Filmmakers Should Be Able To Retain Their First Amendment Freedoms

In modern society, the fear of violence acts as a constant source of anxiety. Violence takes different forms, all of which have major implications on the people involved. Today’s media accurately depicts the prevalence of violence, portraying fight scenes and altercations for mass audiences to access easily. Some believe that these representations of violence, especially in movies and television, contribute to the mounting levels of violence that occur in real life. They blame incidents of murders and attacks on movies, claiming the media gives the public ideas of heinous acts to commit. Thus, they seek to reduce the amount of violence that is allowed in mass media, in hopes that violence will diminish. However, they fail to acknowledge that

The country is built on the principles of liberty, meaning that anyone can express opinions and views without the fear of being opposed by the government or the court. Although violence is not everyone’s favorite type of entertainment, opponents of media violence have to understand that filmmakers are allowed by law to depict scenes however they choose. Politicians, such as Senators McCain and Lieberman, tried to coerce the media into expunging violence their content, in an effort to purify the television and games that children use for entertainment (Cutler 617). This attempt is noble, because younger children are easily influenced by whatever they watch on television, so they should be protected from any graphic images or scenes that depict aggressive characters or actions. This idea is the reason rating systems exist for movies, television shows, and even video games. They are clearly marked to indicate that children of certain ages should not watch or play them, in order to reduce their impact on impressionable kids. However, the situation is different for adults, who are old enough to make decisions for themselves. If the adults are stable and of age, they should be able to watch whatever content they choose, and violent scenes should not be withheld from them. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that both the producers and the consumers of media maintain their first amendment rights, even if they do not share the same opinions about the role of violence in mass