MuchMusic | Media Education | BookTelevision

In Your Face: Violence

Program Length: 1 hour
Produced: 1996

This program examines some of the issues around violence in music videos. It introduces the concepts of 'gratuitous violence', possible reasons for including violence in music videos, and some of the possible effects on people who watch violent videos.
Denise Donlon, Vice President and General Manager, introduces an X-in-a-circle, which will flash on the screen to indicate a violent video and to suggest that viewer discretion be advised.

What is viewer discretion? How can viewers exercise their discretion? How many viewers are likely to exercise their discretion? How does viewer discretion change with the age of the viewer? What happens to viewer discretion when brothers and sisters of different ages are watching together?

Sarah Crawford, Director of Commmunications for MuchMusic, states that MuchMusic will never broadcast a video that contains gratuitous violence, which is present for no reason other than to glorify violence and excite the viewer. If, however, the violence has a reason to be included in the video, MuchMusic will broadcast it. Students can debate the concept of gratuitous violence, and suggest videos which contain gratuitous versus meaningful violence. Examples might be screened and the gratuitous nature of the violence debated.

Rose Dyson, President of Canadians Concerned About Violence in Entertainment, states that some of the effects of video violence are hyperactivity (uncontrollable physical activity), desensitization (reduced responsiveness to violent stimuli), fear, anxiety and a disregard for civil liberties. Ms. Dyson claims there are many research studies to prove these connections. Why do you think violence in music videos might modify people's behaviour in these ways? Do you know anyone who reacts to violence in music videos in one or more of these ways? Can you suggest any other influences on youth that might encourage these behaviours?

The video clip presents 14 excerpts from videos that might be considered excessively violent. Discuss whether or not each of them is gratuitously violent, or whether the violence is an essential and necessary part of the video.
Sonic Youth Death Valley '69
Aerosmith Janie's Got a Gun
Public Enemy Can't Truss It
Michael Jackson Black and White
WASP Love Machine
Slayer Seasons in the Abyss
Pestilence A Land of Tears
Guns N'Roses You Could be Mine
Megadeth No More Mr. Nice Guy
Sister Souljah The Final Solution: Slavery is Back in Effect
Sepultura Arise
Ice T Colors
Confessor Condemned
NWA Always Into Something

Is violence associated more with specific genres of music video? Which ones? Why? In the video excerpt on sexism in music videos, at was stated that metal videos are no longer sexist, but Hip Hop videos are. Is this also true of violence?

Henry Rollins states that governments could make some needed money by the public broadcast of executions. "I would pay $50 to watch a guy get the gas chamber." Would public broadcast of executions be better entertainment, more disturbing or equal to the violence represented in music videos?

Written by: Neil Andersen
Neil Andersen is an award-winning Curriculum Consultant with the Toronto District School Board. He is also a speaker and consultant in media and communications technology. His most recent work includes the Between the Lines CDs, the teachers' study guide for the award-winning Scanning Television, and study guides for Space, Bravo! and MuchMusic's Cable in the Classroom broadcasts of original media literacy programming.

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