The Mean World Syndrome Preview

Now Available on DVD @ http://www.mediaed.org

The Mean World Syndrome
Media Violence & the Cultivation of Fear

A new film based on the late George Gerbner's groundbreaking analysis of media influence and media violence.

Featuring George Gerbner and Michael Morgan

For years, debates have raged among scholars, politicians, and concerned parents about the effects of media violence on viewers. Too often these debates have descended into simplistic battles between those who claim that media messages directly cause violence and those who argue that activists exaggerate the impact of media exposure altogether. The Mean World Syndrome, based on the groundbreaking work of media scholar George Gerbner, urges us to think about media effects in more nuanced ways. Ranging from Hollywood movies and prime-time dramas to reality programming and the local news, the film examines how media violence forms a pervasive cultural environment that cultivates in heavy viewers, especially, a heightened state of insecurity, exaggerated perceptions of risk and danger, and a fear-driven propensity for hard-line political solutions to social problems. A provocative and accessible introduction to cultivation analysis, media effects research, and the subject of media influence and media violence more generally.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• George
• Gerbner
• Michael
• Morgan
• Cultivation
• Theory
• Mean
• World
• Syndrome
• Glenn
• Beck
• Bill
• O'Reilly
• Lou
• Dobbs
• Crime
• Fear
• Media
• Education
• Anxiety

[aerobique]

@robinkom

"As far as the beginning montage goes, it's fake violence... it's entertainment. If you can't differentiate that from the real thing, you're a moron. "

you just didnt get the point of this (great) documentary, it IS about the continous representation of violence, fake or not doesent matter-. It goes so far that "people like you" ;) see/accept "fake violence" as "entertainment". These concepts adding up, manifest and appear in the real world. This IS the "mean world syndrome".

[Yoyothemighty]

Violence sells for a reason. You'd be better served to ask yourself what that reason might be. These are not root causes, they are elements of a feedback loop.

[JoshieDoozie]

And then people wonder why so much violence, why so much hatred, animosity, wretchedness. . . the answer to all society's ills lies within the mainstream media. . . it's called programming for a reason.

[aerobique]

@robinkom

squirmingsquirming..

it is not about shitty parenting, not about the (btw amoral..) free market, personal responsibility or other issues to point the finger at

it is about an obvious social syndrome and it's root causes

[robinkom]

@aerobique That's what this really comes down to. Shitty parents who don't properly teach their kids what's real and what's fake, or don't get them psyche evaluations to make sure they don't have a screw loose. The kids that commit violent acts, regardless if they watched Rambo or not, have genetic mental disorders and/or horrible upbringings and should have been given therapy and medication a long time ago. Hell, even break it down for them how the special effects guys made it all happen.

[robinkom]

@aerobique Yeah, it is entertainment and instead of this fear-inducing bullshit, people should learn to take personal responsibility for themselves. Young parents today DON'T parent their kids. They buy them violent movies and games without even seeing what it's about then they're the same douche bags that complain to the companies for their "horrid and evil products" because it traumatized lil Timmy. It said Rated M, dick! It's a free trade market, take responsibility for your shitty parenting.

[robinkom]

As far as the beginning montage goes, it's fake violence... it's entertainment. If you can't differentiate that from the real thing, you're a moron. As for all of the fear tactics used in the media, that's nothing new, that's how it works in America.

They want to keep you fearful and obedient conformist consumers to keep the economy going, make the rich richer, and back up their empirical politics. The only way to get real news about the US is to watch other countries' news like the BBC.

[multiquantumcheck]

@nubbs

Interesting point.

[trlckykid]

@nubbs already found it for free, crap version but it's all good.