Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA11143 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sat, 27 Apr 2002 17:21:31 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [209.240.222.132] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Media and Violence Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 12:15:39 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F285EeI46Ypc4nagamh000019eb@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Apr 2002 16:15:40.0163 (UTC) FILETIME=[C5F77D30:01C1EE06] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>Subject: Re: Media and Violence
>Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 19:42:01 -0700
>
>>To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>>Subject: Re: Media and Violence
>>Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 20:52:31 +0100
>>
>>Hi Wade
>>
>> > Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 09:15:06 -0400
>> > From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
>> > Subject: Re: Media and Violence
>> >
>> > On 04/23/02 18:48, Steve Drew said this-
>> >
>> >> Rome did the same if I recall.
>> >
>> > Rome, like other civilizations, was not desensitized to their
>>spectacles
>> > of violence and death, they _wanted_ to see just that. The audience was
>>a
>> > living and enjoying entity in these pageants of blood.
>>
>>They did but in some sense they were led to it. The gladiatorial contests
>>were ones of skill, and to the death at private funerals to honour the
>>memory of the departed. Julius Ceasar hit upon the idea of making them
>>public affairs, initially as ones of skill, though not necessarily to the
>>death, as well the chance to execute criminals in public spectacles.
>>
>>The problem with looking at Rome is when we think of the Romans as blood
>>thirsty. The reality is somewhat different.
>>
>>Skill at arms, bravery and a certain elan could gain the loser his life,
>>or
>>die with dignity and have a decent funeral. The main point was how a man
>>faced up to danger and fear. Don't forget they had an afterlife at stake.
>>Religion causes people to do funny things :-)
>>
>>Yes it degenerated in to a bloody shamlbes over time as people sought to
>>out
>>do each other in staging ever more lavish productions. The people had been
>>desensitised to the extreme violence in the games. They had been told by
>>their leaders that the games were good, and made attendance virtually
>>obligatory.
>>
>>If people are repeatedly told that something is good, and that cruel and
>>unusual punishments meted out to criminals act as a deterrent to the might
>>of Rome, then there would be a tendency for people to follow this view
>>point
>>(And the hangers and floggers are still around!)
>> >
>> > The bull fight is a pale imitation.
>>
>>And a disgrace that it still exists.
>> >
>> > The appetites of the human species are strong, and should never be
>> > discounted.
>>
>>Indeed they should not!
>> >
>> > - - Wade
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>Steve
>>
>Tomorrow I plan to watch American gladiators representing Scotland and
>Germany fight it out in the Football arena. The gladiators will move from
>there to the U.S. and participate in the greater spectacle that will end in
>the Superbowl at the beginning of next year in San Diego. The Roman
>spectacle is still with us. We've just managed to make it relatively less
>bloodless. But the spirit is the same.
>
>
It's good to see that we have finally introduced our fine game of football
to Europe and the British Isles. It's a far more civilized game than
"soccer" or "rugby". Have they started doing the "wave" yet?
Unfortunately we may have also introduced baseball. Sorry about that one.
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