Pirates: Crimes on the High Seas - Do Hollywood Movies Inspire Terrorism?
Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
by Julian Price
http://www.uk-freelance-content-writer.co.uk/
With the latest reports of a British couple being taken from their yacht on the Indian Ocean by pirates, and this following a spate of other recent acts of piracy, there seems to be a disturbing trend back towards these deliberate acts of often small scale and cowardly terrorism.
Only in the last few years has a crime such as piracy started making international news headlines again. There is little doubt that piracy at sea has always been, but why the sudden surge in ships and boats being seized?
Are groups of thugs sitting in darkened grottos, watching "pirate" copies of such movies and hatching daring, reckless plans of crime, thinking, " Hey, we could try that!" In 1998, the movie "The Siege" starring Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington caused great controversy for its portrayal of Muslims in New York City and a terrorist campaign that was conducted during the film's plot. Huge bomb blasts were seen occurring across the city as the security forces hunted high and low for the culprits.
It's not the first time this film has been used in reference to the events that followed a few years later on September 11 th 2001. The resonance between the devastating real life attack and movie are startling! Of course the makers of this film and others like it, are not deliberately trying to incite a riot or encouraging terrorists but are the clever, creative insights of writers and film makers providing useful, free " How To" manuals for those that would commit such heinous atrocities?
Hollywood itself was shaken after 9/11 and big, thoughtless action movies were noticeable by their absence in the aftermath and for quite some time after. Was the film industry temporarily embarrassed by some of the pertinent material it had released and that was in production? Did they genuinely and sensitively have the hearts and minds of people as their greatest concern or was there really a sense of guilt at some of its output?
Whether or not movies influence the acts of an individual is probably an argument that is as old as movies themselves, but does that make it less relevant? Some complain about excessive violence and sex in film, some argue that there is not enough but are movies about plots of terrorism, mass destruction and even to some extent things like bank heists, providing a blueprint of ideas and theories for those who are willing to cause great harm and who do claim to have a cause.
There will always be great, big explosions in movies, in fact technology is only aiding the power of the "bang" but is it possible we are spoon feeding the radicals and becoming our own worst enemy?
Let us hope and pray that the British couple are returned safely to their families.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)I have no doubt that movies have influenced some crimes to occur. No doubt at all. However, I believe that movies have little or no influence regarding piracy committed by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa. Somalia is a terribly poor and corrupt country with many do anything to survive and make money.Pirating has been an easy way to make million the last few years. I have a friend who has a company that markets services to large companies to protect them from these pirates. When pirating is successful, word of mouth gets around to a certain element and ,"cookie cutter" the behavior. Until better solutions or swift consequences stop the lucrativeness of pirating, it will continue. Till then by a FAST boat I guess! Nice article.fThanks Steve, for reading and for your insight into some of the problems regarding this particular sort of piracy. Adds to the article nicely, thanks again. Julian
Although I guess you can never say never with things like this, I am afraid that reality actually often is way worse than the things movie makers dream up. Generally speaking hurting people is not exactly rocket science, you just have to be evil or desperate (or whatever) enough in order to actually do it.However, movies and other forms of entertainment does in fact influence some individuals - as there are always weirdos who start stalking any famous person the really like or dislike.Thanks for taking time to contribute Erwin. Much appreciated.
I think movies do influence some people's behavior, but I agree Gregory in this case about the location. Thanks for sharing. Linda DHi Linda, thanks for reading and commenting! Lets just hope they get home safely! Julian
I suspect that, as with so many things, it's not so much an increase in activity but an increase in reporting. How many news channels do we have now pumping information 24/7? Couple that with greater information technology able to transmit news stories around the world in a matter of seconds and voila! What used to be considered an obscure happening is now broadcast into your living room every time it happens.In short, I'd have to see some real statistics before I believed there is an actual increase in incidents.Hi Stephen, thanks for your comment. Vaild point about the state and effects of reporting these days. Appreciate your input.
Good article - yes, you can't help wondering! We'll never know what goes through evil people's minds or where they get their ideas to harm others. Some people will obviously be affected by the movies but crimes and terrorism also run rampant in parts of the world where the masses don't see movies. Interesting discussion!Thanks for your comment Jo, appreciate you adding to the disussion!
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