NameName Posted July 6, 2014 Posted July 6, 2014 There are so many violent movies out there that are very popular.Even though I like a good action movie with a couple car chases sometimes, many movies I've noticed lately are really graphic and gore filled. A highlight of these films, focus on the pain and desperation of people with no control. I have a lot of trouble seeing parts of these movies and was wondering what happens in peoples brains to make them enjoy watching these movies. Is it somehow connected to unresolved childhood issues? Any studies or hypotheses out there? Thanks!
500 Posted July 6, 2014 Posted July 6, 2014 Can you give a few examples of what you consider a good action movie vs gore filled? People have varying tolerances and definitions. Personally, I enjoy a lot of violent martial arts films because they usually resonate with justice & will-to-power narratives. Many people, myself included, like to see villains subjected to brutality because we have experiences of being aggressed against without the aggressor suffering any obvious consequences in the near to medium term following the event. My hypothesis for those who like slasher films (which I avoid), often have the will-to-power identification with the mass murderer, because their empathy has been shredded to a degree which makes it difficult for them to maintain a sense of justice, or they need an outlet for their rage, but expressing it against the just target is too dangerous or painful for them. Does that make sense? Also, what is it that you like about your average summer blockbuster?
NameName Posted July 6, 2014 Author Posted July 6, 2014 I hardly ever watch movies, my family does and I catch bits and pieces of them. Movies with bank robberies, car chases and martial arts is fine. Even people getting killed in them isn't too horrific, think the of the outlaw in the western town killing bad guys. I just saw parts of "Dead Man Down" and it was disgusting, like a man is tied to a chair and gets eaten alive by hungry rats. I couldn't look and it made me feel terrible. The movies I'm referring to are like "Saw" and "Would you rather". These types of movies usually have a terrible plot and it's all about the violence and gore. A movie I consider violent but nor disgusting would be something like "The Dark Knight". "Personally, I enjoy a lot of violent martial arts films because they usually resonate with justice & will-to-power narratives" Yeah, the movies I'm referring to usually have a "How much pain can humans handle and lets watch" theme and not a "Good guys can conquer and evil loses" theme of violence like you mentioned. You said your hypothesis is they either have very little empathy, or that they have anger that they would rather release through these films rather than he who has angered the viewer. This sounds like a good hypothesis. But then does that mean that if they get out their anger in this way, that if they got out their anger on the just person, they would like to inflict physical pain like they watch in the movies? Thanks for the reply
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