Sociology Discussion: Do Violent Video Games Lead to Violence?

This is a forum discussion from my Sociology class. I though it applied particularly well to me, and thought I'd share my thoughts. It's a bit of a rant though, since I have a strong opinion on video games in general.



"Do you or people you know play violent video games? If so, what impact, if any, do you think this activity has on your or their thoughts and feelings?"

Not only do I know many people who play violent video games, but I myself play violent video games on a regular basis. First, however, I want to make a quick clarification about violent video games. My assumption is that when most people think of violent video games, they think of two games in particular (or variants thereof), namely the Call of Duty series and the Grand Theft Auto, which deal with realistic war violence and and realistic criminal violence respectively. These games, while realistically depicting violence, carry a number of warnings and suggest that the players be mature and over the age of 17. Too often, parents and/or children neglect these warnings.

I primarily play video games that are set in a fantasy setting and set reality aside. Their violence deals with swords and magic as opposed to guns and cars. This doesn't mean the games are less violent, but the authors take care to maintain a sense of fantasy in the game. I think if these games have had any impact, it has been positive. I have many fond memories that revolve around video games and sharing them with my friends. As far as my psyche is concerned, I don't believe I'm any more violent a person because of video games. I do enjoy my martial arts and whatnot, but that's a part of my personality, and not a result of video games. And, as far as grades are concerned, I've been an A student my entire life, and am currently writing a discussion for a college class as a 17 year old dual enrolled homeschool student. My thoughts and feelings toward violence are sensible and rational: obviously murder, rape, and any other form of violence are wrong. I have my moral, rational, and legal barriers. However, violent video games are simulations; the key is to use discernment and moderation, as in all things.

"Would you allow your children to play violent video games? Why or why not?"

Eventually, yes. However, I will not let my 10 or 11 year old play a game designed for an adult. I want my children to play video games and share in the experiences I grew up with. When I believe they have reached an appropriate level of maturity and discernment, that is when I will consider letting them play more violent video games.

"What do you think policymakers should do with the regard to the controversy over the effects of playing video games?"

What controversy? I believe the allegations against video games are preposterous and are excuses for immoral behavior. We as a society seek to place blame where it is not due, whether that is guns, the government, or violent video games. As I said, there are already measures taken to insure that only appropriately aged persons play gratuitously violent video games, specifically, the ESRB rating system, which was designed in order to help with violent video games. If a child is playing a violent video game that is not for him, that is a burden on him on his parent. If an adult is playing a violent video game, then he or she is responsible for their own actions.

I think the "controversy" about violent video games is utterly foolish, and a vain endeavor to draw attention and place blame. Humans are corrupt, depraved, and responsible for their own actions. I strongly believe that violent video games are not the cause for any murder or killing spree or whatever else we choose to blame on them. They are a source of entertainment, and are no more or less violent than any other violent book, movie, or TV show. Violent video games do not lead to violence.

Papers: "Stereotypes" and "Inventing a Religion

As I start my final Sociology paper about Urban Legends, I'll my post my other two here. The first is a paper about stereotypes that uses "Godzilla" as its basis. The second was my attempt at inventing a religion based on American society.

Note: These are college papers. I talk openly about some adult themes, so just a heads up.

Tim Wong

Smith

6/5/14

The Monster in our Midst

            Whether we care to believe it or not, it is a fact that stereotypes have permeated every fiber of our American society. Everyone has some assumption or misconception about a group, society, or culture. Music, movies, and literature have all perpetuated and nurtured these stereotypes into the subtle behemoths they are today; stereotypes about race, gender, occupations, and ideologies are all nested quietly in the backs of our heads. While there, these stereotypes slowly shape and malform our ideas about the world. Rather recently, the movie Godzilla was released in theaters. While a movie about a supernatural Japanese monster may not immediately strike someone as a movie about stereotypes, stereotypes are certainly present. In fact, Toho’s Godzilla movies have historically featured strong stereotypes, primarily those of a brash military, the arrogance and ignorance of mankind, and our view of nature, and all of those have carried over into this newest variant of the Godzilla formula. Through an examination of these three stereotypes throughout the movie Godzilla and its predecessors, I will show that stereotypes are not only prevalent in America, they are dominant.

            Our military is subject to many assumptions and stereotypes most of which, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, stem from the media’s representation of our soldiers and armies. Movies like Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers give a harsh but heroic view of our soldiers; we have learned to look up to them, to support them, and even to glorify them. In fact, the practice of supporting and praising our troops and veterans is common, if controversial in America. However, Japan portrayed their military differently in most of the Godzilla films. In most scenarios, the nation was faced with a monstrous danger: a Kaiju. That is, a giant and supernatural monster, such as the reptilian Godzilla, or the three headed King Ghidorah. When faced by this massive threat, the military immediately seeks to destroy it; in this year’s Godzilla, our American military tried to wipe out the rampaging monsters with a nuclear bomb. The immediate desire to resort to radioactive weapons is a stereotype directed towards our military, but also towards America itself. Many other countries view us as violent and arrogant. However, resorting to nuclear weaponry and mass destruction was a concept used just as much in the Japanese Godzilla films.

            In these older films, the giant monsters featured were always challenged by the Japanese military, whose futile attempts to stop them were always shrugged off. Originally, in the very first Godzilla movie in 1954, this military action was viewed as heroic; the rampaging monster was finally defeated through the use of the terrifying “Oxygen Destroyer” and reduced to a skeleton. However, as the movies evolved, Godzilla transformed from a wild beast to a savior of earth, a force of nature that sought to defend its planet from anything. And so, when mankind tried to destroy this new Godzilla time and time again, it became an act of arrogance. What is man that it should seek to destroy the forces of nature that defend it? This same question was brought up in the new Godzilla film, where the creature is once again shown as a force of nature, and a savior of earth. Despite its rampaging and destructive nature, it defends the humans from monsters that would have been an exponentially greater threat than itself. When Admiral Stenz approved the use of nuclear weapons to destroy the monsters, my initial thought was that the American military was incredibly foolish and arrogant. These thoughts, if not checked, quickly turn into long lasting stereotypes. Similarly, the capture and containment of the MUTO brought to mind images of arrogance; we seek to control and manipulate that which is not ours to control.

            All the Kaiju featured in the Godzilla movies, whether good or evil, are either forces of nature or manipulated by forces of nature. This is a theme that is perpetuated throughout the movie Godzilla and is summed up when Ken Watanabe’s character iconically says, “The arrogance of man is in thinking that nature is in our control, and not the other way around. Let them fight”. In saying this, Ken Watanabe not only affirms that man is indeed arrogant, he is stating that man is no match for nature. When two forces of nature collide, it is best for us to step back and let them be. However, this statement reveals two more stereotypes, those being that humans either seek to obliterate nature, or hold an awed reverence for it. Both of these apply to the movie Godzilla. While the American military seeks to destroy the monsters, the rest of the world comes to view Godzilla as a mighty force of nature, one that cannot be controlled and that ought to be respected.

            In summary, Godzilla features three powerful stereotypes, namely the rash violence of the American military, the arrogance of man, and man’s conflicting view of natural forces. These stereotypes have been prominent in Godzilla movies for the past 50 years; those movies have shaped the minds of many in regards to the military and man, and have influenced many stereotypes. If I were to judge America based solely on its representation in this most recent Godzilla movie, I would say that our government and military, while seeking the safety of our people, are too prone to violence and wanton destruction. I would also say that mankind is arrogant, foolish, and irreverent. And finally, I would conclude that the powerful forces of nature override class, gender, and race. Regardless of who you are, what you are, and where you stand in society, nature will still run its course. I believe that this is notion is important to consider; American media places too much emphasis on exploiting, balancing, and or fixing the myriad of stereotypes that have been built around race, class, and gender and have dominated our minds. Our society is so focused on political correctness that we forget about the world around us. While we will not necessarily be attacked by giant monsters, the concept that nature is greater than we are still applies. We are simply cogs in the wheel of time. The true monsters are the stereotypes that have crept into our everyday lives. And so, I return to the words of Ken Watanabe. The arrogance of man, since we truly are an arrogant race, is in thinking that nature is in our control. When we realize that we are in nature’s control, our ideas of race, class, and gender suddenly seem less important. Our stereotypes are the true monsters, and we will not be able to simply wipe them away with nuclear weaponry. If it is possible to eliminate stereotypes at all, it will be through much time and effort; they are the monsters in our midst.

Tim Wong

Kerri Smith

6/12/14

Examining Our Idols

            Inventing a religion is no easy task, especially if one already adheres to another religion. I am a devout Christian, so this paper will be particularly interesting for me; I must approach the topic from a very cautious position. And, as a Christian, I already have guidelines for myself; all my ideals are already in place. So, instead of creating a religion that is designed for me specifically, I will instead create a religion that is designed around modern America.  This religion is based on what I believe to be America’s three greatest aspects: Pleasure, Power, and Prosperity. What separates it from other religions, and makes it so perfect for the American mindset, is that one need not change much in their life in order to conform to it. Its central principles are individualism and relativism; the world revolves around everyone, and everyone revolves around me. Its guidelines are simply to continue in one’s everyday life, but everything they do is “worship”. The only rituals it requires are those we perform every day, such as eating or sleeping. It is based on comfort and individuality. So, through an examination of America’s most prominent aspects, Pleasure, Power, and Prosperity, I will create Americanism: The Modern Pantheon.

            The first set of “gods” are those focusing on Pleasure. There are four gods of pleasure. They are Libida, Gulus, Lacertus, and Proclivitus, and each focuses on a way that Americans find comfort or pleasure. Libida is the Goddess of Sexuality and love. She represents the sexual mindset of America, namely the idea and effort to expand on the concept of “sexuality”. She embraces everyone regardless of their sexual proclivity since she herself is pansexual and a shapeshifter. She also revels in the darker sides of love, such as adultery, divorce, and prostitution. Gulus is the god of Gluttony and Excessiveness. He loves food, and so do all of his worshippers. He also loves excessiveness in all its forms, whether that applies to food, money, or kittens. His dark side is his reign over the majority of physical disorders, especially those related to food like Anorexia or BED. Then, there is Lacertus, the god of Physical Training and Appearance. Lacertus represents bodybuilders and jocks throughout America, and has dominion over exercise, yoga, and any other form of physical training. He hates the fact that he cannot sit with the gods of power, so he trains endlessly in an attempt to join their ranks. His training is so intense that he disregards most other aspects of life, and his obstinacy only pushes him further away from the gods of power. What he doesn’t realize is that power is more than physical strength or attractiveness, and that misconception falls to many of his followers as well. Finally, there is Proclivitus, the god of Addiction, Substance Abuse, and the Underworld. His worshippers are those who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or any other addictive substance. When he is not in the Underworld enjoying his substance of choice, he is in America, and mingles with humans more than any other god. Since his followers need to be addicted to something, he is constantly getting drugs and alcohol into the hands of those who least need it.

            The next set of gods are those of power. First is Proelius, the god of War and Conflict. He is the one who sits in the minds of presidents when they make the order to launch a nuclear strike or attack another country. Like the Greek god Zeus, Proelius would be considered the leader of this pantheon, and is the father of many of the other gods and demigods. He was with the pilgrims that first founded America, and instigated much of America’s early bloodshed, such as the Revolutionary, Civil, and World Wars, as well as the oppression of the Native Americans. Second is Genus, the god of Assimilation, Immigration, and Civil Rights. Genus is the one that is constantly incorporating new aspects of other countries into America, such as food and vocabulary. He is always trying to get on the good side of the other gods; he brings Gulus new foods, Proclivitus new drinks, and is especially interested in pleasing Libida. As such, when it comes to “civil rights”, he is particularly supportive of those she agrees with, such as homosexuality or feminism. He is cautious and deceptive by nature; he knows that if he is not careful, he will find himself outside of America and unable to return. Then there is Tempus, the Goddess of Time and Technology. Tempus is the God who manipulates your sense of time when having fun or working. She is also constantly discovering and creating new technologies and placing their seeds in the minds of inventors. However, Tempus can also be quite lazy, since she has all the time in the world. Unfortunately, this sense of laziness can also spread to her genius followers, who have significantly less time than her. Finally, there is Diatriba, the goddess of education. Diatriba was once the most intelligent of all the gods besides Sensus (the goddess of intelligence). However, that changed when Tempus came to her with the idea of a public education system. Diatriba readily accepted and implemented the idea, but both she and America seem to have been worse off for it. Diatriba’s mind has been slowly and surely failing, and she now spends most of her days frivolously with Gaudia (the goddess of Adolescence and Luck).

            The third and final set of gods are those of Prosperity. Laborus, the god of Work, Careers, and Money is a workaholic in every sense of the word. He works tirelessly and is easily the most prosperous of all the gods; he has accumulated more wealth than even Materia, who is the goddess of Material Wealth. However, he often finds himself bored and always tired. He has more money than he could possibly spend, and has nothing left to spend it on. Materia is the goddess of Material Wealth and the wife of Laborus. She puts his money to better use and is constantly acquiring more goods. In fact, the other gods tend to look down on her for hoarding, and Laborus has to constantly watch his money. Then, there is Sensus, the Goddess of Intelligence and Innovation. When Tempus is sleeping, Sensus is there to inspire her followers, many of which also worship Sensus. Additionally, many of Diatriba’s old followers, those with genius minds but no proper education, turn to Sensus as well. Finally, there is Gaudia, who has dominion over Adolescence and Luck. Gaudia is the one who organizes all the parties and revelries that keep the other gods entertained. She is actually quite prosperous, but her prosperity does not necessarily flow down to her followers. However, there are a few of her followers that have great natural ability and can succeed in life regardless of whether they whittle away their days in revelry. As they mature from adolescence to adulthood, they step out of Gaudia’s wing and seek out Tempus or Diatriba.

             This pantheon caters to and was constructed solely for the American mindset. Obviously, this means that it excludes anything or anyone that is not American. However, America is a country that is fairly welcome to outsiders, and it is very possible to join Americanism if one is willing to become “American”. In creating Americanism, I primarily drew from the Greek, Roman, and Norse Pantheons. Some of the gods have stark similarities to other Greek or Norse gods. For example, Proclivitus draws from both Hades and Hermes, and both Libida and Genus have characteristics from Loki. Americanism sums up what it means to be American; this modern pantheon is designed to revolve around each individual. But at the same time, it just goes to show how corrupt our society truly is. And so, I end with this central principle of Americanism: the world revolves around everyone, everyone revolves around the gods, the gods revolve around me, and I revolve around the world. This encapsulates the two primary aspects of Americanism, which are individualism and relativism. I believe that the scariest part of Americanism is that, in essence, it already exists. Everything in Americanism is simply a part of America; the worshippers are everyday citizens, and the gods are our own depraved minds. This religion ought to be a warning to America; let us open our eyes and look at what is important to us. Let us examine our idols and rethink our lives. 

            

Article: Christians, Relationships, and the Friendzone

In light of recent events and some icky situations that have come up recently, I want to write an article with some friendly advice for my peers. As I see it, young people, teenagers in particular have way too much fun in gossip and playing the "he-said-she-said" game. There's nothing wrong with this, but it has potential for harm; relationships are a very serious business, and stirring up trouble before the time is right is a benefit to no one. As Christians, we have a responsibility to be God honoring and loving in everything we do, and that especially applies to teenagers. At our age, it is very easy to stray, and we need to constantly place God back at the forefront of our minds. If you are having problems with a relationship or rumors or gossip, then your first step should always be to stop and pray. Talking with your parents isn't a bad idea either. For me personally, my parents are my greatest support in many matters. Additionally, if you're serious about someone, then consider all of the factors. Are you ready? What are the consequences? Would it hurt your friendship with that person? And of course, bring all these questions to prayer as well.

Finally, I want to say a quick word about the friendzone. For those who don't know the friendzone is "A situation in which a friendship exists between two people, one of whom as an unreciprocated romantic interest in the other. This is not a bad thing. Often, having a strong friendship is better than having a weak crush. But, while one should be careful in disturbing a friendly relationship, they shouldn't be afraid of stepping up. We cannot know other people's minds. And again, pray about this. I can't emphasize enough that God should always be first; as with everything, if we try too hard to accomplish something on our own, we will lose sight of God and stumble. 

I am not condemning anyone. In fact, I want to be available for anyone to come and talk to. I'm certainly not an expert, but sometimes it helps just to talk. I hope this article gives you some things to think about; even if you're fine right now, remember that, inevitably, a time will come when you face your own romantic trials. Remember above all else that you can do everything through Christ who strengthens you, and that without him you're nothing. Pray. Talk to your parents and close friends. And, most importantly, trust your Savior. 

Paper: Deviance in Film

I recently had my first Sociology paper returned to me; I received a score of 100, along with some glowing praise. And, since my paper talked about X-Men: Days of Future past, I decided I would post it here.

The assignment was to talk about deviance (aberrant behaviors that are frowned upon in society) in film. Days of Future Past happened to be an excellent example, and I gave some of my thoughts on the movie as well. Do be warned, this paper has several major spoilers for the movie, so if you haven't seen it yet, then pass this article by. I will also likely post my next paper here soon, which is about Godzilla.

Tim Wong

Kerri Smith

5/29/14

The Means to an End

In every society, there are a number of deviant behaviors that are condemned by its people. However, these behaviors are often dramatized and even glorified in media. America in particular tends to emphasize violence, rebellion, and sex in its movies, books, and video games. I recently watched the movie “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, I did notice that deviance is a central theme in this movie and its predecessors, especially the movies “X-Men”, “X2”, and “X-Men: The Last Stand”. In “Days of Future Past”, there are several characters that display deviant behavior, but one in particular stands out. Erik Lehnsherr, also known as the mutant villain Magneto, displays the common deviant behavior of rebellion, seeking to combat the American government in order to exact revenge for his fallen comrades. Through an examination of the application of the strain theory, the expected reaction to Magneto’s rebellious behavior, his implied status at the end of the film, and the forms of social control that are presented, I intend to show that Magneto’s portrayal of rebellion in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” is, while supernatural, an accurate representation of deviant behavior today.

            Of the four theoretical perspectives presented in Chapter 8 of “Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach”, I believe that the strain theory, specifically the status of rebel, best applies to Magneto’s behavior. In the beginning of the movie, he has been imprisoned for what the audience believes to be his assassination of John F. Kennedy. He had supposedly done this in order to take revenge for the members of his brotherhood that had been tortured, experimented on, and then killed by the American government. However, we later learned that he was trying to save Kennedy, not kill him; in a sudden plot twist the audience discovered that Kennedy was actually a mutant, warranting the aid of Magneto. Nonetheless, Magneto displayed a number of other rebellious behaviors throughout the course of the film, including attempting to kill President Nixon, failing to kill another mutant named Mystique, and unleashing death on a crowd of American citizens in the form of robots called Sentinels. Despite doing all this for what he believed to be the greater good, Magneto was displaying incredibly rebellious behavior, to the point where he may even be considered an anarchist. Magneto is a rebel because he seeks to replace the oppression of mutants in America with a more tolerant system, and intends to do so through violence. In addition, he had been persecuted and harassed for most of his life because he was a mutant; his desire to create a more tolerable world stemmed from his treatment earlier in life.

            However, despite this rebellious behavior and his master status as a villain, Magneto has garnered support throughout the course of the X-Men films and many have reason to believe that his actions, while morally reprehensible, are not without good cause. In the first three X-Men movies, the primary theme was that mutants were treated as unequal; they were not only oppressed but hunted down as well. While this theme was hinted at in “Days of Future Past”, it was not fully realized since America was not aware that mutants existed until later in the movie. The master status of mutant is comparable to other prejudices today, such as race or sexual orientation. In a similar fashion, Magneto represents the rebellious and extreme faction of mutants in the same way that there are those who represent feminism or homosexuality with zeal and passion. More often than not, these radical and rebellious representatives tend to give their cause a poor name instead of improving relations; Magneto would have ushered in an age of war and death if he had killed Nixon, while the sparing of Nixon’s life by Mystique brought about an entirely different and more peaceful outcome: a world were mutants were treated respectfully instead of being hunted down. Due to the villainous actions of Magneto, I believe that he is, in fact, displayed unsympathetically. Murder and genocide, regardless of their justification, are rarely cheered by the American people.

            At the end of the movie, Magneto, having failed in his attempt to kill President Nixon, flies into the distance. The implication is that he will go forth and create his Brotherhood of Mutants in order to continue in his goal of creating a cleansing war between mutants and humans. In one reality, that of a dystopian future where mutants are hunted and killed, Magneto has failed to create peace between mutants and humans. Instead, his actions have brought about a one sided war; he is forced to ally with his old enemies in order to ensure the survival of the remaining mutants. However, in the new reality shown at the end of the movie, one where mutants live peacefully, he is not present. There are many conclusions that one can draw from his absence, but the assumption is that his rebellious behavior led to either his imprisonment or death.

            Both of these outcomes are examples of the two types of social control exhibited in the movie. Initially, Magneto is confined and placed under heavy guard in the Pentagon because he was accused of murdering President Kennedy. Additionally, a number of other mutants are captured and experimented upon by the American Government. This imprisonment is designed to keep the mutants under surveillance while allowing for future scientific examination and experimentation. However, the central goal of the movie is an attempt to rewrite history in order to prevent the mass genocide of the mutants. America’s secondary solution would have been to create robotic sentinels designed to hunt down and kill every mutant in existence. This genocide, while ridding the world of potentially threatening beings, would also kill many innocents and, eventually, create a dark and dismal future where many humans are killed as well.

            In summary, Magneto is a violent and radical character who, according to the strain theory, displays a wide variety of rebellious behaviors including murder and genocide. Despite the justifiable reasons behind his actions, he is displayed unsympathetically, and is ultimately presumed dead or imprisoned; these two outcomes are examples of the two methods of social control used in the movie. “X-Men: Days of Future Past” is a movie about time travel, giant robots, and people that can control minds. However, despite these supernatural factors, I believe that it is an accurate display of deviant behavior. Magneto represents many deviant figures who, while not always resorting to war, murder, and genocide, often display radical rebellious behaviors. Feminist, homosexual, and racial groups all have figureheads that represent them through rebellion in an attempt to gain support and respect. Martin Luther King Jr., Julius Caesar, and even Adolf Hitler are all examples of leading figures that exhibited rebellious behavior, not on account of their morals, but because they sought to radically change their government. In the same way that Magneto represents these figureheads, the oppressed mutant population represents the various groups that suffer prejudice. Hence, I believe that the oppression of mutants shown in the movie and its predecessors is an example and analogy for the oppression of many groups and societies today. However, the movie also shows that the end, however righteous, does not justify the means of deviant behavior. Is it wise to follow the sanctions of society even if it means injustice and oppression? Is the correct path to justice rebellion, or are there better means? What are the consequences of rebellious behavior? “X-Men: Days of Future Past” may not answer all these questions, but it’s excellent and accurate portrayal of rebellion through Magneto does grant insight into what would happen if deviant behavior was taken to the extreme.