Why is it that music, television, books, and movies are constantly cited when some crime gets committed. I won’t say it happens all the time, it seems to go in cycles. I recall in the 80's how rock music was blamed for causing teen suicides. In the 90's it was rap music that would cause attacks on police officers. Movies promoted crack, cigarettes, drinking, and other social ailments for decades. Oh, and cartoons are the reason why children are violent. The cartoon thing is current. And now I see that its back to television programs.
Those who have read my posts, Minorities, Television and 27 percent and The wicked UPN is dead (think of wizard of oz), probably have caught my overall displeasure with television programming and commercials in general. Of the few programs that portray characters with depth and intelligence, CSI is now getting labeled as a cause of a societal problem. I mean the fact that a senior criminalist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has claimed that criminals, in particular murderers, are learning how to hide their tracks and the ‘fact’ its become harder to convict criminals as the television program has changed the views of jurists. I think that line of thinking is absurd.
Much like the false logic of the 80's and 90's, and I’m sure from the decades before that as well, individuals seek a cause or pattern that really doesn’t exist. I tend to look at it like I look at statistics, you can confirm anything that you want to if you manipulate it right. Many crimes are spontaneous, especially those that involve violence. The average criminal is not overly intelligent. Deep thought tends not to occur prior to a crime. These last 2 facts tend to help law enforcement capture criminals. If criminals made better plans, or any plan at all, and with only limited reference to any newspaper (or a conversation with another criminal who had gotten caught) there would be few fingerprints at any crime scene. It is common knowledge that we leave fingerprints when we touch things. I think the first time I ever heard about a fingerprint was back when I was in my early teens in a newspaper article describing how victims were identified.
A better example may be that no matter how many movies, shows or books an individual refers to they won’t be able to become a doctor. ER is not helping people cure their ailments, just as Marcus Welby, M.D. or Paramedic did not. But the argument, if we are to accept it, would make you believe that it must be happening.
I can’t wait for the day when people stop blaming entertainment in general or general social ills. Now this may sound strange considering my thoughts on rap. Here is the difference as I see it. ‘Urban clothing’ [which should mean any clothes worn by someone in a city, like the suits I prefer] is a multi-million dollar industry, that allows people to imitate rappers. ‘Thug life’ is a cultural fact, and a way of life that feeds and is fed by rap. Many rappers are former/current criminals. Many have engaged in violent acts. Rap is basically the glorification of this base cultural standard. Music videos, songs and movies mimic real life actions (a recent example is the allegedly criminal past of fifty cent in his movie - drug dealer, violent, criminal, now a rapper) or at least alleged real life actions.
If there has to be an outcry, and a need to find a cause (beyond lack of education, equal opportunities and societally reinforced low self-esteem) at least take on something that really is having an effect. Show a defined and direct relationship. And then figure out a resolution, because otherwise its just a waste of time and breath. Worse it may cause a decrease in intelligent programming as television executives run to the closest lowest common denominator show to avoid negative controversy and the potential loss of an advertiser.
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