There is good news and bad news in the documentation of violence by perpetrators and victims alike on social media. The good news, obviously, is that abuse of power and misuse of force such as the murder of Philando Castile by a policeman in Minnesota last year or criminal acts such as the beating of a young man on the west side of Chicago this week can be instantly recorded, and the perpetrators charged. (The jury is still out on the officer who killed Mr. Castile, who is on administrative leave, but not fired.) The bad news is that as a society, more violent images and acts are being normalized, shared and even celebrated.
Ten years ago, two researchers in the British medical journal Lancet noted , “There is consistent evidence that violent imagery in television, film and video, and computer games has substantial short-term effects on arousal, thoughts, and emotions, increasing the likelihood of aggressive or fearful behaviour in younger children, especially in boys.” Their work was based on medical research reports from America. A website funded by the US Department of Justice (one wonders what the impact of the Trump presidency which was founded on violence will be on the work of DOJ) notes:
“Children who have witnessed traumatic events – such as domestic violence, shootings or even fighting – can develop traumatic stress that in time can impact their physical and emotional health. Child traumatic stress is defined by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) as stress that “occurs when a child experiences an intense event that threatens or causes harm to his or her emotional and physical wellbeing.”1 Children who suffer from child traumatic stress, from exposure to one or more traumas in their lives, may develop reactions that continue to affect their daily lives long after the traumatic events have ended. Traumatic events or experiences, oftentimes termed “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACEs), may be direct, where a child is a victim, or indirect, where a child is a witness. The events may be scary, dangerous or violent and may include violence, accidents, death, illness, injury, abuse, or neglect.”
Sitting in a safe, suburban movie theater recently, my husband and I watched the coming attractions. Each was packed with digitally rendered wonders, driving music, and relentless violence. We were there for a sci fi film, I know that the previews are guesses at what any segment of audience will want to see. What continues to shock me at non-R rated films are the violent previews, while sex is a no-no, gun violence gets only the tiny words “some violence” at the bottom of the screen as the mayhem looms in front of tiny faces. I am not calling for censorship, but I do ask for more thought about the wisdom of this practice.
Multiply those fictional images by the real life streamings on Facebook and other social media of violence and you have an epidemic. The press and politicians (particularly President-Elect Trump whose rallies featured violent words and in some cases actions, particularly against women and people of color) are vocal in their denunciation of the tragic, heartbreaking and seemingly unceasing murders by gun in Chicago but other than claiming it’s fear on the part of the police, they have no solutions. None of those beating their chests, including Chicago’s former police superintendent, Garry McCarthy have called for changing the laws in Indiana where many of the guns used in Chicago are sold with impunity. (A federal closure to the loophole of gun shows is likely to be repealed by President Elect Trump) None of them have called on Mayor Emanuel or Governor Rauner to restore funding for the mental health clinics, the Ceasefire programs (which had real results in reducing violence), or the schools where closings have increased class size but not numbers of teachers or social workers.
While the bad news dominates the headlines, there are people working to address this epidemic. Please consider volunteering, supporting, and documenting their work, and resist sharing violent images and acts. The Dovetail Project, http://thedovetailproject.org led by Sheldon Smith, a young man whose own life was challenged by violence, works with young African American men who are fathers, ages 17 to 24. The Crossroads Fund (I am a Board member) http://www.crossroadsfund.org/content/our-grantees funds organizations throughout the Chicago metro area working for social justice and change. The Cure Violence Organization and in Illinois, Ceasefire http://cureviolence.org/partners/illinois-partners has recently documented the real results of their efforts to interrupt and stop violence.
We know the power of documentation- instead of wringing our hands and sharing more violent images, let’s roll up our sleeves and do something.
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