Devon Dick
PROFESSOR CAROLYN COOPER of the Literary and Cultural Studies Department of the University of the West Indies in her latest book Sound Clash, remarked, "The classic 1972 Jamaican cult film The Harder They Come and the much more recent 1999 Third World Cop illustrate the indigenisation of an imported American culture of 'heroism' and gun violence; both films glamorise Hollywood reconstructions of masculinity. These distorted images are greedily imbibed by gullible Jamaican youths searching for role models. In a December 2002 interview with Winford Williams on CVM's 'On Stage', Ninjaman acknowledged the profound impact that The Harder They Come had on him as a vulnerable child.
"That movie created a taste for the feel of the gun." (Page 147). This quotation should convince the doubting Thomases about the negative impact films that glorify gun violence can have on youths, and since we have a major problem with being described as the murder capital of the world and with having 30 persons killed in the first seven days of the year, according to an RJR newscast, then it is time to ban violent films.
VIOLENCE IS UNNECESSARY
Violence is usually the unprovoked exertion of energy to cause injury, mayhem, destruction and even death. It is anarchistic. It is unnecessary. It is against God's will for human relations. Sometimes, it is driven by revenge and feeds on demonising others as enemies.
Shortwood Teachers' College lecture series and the first symposium on the Values and Attitudes Campaign examined the relationship between the media and violence and concluded that the glamourisation of violence through the media can impact young, impressionable minds. No wonder The Gleaner, recognising the impact that reporting murders can have on a nation's psyche, removed it from their front pages during December. Although a step in the right direction, more needs to be done.
In 2003, courtesy of renowned publisher, Ian Randle, I went to Zimbabwe to be a discussion panellist and also to promote my book at the largest book fair in Africa, the ZIBF. After Mutabaruka and Miguel Lorne held a press conference, two young journalists said to me that in their understanding, Jamaica has 90 per cent persons malnourished and 90 per cent of the place is a ghetto. Hurt in my nationalistic pride, I told them that that is what I heard about Zimbabwe. I asked them the source of their information and they said it was the films which all depicted Jamaica as a big ghetto. Films do help to shape our world and our perception of reality and affect our emotions hence we cry, laugh or get angry.
ALTERNATE ENTERTAINMENT
The films on cable and at cinemas would make The Harder They Come look like a Sunday school class. The gruesomeness and brutality of the killings in Jamaica ape what is seen on the screen largely courtesy of Hollywood and its insipid brutality.
The Government, through the Broadcast Commission, should ban films that glamourise, glorify and promote violence. The channels that carry networks that do the same should be banned and only be available as pay per view. It should not be as a part of the regular package. corporate Jamaica has denied sponsorship of songs that promote violence against persons who have a particular sexual preference, therefore, one can expect them to support a ban on films that venerate and praise violence.
In addition, there is alternate entertainment that should be promoted.
Take for example Basil Dawkins' play Hot Spot now showing at the Little Little Theatre. This could easily be called 'Holy Hot Spot' with its biblical imagery, spiritual themes and sound values. This leading playwright, a former human resource manager, dealt humorously with issues such as customer service, healthy eating, police brutality, forgiveness, unfaithfulness, incompetence, creative business strategies and the benefits of hard work. This is the type of entertainment that should be promoted for families to watch. This is a good example of where the nation could benefit from the sponsorship dollars of corporate Jamaica serious about promoting wholesome values.
These are serious times and there some seriously violent films impacting our minds. Therefore, as part of our crime-fighting measures, let us ban these violent films.
Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation-Building'.
