Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA13219 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:19:42 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [194.117.133.84] User-Agent: Microsoft-Entourage/9.0.2509 Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 21:10:50 +0100 Subject: Re: Media and Violence From: Steve Drew <srdrew_1@hotmail.com> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Message-ID: <B8F2158B.1B0%srdrew_1@hotmail.com> In-Reply-To: <200204281848.TAA12994@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk> Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-OriginalArrivalTime: 28 Apr 2002 20:13:37.0976 (UTC) FILETIME=[2E9E9B80:01C1EEF1] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Scott
> Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 12:15:39 -0400
> From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Media and Violence
>
>> 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.
? I doubt they would be as eager if they had to make the oath "We who are
about to die salute you". Watching a stage managed contest fell by the way
side here in the early 70's.
> 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?
It is more civilised that why channel 4 dropped most of its coverage. I had
a certain fondness for it when it was introduced by Channel 4 into the UK in
1983 (?) It became embarassing after Max Boyce the Welsh comedian
interviewed some American players (Cowboys I think) who said that Rugby
Union was too dangerous. (Bit Wussy, IMHO)
Yes they do the wave. We copy many things from the US, good and bad. And why
is it called the Mexican Wave and not the US wave?
>
> Unfortunately we may have also introduced baseball. Sorry about that one.
You are only getting your own back. When I was at school it was called
rounders and was played by girls :-)
Regards
Steve
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