Death porn is a slang term for the material found on the internet that is intended to gross out its viewers. All pictures/videos of dead bodies, horrible accidents, or blood and guts can all be classified as death porn
It is a phenomenon surfacing on the internet - as most modern phenomenon are. I read Jack of Kent's posting on this subject and had to ask: why are we seeing Death Porn in the mass media?
Take this for example. The front of the Sun's homepage:
Perhaps not a surprise when you consider The Sun's previous form with such classics as 'Gotcha' during the Falklands War. But have I missed something here?
When did it become OK to show death so graphically - and in such a celebratory fashion on the front page of a newspaper?
The Sun was by no means only outlet to use Death Porn on its front page.
This is The Mirror:
Pretty awful. Not quite as crowing as The Sun but clearly a celebration of the death.
Then there's this in the Mail:
Let us not forget that the Mail is classically one of those papers quick to point the finger at violent TV or video games for escalating violence in society's young.
It seems to me that the mass media is simply unable to resist. They can see material being published on the net and want 'some of the action'. It is a rationale used to defend the monstering in the coverage of Christopher Jefferies in the Joanne Yeates murder investigation.
But news media is read in a different way to social media such as Twitter, Youtube and Faceboook - there is an impression of authority from a conventional media outlet and that authority gives the words and images power.
Just as Peter Parker was told by his Uncle Ben 'With great power comes great responsibility' - the gratuitous use of these images is not serving any purpose other than to celebrate death. And is that a purpose the mass media in this country should be pursuing?
If we desensitise ourselves to death and violent in such an accepting and mainstream way, where does it lead? I'll leave you with this story that has brought tears to the eyes of this hardened hack.
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That video is purely horrendous. Words have failed me after watching that.
ReplyDeleteThis has put me in such a 'screw the world' mood - great seeing as I have an evening of serving customers food tonight!
It's the honest, hardworking folk who make snuff movies that I feel sorry for. Why go to all the trouble of disemboweling Mexican prostitutes on film when people can just watch TV news or buy a paper? Shame on you, mainstream media, for your unfairly putting depraved psychopaths out of work.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Pretty much sums up how so many of us are feeling I think...what next? I've not been able to watch the video of the little girl; it's simply too awful. I remember seeing the film version of HG Wells Time Machine as a kid, and asking my mum why he thought people would become so uncaring about one another. It sees to have been more of a prediction than fantastical. Just so sad.
ReplyDeleteTom. I couldn't believe it when I saw that video. As a I was used to seeing horrendous footage and evaluating it's newsworthiness. Being a father has changed all that.
ReplyDeletePaul. Could be walking into a sarcasm fuelled trap but I think I agree with your subtext?
ReplyDeleteJules. Images of distopian futures portrayed in popular culture are often cold and uncaring. It feels shattering to see it presented in here and now of a present day superpower.
ReplyDeleteWhy should they miss out? Crazy that people think that papers shouldn't report on what is widely available on the net.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying they shouldn't report it - just that they should exercise control in choosing *how* to report it. After all, the decision makers do have editor in their title.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the points made in this blog, but on the subject of "death-porn" I can't see this sort of practise dying out any time soon- within our society we crave emotional excess, regardless of what form it takes or where it comes from, and it sells. Alienation does the rest.
ReplyDeleteThe video of the little girl demonstrates exactly why we need to recognise and confront this as people, not as strangers.
@Boas: it already exists if people want to see this footage. My point is that the ass media should be the place where it can be seen - it should be sought out, not forcefed Clockwork Orange style.
ReplyDelete