Stephen King
April 20th 2007
FULL ARTICLE
Predicting Violence:
In the wake of the Virginia Tech murders, novelist and Entertainment Weekly contributing editor Stephen King comments on the connection between violent writing / thoughts and violent acts.
"I've thought about it, of course. Certainly in this sensitized day and age, my own college writing would have raised red flags, and I'm certain someone would have tabbed me as mentally ill because of them.
As a teacher, I had one student who once raised red flags galore in my own mind: stories about flaying women alive, dismemberment, and, the capper, ''getting back at THEM.'' George was very quiet, and verbally inarticulate. It was only in his written work that he spewed these relentless scenes of gore and torture. His job was in the University Bookstore, and when I inquired about him once, I was told he was a good worker, but ''quiet.'' I thought, ''Whoa, if some kid is ever gonna blow, it'll be this one.'' He never did ..... But that was in the days before a gun-totin' serial killer could get top billing on the Nightly News and possibly the covers of national magazines.
For most creative people, the imagination serves as an excretory channel for violence: We visualize what we will never actually do. On the whole, I don't think you can pick these guys out based on their work."
It begs the question, Are we over influenced by the excessive blood and guts of crime dramas, horror films, violent videogames and graphic novels, leading to such horrific real life crimes? Or are they simply the formats for the creative expression of our darkest thoughts. The outlets that allow safe expression of ideas that are always there, with words and images, rather than bullets and blood. Think about the bigger picture that escalates everytime these real life crimes are thrown onto the front page news. Its the prime avenue for finger pointing, blame naming, and fuel to the restrictive policies on freedom of expression and creativity.
Maybe all we really should focus on, is learning to open up and communicate again.
April 20th 2007
FULL ARTICLE
Predicting Violence:
In the wake of the Virginia Tech murders, novelist and Entertainment Weekly contributing editor Stephen King comments on the connection between violent writing / thoughts and violent acts.
"I've thought about it, of course. Certainly in this sensitized day and age, my own college writing would have raised red flags, and I'm certain someone would have tabbed me as mentally ill because of them.
As a teacher, I had one student who once raised red flags galore in my own mind: stories about flaying women alive, dismemberment, and, the capper, ''getting back at THEM.'' George was very quiet, and verbally inarticulate. It was only in his written work that he spewed these relentless scenes of gore and torture. His job was in the University Bookstore, and when I inquired about him once, I was told he was a good worker, but ''quiet.'' I thought, ''Whoa, if some kid is ever gonna blow, it'll be this one.'' He never did ..... But that was in the days before a gun-totin' serial killer could get top billing on the Nightly News and possibly the covers of national magazines.
For most creative people, the imagination serves as an excretory channel for violence: We visualize what we will never actually do. On the whole, I don't think you can pick these guys out based on their work."
It begs the question, Are we over influenced by the excessive blood and guts of crime dramas, horror films, violent videogames and graphic novels, leading to such horrific real life crimes? Or are they simply the formats for the creative expression of our darkest thoughts. The outlets that allow safe expression of ideas that are always there, with words and images, rather than bullets and blood. Think about the bigger picture that escalates everytime these real life crimes are thrown onto the front page news. Its the prime avenue for finger pointing, blame naming, and fuel to the restrictive policies on freedom of expression and creativity.
Maybe all we really should focus on, is learning to open up and communicate again.
STEPHEN KING : HOMEPAGE
CHET ZAR : HOMEPAGE
CAM de LEON : HOMEPAGE
4 comments:
what ? did Chet Zar scare you off? hehe....
Disturb the Norm......Hmmm, wish I had the talent he has in one finger.
What other movie effects movies has he contributed to?
M
Stephen King makes a thought provoking comment, it made me sit up and think. Just how do you define who gets the red flag? It's all very well in hind sight.
M
Exactly. i tend to think it boils down to a loss or breakdown in communication and self expression. our society is so 2 dimensional, that if people cant express / communicate the Ying and the Yang within them, then we become unbalanced, and sure enough the scales tip. then we all run around and say "How could this happen again".
When was the last time you "really" said what you felt or were thinking ...
2 cents.
S.
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