ABSTRACT

Graphic Violence provides an innovative introduction to the relationship between violence and visual media, discussing how media consumers and producers can think critically about and interact with violent visual content. It comprehensively surveys predominant theories of media violence and the research supporting and challenging them, addressing issues ranging from social learning, to representations of war and terrorism, to gender and hyper-masculinity. Each chapter features original artwork presenting a story in the style of a graphic novel to demonstrate the concepts at hand. Truly unique in its approach to the subject and medium, this volume is an excellent resource for undergraduate students of communication and media theory as well as anyone interested in understanding the causes and effects of violence in media.

chapter 1|26 pages

The Characteristics of Story

Conflict, Chronicle, and Violence

chapter 2|27 pages

The Journeys of Brutal Stories

chapter 3|27 pages

Helpless Audiences and the Magic Bullet

chapter 4|26 pages

Obstinate Violence

chapter 5|27 pages

Learning Violence

The Drama of Aggression

chapter 7|32 pages

What an Audience Wants

Selection, Gratification, and Violence

chapter 9|27 pages

Terrorism, War, and Media Systems

chapter 10|26 pages

The Violent Aesthetic