Making+Sense+of+Violence-+perceived+meaningfulness+as+a+predictor+of+audience+interest+in+violent+media+content

Bartch, Anne, and Mares, Marie-Louise. “Making Sense of Violence: perceived meaningfulness as a predictor of audience interest in violent media content.” Journal of Communication 64.5 (Oct2014) : p956-976. Article.

This article published in the Journal of Communications takes a different look than my other sources which come from psychological and sociological perspectives. This source focuses on the media itself and why it is people choose to consume violent content. In the studies mentioned, it is said that when viewing this violence as a meaningful part of a storyline, it is perceived as a human cost and holds high value to the overall product. If viewers are perceiving this violence as a necessary means to an end, is it provoking the desire to seek non-violent alternatives? Or, is this training viewers to see violence as a necessary go-to reaction without looking for alternative solutions? If people have been conditioned through media to view violence as the first and necessary reaction to situations, bystanders will be less likely to react with shock or be motivated to intervene during real life tragedies.

kimberly corley