Violence
 
     

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Star Trek

In the episode The Enemy Within, a transporter malfunction splits Captain Kirk (William Shatner) in two. One Kirk seems good, the other violent and evil.
As the episode unfolds we learn that the negative-seeming aspects of Kirk's personality are fundamental to his ability to function professionally as the Captain.
He must embrace both sides of his nature in order to be an integrated human being.


Kirk

Despite an erroneous image of being a bit of a clown, Shatner's Kirk is nothing like the caricatures. Captain Kirk is typically very serious. He is cool headed, focussed; tightly disciplined.
He puts the safety of the ship and its crew first. His orders are Law. Kirk brooks no incompetence; he will step in immediately and take over if a crew member falters in their duty.


Self-control

When intoxicated by an inhibition freeing virus Kirk chooses his ship over the women in the crew. This occurs again in the episode This Side of Paradise.


All business

Captain Kirk's good and bad sides work in harmony to produce an impressive balance.
Although moderately patient and courteous with the crew, he is often terse and stern; speaking in a clipped, concise manner at all times. Kirk reserves his humour for his friends.


Star Trek: The Next Generation

In the episode Tapestry, Captain Picard is given the opportunity to re-live an incident from his Academy days which nearly cost him his life. Instead of behaving rashly, he plays it safe.
The subsequent course of his life is changed and he finds himself a much meeker man. Picard recognises that even the bad choices we make are perhaps instrumental in making us the person we are today.
Suppressing his violent traits makes him ineffectual as a Captain.



Real life

Ideally, we may seek 'to do the right thing' and 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. It is not always possible to please everyone all the time.
Often, we may do what seems necessary rather than what is right. The morality of our choices is perhaps a matter of perspective... Sometimes, we fail to be our better selves.


Violence in modern culture

There are popular characters in our culture who serve to highlight people's need to express socially inappropriate aspects of their personality e.g. Batman, Darth Maul or Captain Nemo.
Society is not fair and never will be. Frustration, anger, resentment, injustice continue to exist.
Characters who express 'violent behaviour' in fictional stories enable the audience to experience negative and often hostile emotional states in a relatively innocuous manner.
If you recall the example of The Enemy Within from the original Star Trek series, these antisocial emotions are not 'bad' per se; they are part of what make us who and what we are.


The thrill of violence?

These film clips represent exciting examples of violence:

  1. Kingsman: Bar fight

  2. Kick Ass: Big Daddy warehouse scene

  3. Star Wars Episode 1 trailer: Fear is my ally  

  4. Blade: First appearance

  5. Avengers Assemble: Puny god

  6. Troy: Achilles first appearance

  7. Last Action Hero: Schwarzenegger as Hamlet

  8. Raiders of the Lost Ark: Sword vs gun

  9. Batman Begins: First appearance

  10. Chronicles of Riddick: I'll kill you with my tea cup

  11. Dark Knight: Bat pod

  12. Leon: Swat team

  13. John Carter: Worth fighting for

  14. Edge of Tomorrow: Beach battle

Not so friendly? But is violence something to embrace?


Violence

Occasionally, situations require us to inflict pain in order to survive. This is not something to be proud of or to get lost in. But it is part of us
.
 

Light resides in darkness. Easiness is attained with difficulty.

(Lao Tzu)

Reasonable force

Aim for
strength, control, patience and focus. Be resolute, fierce yet intelligent. Avoid the use of violence but recognise that is occasionally necessary.


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Page created 1 September 2002
Last updated 04 May 2023