekly Written Assignment
Bullying is a subject that has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. Something that used to be almost accepted as a “kids will be kids” is now being taken much more seriously. Since the explosion of the internet, “cyber bullying” is also a growing concern.
The formula is often the same: A young person has an account on a social site such as MySpace.com and others leave rude and harassing messages. While there is some similarity to what happens in real life, online harassment has a different element in that the harasser can remain anonymous. Take for example, the recent case of Megan Meier. At the age of thirteen, she hung herself after mean messages from what she thought was a cute older boy. As it turns out, the boy was a fictitious character made up by the mother of a former friend and her employee, so that they could see what Megan was saying about the former friend. (Leonard)
This phenomenon seems to be gaining momentum. “The number of children ages 10 to 17 that say they were abused by "cyber bullies" climbed 50 percent, from six percent in 2000 to nine percent in 2005, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (Chapman) With more and more people having access to electronic communications, this is bound to happen.
With this in mind, it makes it even more important for parents to keep an active eye on what their children are doing online. While social networking can certainly be a positive influence in the lives of these children, it can also be a dangerous place without proper supervision. Also important is teaching your children what is acceptable behavior, irregardless of where they are. Bullying is something that children should be taught is unacceptable, no matter where bullying takes place. Behind the computer screens, there are real people and the words you type can have a real impact on someone’s life.
Chapman, G. Online bullying a growing part of US teen internet life. Retrieved December 6, 2007 from
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071202/lf_afp/lifestyleusitinternetyouthschool_071202231541
Leonard, C. Mo. family shunned over suicide, hoax. Retrieved December 6, 2007 from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071206/ap_on_re_us/internet_suicide;_ylt=Aoih.hVlYW1iyTgxYo703bNvzwcF
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Assignment 4-1: Everyday Heroes
Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
HUMN 341
Assignment 4-1: Everyday Heroes
Weekly Written Assignment
When most people think of heroes, they think of things like Superman, flying around the sky in his underwear, saving the world from some cosmic monster bent on destroying us. This is the hero that everyone wants to be, someone who always knows the right thing to do, and does it without hesitation. That is, of course, something we will never be, no matter how hard we try.
In light of this, there seems to be a movement to put the spotlight on a different kind of hero: the everyday hero. These are normal people with normal lives and normal jobs that, when faced with a difficult decision, do the right thing despite the potential consequences to themselves.
You can see this trend in the news and in our music. For example, Jamie O’Neal’s song, “Somebody’s Hero” talks about how a single mother is a hero to her daughter, and then in later years, how the role is reversed when the mother is confined to a nursing home. In the news, there is an article about two boys who saved a young girl who was being attacked by pit bulls. One of the boys, Jacob Tew, is quoted as saying, “We don’t want to be called heroes. We’re just some teenage boys who did the right thing.” (Griffin)
Tew’s statement sums up the appeal of this type of hero: they are just regular people who did the right thing. That is something that our culture can identify with. We may not be perfect like Superman, but when a situation comes along that is difficult, we like to think that we would do the right thing. We can be flawed and imperfect, but just for a few minutes, we can be the hero who knows exactly what to do and does it.
What that says about our culture can be an interesting and important discussion. Everyone has a different hero, and a lot of that has to do with their particular beliefs. Understanding these beliefs can be a key to understanding our culture.
Griffin, L. Boys who protected girl in dog attack shy away from hero tag. Retrieved November 27, 2007 from http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteast/dea/local_news.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-11-28-0004.html
HUMN 341
Assignment 4-1: Everyday Heroes
Weekly Written Assignment
When most people think of heroes, they think of things like Superman, flying around the sky in his underwear, saving the world from some cosmic monster bent on destroying us. This is the hero that everyone wants to be, someone who always knows the right thing to do, and does it without hesitation. That is, of course, something we will never be, no matter how hard we try.
In light of this, there seems to be a movement to put the spotlight on a different kind of hero: the everyday hero. These are normal people with normal lives and normal jobs that, when faced with a difficult decision, do the right thing despite the potential consequences to themselves.
You can see this trend in the news and in our music. For example, Jamie O’Neal’s song, “Somebody’s Hero” talks about how a single mother is a hero to her daughter, and then in later years, how the role is reversed when the mother is confined to a nursing home. In the news, there is an article about two boys who saved a young girl who was being attacked by pit bulls. One of the boys, Jacob Tew, is quoted as saying, “We don’t want to be called heroes. We’re just some teenage boys who did the right thing.” (Griffin)
Tew’s statement sums up the appeal of this type of hero: they are just regular people who did the right thing. That is something that our culture can identify with. We may not be perfect like Superman, but when a situation comes along that is difficult, we like to think that we would do the right thing. We can be flawed and imperfect, but just for a few minutes, we can be the hero who knows exactly what to do and does it.
What that says about our culture can be an interesting and important discussion. Everyone has a different hero, and a lot of that has to do with their particular beliefs. Understanding these beliefs can be a key to understanding our culture.
Griffin, L. Boys who protected girl in dog attack shy away from hero tag. Retrieved November 27, 2007 from http://www.dothaneagle.com/gulfcoasteast/dea/local_news.apx.-content-articles-DEA-2007-11-28-0004.html
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Assignment 3-1: The Big Event!
Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
HUMN 341
Assignment 3-1
The Big Event!
Assignment 3-1: Weekly Written Analysis: The Big Event!
One of the biggest rituals that happen on Thanksgiving Day is the watching of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. To gain its ritual status, the Macy’s Parade uses elements from pop culture: the balloons of popular cartoons and products like Dora the Explorer and Barbie, the Rockettes, and Santa Claus. This annual event has been going on for 81 years now, and the route takes place in Manhattan, New York. While mostly a rite of spectacle, where most people are spectators, you could also think of it as a rite of season or rite of unity. The rite of season would be the transitioning from the fall into the winter months, and the rite of unity could be interpreted as the coming together of our nation on a day where we traditionally give thanks.
This year, there are over 10,000 people marching in the parade, from cheerleaders to clowns to bands. (Goldman) Not only do people in New York line up in person to see the parade, people across the country turn on their televisions to get a glimpse. With there being several new balloons this year (Shrek, Abby Cadabby, and Hello Kitty Supercute), the beginnings of new traditions are merged with old. Many people can name their favorite float, and these new additions will be loved for years to come.
The parade also reflects current events. The Broadway show, “Legally Blond” is not able to perform with their costumes as they are in the midst of a strike with the stagehands. This brings to center stage the dispute which has been going on for a few weeks now. While the cast plans to wear replacement costumes, the strike has been getting more publicity due to this event.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an excellent discussion topic for a popular culture class. Not only is it a ritual that has been preformed for decades, it is a reflection of the current popular culture. It showcases what has been and is popular and influential in America. It also is an act of coming together, where we as a community come together as a community to enjoy a tradition that is sure to stay for many years to come.
Works Cited
Goldman, A. (2007). Balmy weather for the NY Thanksgiving parade. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071122/ap_on_re_us/thanksgiving_rdp;_ylt=ArLnj2mnkoBWy1rwbE3iWstvzwcF
Goldman, A. (2007). Macy’s parade floats through NYC streets. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/macy_s_parade;_ylt=At65LMxl28YvvYANgxLuyjADW7oF
HUMN 341
Assignment 3-1
The Big Event!
Assignment 3-1: Weekly Written Analysis: The Big Event!
One of the biggest rituals that happen on Thanksgiving Day is the watching of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. To gain its ritual status, the Macy’s Parade uses elements from pop culture: the balloons of popular cartoons and products like Dora the Explorer and Barbie, the Rockettes, and Santa Claus. This annual event has been going on for 81 years now, and the route takes place in Manhattan, New York. While mostly a rite of spectacle, where most people are spectators, you could also think of it as a rite of season or rite of unity. The rite of season would be the transitioning from the fall into the winter months, and the rite of unity could be interpreted as the coming together of our nation on a day where we traditionally give thanks.
This year, there are over 10,000 people marching in the parade, from cheerleaders to clowns to bands. (Goldman) Not only do people in New York line up in person to see the parade, people across the country turn on their televisions to get a glimpse. With there being several new balloons this year (Shrek, Abby Cadabby, and Hello Kitty Supercute), the beginnings of new traditions are merged with old. Many people can name their favorite float, and these new additions will be loved for years to come.
The parade also reflects current events. The Broadway show, “Legally Blond” is not able to perform with their costumes as they are in the midst of a strike with the stagehands. This brings to center stage the dispute which has been going on for a few weeks now. While the cast plans to wear replacement costumes, the strike has been getting more publicity due to this event.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an excellent discussion topic for a popular culture class. Not only is it a ritual that has been preformed for decades, it is a reflection of the current popular culture. It showcases what has been and is popular and influential in America. It also is an act of coming together, where we as a community come together as a community to enjoy a tradition that is sure to stay for many years to come.
Works Cited
Goldman, A. (2007). Balmy weather for the NY Thanksgiving parade. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071122/ap_on_re_us/thanksgiving_rdp;_ylt=ArLnj2mnkoBWy1rwbE3iWstvzwcF
Goldman, A. (2007). Macy’s parade floats through NYC streets. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/macy_s_parade;_ylt=At65LMxl28YvvYANgxLuyjADW7oF
Assignment 1-3: Spider-Man: Biblical Scholar?
Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
Humanities 341, Assignment 1-3
Dorothy Keil
November 22, 2007
Spider-Man: Biblical Scholar?
The article, “The Gospel According to Spider-Man,” written by Niall Richardson, is an article that is directed at those who are looking to get deeper meaning from a contemporary source. It is an examination of how the Spider-Man movie, released in 2001, has strong elements of Christianity in it. The article can be used for a very wide audience because the language is straight forward and any time
Spider-Man is a movie about a nerdy young man, Peter Parker, who gets bitten by a genetically altered spider and gains superhuman powers, all of which revolve around abilities that spiders have. For instance, he is able to “shoot” webs out of his wrists, stick to walls, and he has incredible strength. Early in the movie, Parker uses his powers for his own personal gain, but after he fails to stop a burglar that later kills his uncle, he begins to use his powers to help others. His friend’s father, Norman Osborne, takes a serum that drives him mad and he becomes the villain of the movie, the Green Goblin. After many plot twists, Spider-Man eventually stops the Goblin.
In his article,
Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Another example is when the Goblin is holding Mary Jane in one hand and a bus of school children in the other, telling Spider-Man he must choose who to save.
In addition to the specific scenes of the movie is the larger concept of shame, guilt, and atonement to the Christian faith. Shame is defined as a state of being, while guilt is an action. Atonement is the method by which Christians are able to, at least temporarily, relieve themselves of these feelings.
The arrangement of this article makes sense. It is arranged in such a fashion that it flows from one topic to the next well. The progression begins with the basic structure of superhero films, a category that includes such films as Superman and American westerns. Spider-Man is somewhat different than these films, with Spider-Man being more “human,” flawed even. The next part of the paper discusses some of his flaws, going such as the “stalking” of Mary Jane and the self-obsession that leads to his uncle’s death. This brings the paper to its main focus: how Christianity allows one to substitute guilt for shame in order that atonement is possible. It then talks about the challenges that come from being imperfect and having to choose between our spirituality and our flawed desires. The conclusion does a good job of pulling all of this formation together.
This article makes you take another look at Spider-Man, both in movie and comic form. I have always thought that the comics in the Spider-Man series where he is married to Mary Jane has a little bit less luster than the ones where he is lusting for her, and I think, to an extent, that has been true with the movie series as well. I think it takes away from difference between Spider-Man and the typical superhero movie, where the hero gets the girl. According to this article, that could be because when Parker finally possesses Mary Jane, he loses the shame that he associates with her, and only the guilt of his uncle’s death is left to atone for.
In conclusion, I feel that Niall Richardson’s article, “The Gospel According to Spider-Man” was well written and supported. It certainly has made me rethink some of the concepts of the story line, and at the same time, let me take another look at Christianity as well.
Works Cited
Richardson, Niall. (2004). The gospel according to Spider-Man. The Journal of Popular Culture, 37. Retrieved November 11, 2007
from EBSCOhost database.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Assignment 2-1: Cancer and Comics
Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
HUMN 341
Assignment 2-1
Cancer and Comics
Assignment 2-1: Weekly Analysis
Comics have been, for decades, mostly associated with those that you see on the “funny pages” (as the comic page is often referred to): little snippets of humor that brighten your day. This is not always the case however, as exemplified by the recent death of the character Lisa from breast cancer in the comic, “Funky Winkerbean,” by Tom Batiuk.
Comics are not the medium that you would expect to see such decidedly bleak subject matter, and there were certainly complaints to the Columbus Dispatch for running the strip on the “funny pages.” However, Batiuk felt that it was an important story to tell, as he himself is a survivor of cancer. There was positive reaction as well. Chris Beale said, “We all want a happy ending, I guess. But the fact of the matter is, people who get cancer sometimes die. So Batik surprised me and impressed me with the way the strip ended.” (Eichenberger)
Comics are a media that have a large reach, and this discussion of cancer is one that affects everyone in our society, be it directly or indirectly. According to the National Cancer Institute, “12.28% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast at some time during their lifetime.” Considering how many types of cancer there are, the odds are good that someone you know, if not you yourself, will be diagnosed with cancer. It is because of this that this is an important subject for discussion.
Comics are an interesting way to have that discussion. Although the characters in the strip are not real, they still have a way of connecting with their readers on a personal level. The reality that cancer is not always survivable is something that can make us as a society extremely uncomfortable, and we are not always sure how to react to the announcement of cancer, or the announcement that a friend or loved one will not survive the disease. This is what makes Lisa so important: since the reader doesn’t directly interact with her and Les (her husband), the reader is able to see how cancer affects the victims from a distance. If the reader should then find out a friend or relative has cancer, at least the situation isn’t completely foreign.
Perhaps the method by which the message is conveyed is not the largest concern, as long as the message arrives intact. I think that the sensitivity and respect in which Tom Batiuk has treated the issue in the comic strip certainly broadcasts a strong message, and gives the readers an opportunity to discuss something very important.
Eichenberger, B. (2007, November 8). No laughing matter. The Columbus Dispatch, pp. D1, D3.
Eichenberger, B. (2007, November 8). No laughing matter. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2007/11/08/1_TOM_BATIUK.ART_ART_11-08-07_D1_EP8D4VJ.html?sid=101
National Cancer Institute, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. (2007). Cancer of the breast. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html
HUMN 341
Assignment 2-1
Cancer and Comics
Assignment 2-1: Weekly Analysis
Comics have been, for decades, mostly associated with those that you see on the “funny pages” (as the comic page is often referred to): little snippets of humor that brighten your day. This is not always the case however, as exemplified by the recent death of the character Lisa from breast cancer in the comic, “Funky Winkerbean,” by Tom Batiuk.
Comics are not the medium that you would expect to see such decidedly bleak subject matter, and there were certainly complaints to the Columbus Dispatch for running the strip on the “funny pages.” However, Batiuk felt that it was an important story to tell, as he himself is a survivor of cancer. There was positive reaction as well. Chris Beale said, “We all want a happy ending, I guess. But the fact of the matter is, people who get cancer sometimes die. So Batik surprised me and impressed me with the way the strip ended.” (Eichenberger)
Comics are a media that have a large reach, and this discussion of cancer is one that affects everyone in our society, be it directly or indirectly. According to the National Cancer Institute, “12.28% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast at some time during their lifetime.” Considering how many types of cancer there are, the odds are good that someone you know, if not you yourself, will be diagnosed with cancer. It is because of this that this is an important subject for discussion.
Comics are an interesting way to have that discussion. Although the characters in the strip are not real, they still have a way of connecting with their readers on a personal level. The reality that cancer is not always survivable is something that can make us as a society extremely uncomfortable, and we are not always sure how to react to the announcement of cancer, or the announcement that a friend or loved one will not survive the disease. This is what makes Lisa so important: since the reader doesn’t directly interact with her and Les (her husband), the reader is able to see how cancer affects the victims from a distance. If the reader should then find out a friend or relative has cancer, at least the situation isn’t completely foreign.
Perhaps the method by which the message is conveyed is not the largest concern, as long as the message arrives intact. I think that the sensitivity and respect in which Tom Batiuk has treated the issue in the comic strip certainly broadcasts a strong message, and gives the readers an opportunity to discuss something very important.
Eichenberger, B. (2007, November 8). No laughing matter. The Columbus Dispatch, pp. D1, D3.
Eichenberger, B. (2007, November 8). No laughing matter. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2007/11/08/1_TOM_BATIUK.ART_ART_11-08-07_D1_EP8D4VJ.html?sid=101
National Cancer Institute, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. (2007). Cancer of the breast. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html
Assignment 2-2: Icon Analysis
Assignment 2-2: Icon Analysis
The turkey is my first icon. Whether you see an elegantly decorated turkey meal, or the turkey like my example picture, the first thing to come to mind is the Thanksgiving holiday. Most people think of this holiday as a time of family and good will, and this is part of the myth that goes along with Thanksgiving. While for some people, this is actually what happens, for far more this is a holiday that creates a lot of stress and is anything but a happy get together. Many have to travel to get to be with their families, which can be stressful, and then those who are hosting have to prepare a huge meal that they spend the event serving. Also, of course, are the people that have no family, or have lost loved ones, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a very hard time of year for them.
My second icon is the baseball which represents, of course, America’s pastime. While the sport has been for many years a symbol of the best athletes, it recently has come to represent the scandal of steroids. It’s hard to imagine where baseball is headed, and sad to think that even the suspicion of illegal doping has cast a shadow over the record of players like Barry Bonds. Although there have been no proven allegations against him, there is no doubt that his home run record will probably be looked upon as less of an achievement than that of the man who held the record before him: Hank Aaron.
The final icon I have selected is the Salvation Army shield. Anyone who has ever shopped between the times of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and Christmas is familiar with the Salvation Army bell ringers and the red kettle in which they take donations. The Salvation Army represents both the best and the worst of American society. For the best, there is nothing like seeing the spirit of charity amongst your peers, where most everyone who walks by the bell ringers has something to drop in the kettle. As for the worst, it hurts me to think that it is only during this season that many of those people are willing to give to a charity that helps so many. The need for financial assistance is a year-round need, but the only time many people give generously is during the holiday season.
Photos retrieved on November 12, 2007 from the following (in the order of turkey, baseball, Salvation Army Shield):
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3059940
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6022582
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf
The turkey is my first icon. Whether you see an elegantly decorated turkey meal, or the turkey like my example picture, the first thing to come to mind is the Thanksgiving holiday. Most people think of this holiday as a time of family and good will, and this is part of the myth that goes along with Thanksgiving. While for some people, this is actually what happens, for far more this is a holiday that creates a lot of stress and is anything but a happy get together. Many have to travel to get to be with their families, which can be stressful, and then those who are hosting have to prepare a huge meal that they spend the event serving. Also, of course, are the people that have no family, or have lost loved ones, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a very hard time of year for them.
My second icon is the baseball which represents, of course, America’s pastime. While the sport has been for many years a symbol of the best athletes, it recently has come to represent the scandal of steroids. It’s hard to imagine where baseball is headed, and sad to think that even the suspicion of illegal doping has cast a shadow over the record of players like Barry Bonds. Although there have been no proven allegations against him, there is no doubt that his home run record will probably be looked upon as less of an achievement than that of the man who held the record before him: Hank Aaron.
The final icon I have selected is the Salvation Army shield. Anyone who has ever shopped between the times of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and Christmas is familiar with the Salvation Army bell ringers and the red kettle in which they take donations. The Salvation Army represents both the best and the worst of American society. For the best, there is nothing like seeing the spirit of charity amongst your peers, where most everyone who walks by the bell ringers has something to drop in the kettle. As for the worst, it hurts me to think that it is only during this season that many of those people are willing to give to a charity that helps so many. The need for financial assistance is a year-round need, but the only time many people give generously is during the holiday season.
Photos retrieved on November 12, 2007 from the following (in the order of turkey, baseball, Salvation Army Shield):
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3059940
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6022582
http://www1.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Assignment 1-4: Video Game Violence
Kitty Hollingshead Mancil
HUMN 341
Assignment 1-4
Video Game Violence
Assignment 1-4: Weekly written analysis: Video Game Violence
Video game violence is nothing new, although a lot of attention has been directed towards it lately. With such games as “Grand Theft Auto” and, more recently, “Manhunt 2” coming into the spotlight for their explicit content, it makes one wonder where the line is that they are crossing. While these games are violent on their own accord, what has really seemed to inflame the public is so called “hidden” scenes, where hackers will dig beneath the surface to reveal new scenes and un-blur explicit sequences. While this is done by a small majority of the gaming population, and at times on systems that are illegally modified, with “Manhunt 2” falling into this category (“Target pulls..”), directions on how to do this become quickly available to the gaming public thorough such sources as the internet.
The question comes to mind… how is the violence in video games so much different than that in horror movies, such as in the popular movie series, “Saw?” The violence in such movies is also highly graphic and yet there seems to be little outcry about this phenomenon. Perhaps this is because the public feels that video games are largely targeted towards children and young adults. However, video games are restricted from buyers via an age system, much like movies, with a “mature” rating on a video game relating to a “restricted” rating on a movie: only appropriate for people above the age of 17.
Is it the fact that the gamer takes control of the violence that really makes the public nervous? This could well be. It is one thing to passively watch violence happening on the big screen, but video games are different in that the player “becomes” the perpetrator of said violence. The player takes an active part in whatever atrocities are taking place in the game, and more often than not, they are rewarded for those actions. The question becomes then, is it better to be a perpetrator, or is it better to stand by and gain entertainment from violence in a passive way?
The most important issue is the monitoring of not only your children, but yourself. The rating systems are put in place to ensure that what some may consider inappropriate materials do not fall into the grasp of those too young to appreciate what is going on. For now, the rating on “Manhunt 2” remains at the “Mature” level (Svensson), but it is up to each one of us to make an informed decision on what kinds of entertainment we and our children have access to. In this country, not only do the makers of these products, be them video games or movies, have the right to make them, but we as the consumers have the right to decide whether or not to purchase them, and that is where the real power lies.
Target pulls violent video game. Retrieved November 07, 2007, from
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071107/ap_on_hi_te/games_manhunt2_target;_ylt=ApmSq3NnUhnDU8m_aS3axkAjtBAF
Svensson, P. “Manhunt 2” dodges “adults only” deathblow. Technewsworld. Retrieved November 07, 2007, from http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/60149.html
HUMN 341
Assignment 1-4
Video Game Violence
Assignment 1-4: Weekly written analysis: Video Game Violence
Video game violence is nothing new, although a lot of attention has been directed towards it lately. With such games as “Grand Theft Auto” and, more recently, “Manhunt 2” coming into the spotlight for their explicit content, it makes one wonder where the line is that they are crossing. While these games are violent on their own accord, what has really seemed to inflame the public is so called “hidden” scenes, where hackers will dig beneath the surface to reveal new scenes and un-blur explicit sequences. While this is done by a small majority of the gaming population, and at times on systems that are illegally modified, with “Manhunt 2” falling into this category (“Target pulls..”), directions on how to do this become quickly available to the gaming public thorough such sources as the internet.
The question comes to mind… how is the violence in video games so much different than that in horror movies, such as in the popular movie series, “Saw?” The violence in such movies is also highly graphic and yet there seems to be little outcry about this phenomenon. Perhaps this is because the public feels that video games are largely targeted towards children and young adults. However, video games are restricted from buyers via an age system, much like movies, with a “mature” rating on a video game relating to a “restricted” rating on a movie: only appropriate for people above the age of 17.
Is it the fact that the gamer takes control of the violence that really makes the public nervous? This could well be. It is one thing to passively watch violence happening on the big screen, but video games are different in that the player “becomes” the perpetrator of said violence. The player takes an active part in whatever atrocities are taking place in the game, and more often than not, they are rewarded for those actions. The question becomes then, is it better to be a perpetrator, or is it better to stand by and gain entertainment from violence in a passive way?
The most important issue is the monitoring of not only your children, but yourself. The rating systems are put in place to ensure that what some may consider inappropriate materials do not fall into the grasp of those too young to appreciate what is going on. For now, the rating on “Manhunt 2” remains at the “Mature” level (Svensson), but it is up to each one of us to make an informed decision on what kinds of entertainment we and our children have access to. In this country, not only do the makers of these products, be them video games or movies, have the right to make them, but we as the consumers have the right to decide whether or not to purchase them, and that is where the real power lies.
Target pulls violent video game. Retrieved November 07, 2007, from
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071107/ap_on_hi_te/games_manhunt2_target;_ylt=ApmSq3NnUhnDU8m_aS3axkAjtBAF
Svensson, P. “Manhunt 2” dodges “adults only” deathblow. Technewsworld. Retrieved November 07, 2007, from http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/60149.html
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