I Heart Economists
Economists Say Movie Violence Might Temper the Real Thing
A paper presented by two researchers over the weekend to the annual meeting of the American Economic Association here challenges the conventional wisdom, concluding that violent films prevent violent crime by attracting would-be assailants and keeping them cloistered in darkened, alcohol-free environs.
“Economics is about choice,” Professor Dahl said. “What would these people have done if they had not chosen to go and see a movie? Whatever they would have done would have had a greater tendency to involve alcohol. If you can incapacitate a large group of potentially violent people, that’s a good thing.”
Professor DellaVigna added, “It’s not as if these people watching violent movies would otherwise be home reading a book.”
Well, in my case….
It’s an interesting argument and a reflection of the fact that sometimes reality can be counter-intuitive.
condottiero said,
January 9, 2008 at 9:57 am
Violence and Sex in Cinema is part of a cultural movement of wider effect in Humanity. It is as Camille Paglia recalls a return to Pre-Gutemberg imaginery of paganism and the gods of Nature.
It is Violence, passion, lust and sex which leads eros in society to manifest a claim against the Christian idealization of what is to be obeyed.
Seems like common sense… Nonetheles, can you imagine what the world would be like if we start thinking it to be “good” for people to “escape” from real life into a world of “digital dreams, movies and 2nd. Lifes”.
I see many great things happening as well as many other not so funny to think of.