Harry Potter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Airetalathwen · 03-12-2002, 08:29 PM

Ah, wow, where to even start. This is a great discussion! And we've seem to come very far from Harry...Umm, I guess I'll begin by saying I'm surprised that so many people (not even just on this board) like the HP books more than the movie. I found the first book very undescriptive, esspecially the second half, and so I thought people would enjoy the movie better becasue you could actually see the images and places that are not described very well in the book. On the point about violence in the media, the thing that disturbs me the most, is: yes, there is a lot of violonce and drama in our everyday lives, so why do we need to go and enterain ourselves with fake drama? Why would I want to have fun watching "Collateral Damage" with Arnold Shwatzenager (coming to theaters soon in the USA at least) when I can watch the World Trade Centers collapsing, and thousands of real people loose their lives. It's so very very sad that we have to make up our own violent dramas, as if there aren't enough in everyday life. And then, it's a vicious circle! People getting used to violence by watching movies, so they get bored and go and make more movies....and yes, violent movies DO effect us! Kids did not blow people away in schools when my mom was little!! (And what do you know, there also happened to be less violence on TV too! ) Why do people swear so much now? Because Hollywood (and many many other movie industries) helped VERY much to make it popular!! It starts very slowly, and takes many generations to get it going like we have it now, but kids growing up and watching a lot of TV see other kids on TV using some word or another, and eventually they may find it slipping out of their mouth. Oops! But, there! That wasn't so hard to say! Hmm. Then another word. Etc... This all happens so gradually that the society isn't even aware of it, and it's very very subtle. 'Ah, come on, it's only one little word.' (Men didn't even use to swear in front of ladies, let alone the ladies swearing! ) Humans like to be shocked. And thrilled. Look at our theme parks, look at our fashions, look at our movies... We are always taking it to the next step. When we get bored with whatever shocking thing it is, we step it up a notch. The romans became so bored with life that they had live killings, because everything else was boring. They still wanted to be thrilled, and that was the way they could get it. Just something interesting to think about...I'm not all against R movies, I have seen and own some. (Matrix is one of my favortie movies!!) And I think the main answer for kids is to have parents talk to them about when they are allowed to see a movie, and why they are not allowed to see it now. And if they are allowed to see a movie, to talk about the objectional things and why you should not do them, etc. Out right forbidding them is just asking for trouble! Curiousity is a powerful thing, and cannot be held back too far. It would be better to expose them in a controled environment, instead of letting the kid find out on his own (becasue they always will anyway). Man, on the other hand, there are some movies adults shouldn't go see...!Sorry for the long post! I hope some of you will have to think as much to read this as I did to write it! I can try to explain in more detail later if any are confused, but I have run out of time for now! ~Airetalathwen

03-12-2002, 08:29 PM	#35
Airetalathwen Animated Skeleton Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Greenwood the Great Posts: 28	Ah, wow, where to even start. This is a great discussion! And we've seem to come very far from Harry...<P>Umm, I guess I'll begin by saying I'm surprised that so many people (not even just on this board) like the HP books more than the movie. I found the first book very undescriptive, esspecially the second half, and so I thought people would enjoy the movie better becasue you could actually see the images and places that are not described very well in the book. <P> On the point about violence in the media, the thing that disturbs me the most, is: yes, there is a lot of violonce and drama in our everyday lives, so why do we need to go and enterain ourselves with fake drama? Why would I want to have fun watching "Collateral Damage" with Arnold Shwatzenager (coming to theaters soon in the USA at least) when I can watch the World Trade Centers collapsing, and thousands of real people loose their lives. It's so very very sad that we have to make up our own violent dramas, as if there aren't enough in everyday life. And then, it's a vicious circle! People getting used to violence by watching movies, so they get bored and go and make more movies....and yes, violent movies <B>DO</B> effect us! Kids did not blow people away in schools when my mom was little!! (And what do you know, there also happened to be less violence on TV too! ) Why do people swear so much now? Because Hollywood (and many many other movie industries) helped VERY much to make it popular!! It starts very slowly, and takes many generations to get it going like we have it now, but kids growing up and watching a lot of TV see other kids on TV using some word or another, and eventually they may find it slipping out of their mouth. Oops! But, there! That wasn't so hard to say! Hmm. Then another word. Etc... This all happens so gradually that the society isn't even aware of it, and it's very very subtle. 'Ah, come on, it's only one little word.' (Men didn't even use to swear in front of ladies, let alone the ladies swearing! )<BR> Humans like to be shocked. And thrilled. Look at our theme parks, look at our fashions, look at our movies... We are always taking it to the next step. When we get bored with whatever shocking thing it is, we step it up a notch. The romans became so bored with life that they had live killings, because everything else was boring. They still wanted to be thrilled, and that was the way they could get it. <P>Just something interesting to think about...<P>I'm not all against R movies, I have seen and own some. (Matrix is one of my favortie movies!!) And I think the main answer for kids is to have parents talk to them about when they are allowed to see a movie, and why they are not allowed to see it now. And if they are allowed to see a movie, to talk about the objectional things and why you should not do them, etc. Out right forbidding them is just asking for trouble! Curiousity is a powerful thing, and cannot be held back too far. It would be better to expose them in a controled environment, instead of letting the kid find out on his own (becasue they always will anyway). <BR>Man, on the other hand, there are some movies adults shouldn't go see...!<P>Sorry for the long post! I hope some of you will have to think as much to read this as I did to write it! I can try to explain in more detail later if any are confused, but I have run out of time for now! <P>~Airetalathwen __________________ I heard an old voice say~ "Don't go far from the land The seasons have their way~ No mortal can understand"