Religious Moral
Philosophical Studies
Do films about crime influence copycat behaviour?
TASK - What do you think?
1) Do films depicting crimes influence peoples behaviour?
2) Make a list of films you have seen which you think could have a negative influence on someones behaviour.
Films in Context
Many films rated 12A or 15 often contain scenes of violence, horror or crime. Recent blockbuster movies have also dealt with difficult subjects such as mental health and political unrest.
Critics of violent films argue that younger audiences are more susceptible to copying the actions they see on screen, suggesting that it is harder for young people to draw the line between real and fictional events.
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On the other hand, others believe that films are purely escapism and entertainment and that copycat behaviours should not be blamed on films and filmmakers themselves, but on the individuals that commit crimes.
TASK - What do you think?
1) Read the two quotes above. Who do you agree with? Why do you think this?
2) Look at the posters for the movies below, (You can click and move these around to see them)
Which movies have you seen? Write down for each of these what you think the main message behind the movie is.
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TASK - Personal Response
With films releasing constantly and filmmakers attempting to push the boundaries of what they can show to an audience, the concerns around violent and criminal content are likely to continue for years to come.
•Do you think that films can influence how a person feels? Do you believe that films can influence a person’s actions?
•Do you believe that there should be help and support readily available to people that struggle to distinguish between reality and fantasy?
Write down your own personal thoughts and feelings on the topic.
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FINAL TASK
The below image has reference to 66 different films, see how many you can spot!