>I'm looking at theories on the emotional effects of screen violence for

>film and TV spectators.  I've found a great deal of debate in TV studies on

>such "effects."  Can anyone point me to a good overview, or specific

>leading voices, in film studies on this issue?  I'm especially interested

>in any application or refutation of Aristotle's ancient theory of

>catharsis, as a purging/purifying/clarifying of fear and sympathy (or

>terror and pity) through the watching of violent action onstage.

>



The best overviews available are:



Gauntlett, David (1995) Moving Experiences: Understanding

Television's Influences and Effects. London: John Libbey.



Freedman, Jonathan (1984) Effect of television violence on

aggressiveness. Psychological Bulletin. Nr 2:227-246.



Freedman, Jonathan (1986) Television violence and aggression: A

rejoinder. Psychological Bulletin. Nr 3:272-278.



Freedman, Jonathan (1988) Television violence and aggression: What

the evidence shows. I Oskamp, Stuart (ed) Television as a Social

Issue. Applied Social Psychology 8: 144-162. Newbury Park: Sage.



Cumberbatch, Guy & Howitt, Dennis (eds) (1989) A Measure of

Uncertainty: The Effects of the Mass Media:. London: John Libbey.



When it comes to catharsis theory, none of the studies conducted has

supported the 'purging' effect of fictitious violence. Then again,

neither has the studies  on aggressive behavior as an effect of media

violence (although lots of 'em claim to have found proof for such an

effect).



Ulf Dalquist





Ulf Dalquist                               Phone: +46-(0)8-39 21 68

Petrejusv 18                        Cell phone: +46-(0)739-88 17 05

121 38 Johanneshov Sweden            E-mail: [log in to unmask]



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Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite

http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite