Violence in the Media: Asia Vs. America

Violence in America has been on the increase over the past years, and is beginning to pervade many aspects of American life. When America is compared to other first world countries, the sad truth that America is by far one of the most violent countries among the developed world is a reality that the populace needs to address. The media undoubtedly plays an influential role in the promotion of violence in America, from the bloody movies that have become theatrical representations of murder to songs about sex and drugs, the media of twentieth century America is in fact significantly affecting all of us in the ways of violence. The differences in Asia's media and America's media contrast greatly to the extent that both are on opposite sides of the media-violence spectrum.

The young generation of America is often heard listening to songs that glamorize everything from drugs, to sex, to alcohol. In comparison to Asia, the Asian music industry has also been a major factor in influencing the population there, but in positive ways. The music there is best characterized by the phrase, 'happy go lucky, if not corny.' Swearing is down to a minimal in songs, and the stereotypical bass pounding, window shattering music passing by in cars is nonexistent there. Perhaps it is the need to look cool here that drives people to blast tasteless music into passing areas. Whether or not, it doesn't hurt to listen to something that doesn't advocate violence.

The recent movie portraying the fight of the Spartans in 300 is also without a doubt a tasteless portrayal of violence, behind a line of other notoriously bloody and violent movies including Hostel, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a long list of other movies that have been released recently. The amount of blood and violence in these movies has been portrayed to a degree never before seen in the movie industry. Asia on the other hand, has not been on the race to create ever more violent movies in order to titillate the crowds. Instead, sappy love movies and corny over emphasized kung fu movies dominate much of the industry. What makes Americans so violent is their ever increasing thirst for more sadism and more brutality on the big screen. Violence on violence can only be equivalent to more violence.

The contrasting nature between the influential media's of America and Asia can be very helpful in recognizing issues that need to be addressed in order to change America's violent media society for the better. Realizing the negative influence that certain American media has on society is the first step to breaking the fixation upon violence in America.