Theories of Effects- Theory lesson REVISION

Possible effects can be put on the audience making them do/feel/think certain things. this is why regulations are used.

Negative effects: do bad things to people making them think bad things; 

Direct effects

• Hypodermic theory - consider the audience as a whole. The form of media injects a message to the audience such as: drinking excessively is ok, drugs are ok, violence is a good solution, animal cruelty is ok etc. Eg, the war of the worlds radio trailer- people believed it and left their homes. Reasons it doesn't work: the audience is made of individuals and each person has filters such as education, age, race, religion, sense of morals, awareness of the law etc. people who copy things in films are usually psychopaths or sociopaths. regulations are put on films because children are not fully developed in their morals or the law. they may not realise the effects or consequences. this is also where certificates come into films.

• Copycat - people will see things on films and copy them. EG, A Clockwork Orange, a basketball diaries. Parts are cut from films so that people do not copy them. Things that are cut include: martial arts techniques, weapons, how to make bombs, how to conceal weapons, doing drugs, planting bombs on planes etc.

• Moral panic - somethings happens (could be minor or major), newsworthy and the press make a mountain out of a mole hill. They over exaggerate the real story. The public are panicked by the press until the freak out resulting in the film being banned. Eg, The Matrix, A Clockwork Orange, The Exorcist. Certain panics about television programmes.

Indirect effects

• Inoculation Theory - if you watch the same style of film over and over again the become desensitised by it. Eg; violence, horror, gore etc. Not a lot of nudity in films until 1979, now films with 15 certificates quite regularly have nudity in them. Films in Britain were highly censored but not anymore. Anatomy of hell, Nymphomaniac, Baise Moi. Reasons why films would have been passed: people have become more liberal about them, none of them have major audience in Britain (niche films) they are mostly independent, they are limited audience minority films.
• Mean World Syndrome - the idea that if people watch a lot of violence in films and television, they will believe that the world around them if really cruel and violent. Eg, plane crashes, robberies, fights. People believe that the world around them is worse than it actually is - they become psychologically damaged. People of nervous dispositions end up being afraid to go out.

Positive effects: give reasons why people should watch films and enjoy

• Catharsis - the more violence you watch, the less violent you are likely to be. If someone is angry or frustrated they can play a game where they hit and punch things. There is proof that this makes you less violent. It will make them less likely to commit a violent act. Also seeing someone commit a violent act (in film) can be self healing after seeing happen what you want to do to someone. 
• Uses and Gratification - use a film to get some enjoyment or pleasure from it. such as; entertainment, education, role models, socialisation. These are arguments against cutting and banning fils. 

All of these theories have been proved to work. Even though these theories are all different and contradict each other, it can still be proven because everyone is different so films will have a different effect on every person watching them.