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Lesson 11

Sex and violence on TV

We see them not just on the news, read about them not just on the

papers, but enjoy them also on DVD. The fact is, needless sex and vio-
lence become a form of entertainment for us, not a social ill we should

eradicate. When we view them in our Dolby-surround home theater, we
feel distanced and insensitive to these violent and pornographic scenes.

Glorified in dramas, they somehow seem artistic, an essential aspect of
the movie. Viewers are divided on the views regarding this sex and violence. One side argue such

scenes be cut because they encourage social ills like sex perversions and violent copycat crimes.
They cite statistics showing the increased rate of sex crimes as rape and sexual harassment as a

byproduct of these scenes. They also cite cases where misguided juveniles robs banks and engage
in gun shootouts to live out in real life what they have experienced on TV. Furthermore since in these

scenes, women are portrayed as toys, the disrespect for women is further aggravated, the feminists

complain. Thus, these scenes should be censored out. The other side counters that sex crimes and
violence have nothing to do with movie contents. Violence and pornography are mere reflection of

a social reality that have existed and will continue to exist whether they appear on TV or not. Be-
sides, censorship is not the solution because it merely eliminates the effect but leaves the cause

untouched. To really address the problem of sex and violence, one must go the root causes which
are poverty and mis-education, just to name two. The practical solutions should be encouraging

parents to guide their kids in viewing these materials of adult contents and instilling in them proper
values. Furthermore, censorship would weaken the impact of the movie, leaving it bland and artless.

There is no clear cut line between pornography and art, and sometimes the two converge into an art
form.

Comprehension

1. What are the complaints of feminists about sex and violence being
shown on TV?
2. Why is censorship not a solution?
Questions

1. What’s your opinion on sex and violence on TV?
2. Talk about sex and violence on Korean TV’s.

Vocabulary & Expressions
essential: absolutely necessary; indispensable
copycat: a person or thing that copies, imitates, mimics, or follows the lead of
another, as a child who says or does exactly the same as another child
statistics: the numerical facts or data themselves
feminists: A person whose beliefs and behavior are based on feminism
encouraging: to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence
instilling: teaching or impressing upon the mind by frequent instruction or repetition

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