Violence has been the feature linking the stories dominating our headlines recently. I fear that by exposing society, especially the young and impressionable, to a constant diet of screen violence we have created a harsher society where violence is accepted as a way to solve problems. Even in America there is a growing recognition that the drip, drip effect of screen 'designer violence' on teenagers who have access to guns is relevant to incidents like the tragic shooting of children in a Colorado school. Film is an influential tool in the advertising industry. Such a persuasive medium can work for good and bad.
Video presents the biggest problem.
It is an excellent teaching medium. A pounding soundtrack, raising the adrenaline levels, can greatly multiply the impact. Just look at the blockbusters in which Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis became household names. They don't earn millions of dollars per film reciting poetry. Hollywood has no social responsibility, it produces whatever will earn the big bucks.