Screening Violence

Screening Violence features an impressive scope of articles on the problem of media violence and its increase since the 1960s. In his introduction, Prince states his editorial goals, which are to examine Æthe origins of ultraviolent movies, the long-standing controversies over the effects of viewing film violence, the evidence furnished by social science about these effects, and the inherent characteristics of screen violence that subvert its progressive, legitimate uses.Æ . . . Screening Violence offers an excellent introduction to the topic for use in the classroom . . . and the variety of sources invites selective courses of reading. Students will also appreciate the focus on the historical moment, before their time, when the discussion of media violence begins to take the shape familiar to them from their own experience. (H-Net Review) This welcome collection on cinematic Æultra violenceÆ comprises 14 readable contributions, most by film critics, film scholars, and social scientists. . . . Readers will enjoy Bosley CrowtherÆs elitist angst and Jack ValentiÆs convoluted testimony before the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence. Suitable for upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses. (Choice)