Can anime negatively influence society?

[AyumiDesu]

Detective Conan is a suspense show and mainly he finds out who the killer is. But every week boys and girls watch someone get killed. I am afraid that they might get used to feel the murder.

Then they might not be able to care about somebody dying anymore.

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

[Matrim]

Yes, it is possible. Then again, it's way more possible to learn all kinds of ways to murder people or not care about people dying by simply following mainstream news bulletins.

[ezara]

Originally Posted by Matrim

Yes, it is possible. Then again, it's way more possible to learn all kinds of ways to murder people or not care about people dying by simply following mainstream news bulletins.

It's true. We see alot of scary stuff on the news. And the news on tv is REAL too.

but. . .did anyone see Elfen Lied? The puppy scene is just. . .brutal. Maybe it reflects our society, but it might also teach revenge.

[Vexx]

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

Pretty easy answer: NO.

Every legitimate study done shows no direct connection between watching film/anime/whatever fiction and committing violence - especially for age-appropriate audiences. Take a toddler to a Saw movie? yeah, you're going to traumatize it and you're an idiot. Violence portrayed on tv, especially in poor context, just tends to magnify fear and anxiety rather than aggression.

Anime is WAY down the list from "the local news" or all the crime shows on evening television in being toxic to the brain. I don't think Elfen Lied teaches much of anything other than using massive violence to "solve a problem" tends to spiral in all directions and no one really "wins". It is basically a horror film.

[klowny]

I don't know, i think TV scares people the most because it seems like someone get's murdered or something bad happens Every week but yeah anythings Possible, but its just a show your watching on the tube

[james0246]

Unless you are a real life Mad Scientist that was inspired by anime to create a Giant Mecha, no, I do not think that (current) anime/really really effects society/culture in any significant way.

[Narona]

Originally Posted by AyumiDesu

Detective Conan is a suspense show and mainly he finds out who the killer is. But every week boys and girls watch someone get killed.

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

I will not reply to your main question, but people around the world watch more series like CSI or Law & Order, and some other people plays to games like GTA. So you know <.<, If there is an influence (i don't know), I think the animes have less influence than all those others series/games.

[ezara]

Originally Posted by james0246

Unless you are a real life Mad Scientist that was inspired by anime to create a Giant Mecha, no, I do not think that (current) anime/really really effects society/culture in any significant way.

LOL! Yeah, because all anime is about giant robot. My favorite part of Honey and Clover was when Hagu created that giant sculpture robot and destroyed Tokyo.

[Vexx]

Are ya'll trying to out-sarcasm each other? At some point someone is accidentally going to think the other is serious.

[ezara]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Are ya'll trying to out-sarcasm each other? At some point someone is accidentally going to think the other is serious.

So true. I am trying to break my sarcasm habit. Gomen!

[james0246]

Originally Posted by ezara

LOL! Yeah, because all anime is about giant robot. My favorite part of Honey and Clover was when Hagu created that giant sculpture robot and destroyed Tokyo.

That was my favourite episode of the series. To bad the second season introduced tentacle demons that like little girls...it's sad when a good series goes down hill.

[Terrestrial Dream]

Originally Posted by james0246

Unless you are a real life Mad Scientist that was inspired by anime to create a Giant Mecha, no, I do not think that (current) anime/really really effects society/culture in any significant way.

*sign* only if I was a Mad Scientist. then I could make all sorts of mech I want but life isn't fair .

On the serious notes, society as whole very very unlikely. On other hand affects on individual is possibility but this obviously applies to every single media.

[Sister Princess]

Originally Posted by AyumiDesu

Detective Conan is a suspense show and mainly he finds out who the killer is. But every week boys and girls watch someone get killed. I am afraid that they might get used to feel the murder.

Then they might not be able to care about somebody dying anymore.

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

HAHAHA

Since Higurashi was blamed for some murders, I wish Detective Conan also blamed too. At least Hirgurashi is aired in late nights.

[Vexx]

I'll start blaming death and violence in real life on evil pixies and the "voices in people's heads" since it couldn't possibly be actually the perpetrator's own responsibility

I have a smidge more concern about viewing real life trauma and violence or live-action portrayal in poorly written crime drama than I do animated cartoons....

sometimes I want to reach into the tv and slap the actors and the writers for the horrible storylines and crap drama that the "sex crime" shows pump out - maybe thats the sort of violence to worry about.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by Vexx

I'll start blaming death and violence in real life on evil pixies and the "voices in people's heads" since it couldn't possibly be actually the perpetrator's own responsibility

I have a smidge more concern about viewing real life trauma and violence or live-action portrayal in poorly written crime drama than I do animated cartoons....

Agreed. The only way that an anime (or a fictional work in general) could concretely influence a person's moral choices (etc), is if the person is already predisposed to follow the specific stances found in the piece of fiction. Specifically, a person will already have formed an opinion, and when they find a piece of fiction that supports their opinions, the fictional work will then encourage their already formed opinion, but not create the original opinion.

[Shadow Kira01]

Originally Posted by AyumiDesu

Detective Conan is a suspense show and mainly he finds out who the killer is. But every week boys and girls watch someone get killed. I am afraid that they might get used to feel the murder.

Then they might not be able to care about somebody dying anymore.

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

I don't think so. If people watch the news about the Middle East and watch rocket launches everyday, will people start making homemade rockets and fire them for fun? I totally doubt it.

[0utf0xZer0]

I sort of agree with Vexx's position and sort of don't.

I definitely agree that the link between media violence and aggression is weak. And I think the idea that something like Higurashi or Elfen Lied will make someone start killing people is ridiculous, unless the person is already nuts. Pretty much everyone consciously rejects the murders portrayed in these shows as a legitimate way of solving problems.

However, there are other negative influences in media that are subtle enough that people don't consciously reject them. These influences can cause people to have negative behaviors. So from that perspective, anime definitely can have a negative influence on society.

I believe that people need to take personal responsibility for their actions and I'm against censorship. But let's not kid ourselves into thinking that media in general and anime specifically don't influences people.


Okay, enough seriousness...

WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!
http://www.alafista.com/2008/05/22/k...ine-streaming/

[cyth]

Originally Posted by 0utf0xZer0

However, there are other negative influences in media that are subtle enough that people don't consciously reject them.

Such as? You know, you have to explain what you mean.

[kk2extreme]

i remember some blog state that "kanokon" was number one show for children on Saturaday. i was like

[The Wild Turkey]

Originally Posted by AyumiDesu

Detective Conan is a suspense show and mainly he finds out who the killer is. But every week boys and girls watch someone get killed. I am afraid that they might get used to feel the murder.

Then they might not be able to care about somebody dying anymore.

Is this a possible way that anime could hurt (or just affect) society?

Jack Thompson, is that you?

Quite frankly, the vast majority of people have the mental maturity to differentiate fictional violence from real violence. The only risk comes from the small percentage who don't have that ability, but as there has been violence on TV since it's early days (Three Stooges anyone?), I daresay it is safe to say that the risk is negligible.