Introduction
Although death has always been a part of life, how it is portrayed and handled in society has changed. Death has become a more prevalent cultural theme since the invention of television and social media. The modern media is rife with its depictions, from news accounts of natural disasters and armed wars to fictitious portrayals in films, TV series, and advertisements. The content on death has increased, normalized the topic, ultimately altering how viewers see and engage with it. As such, the way individuals view death and dying has changed significantly due to this shift in mindset, which raises serious concerns regarding the role of the media in this process. In this paper, I will argue that the proliferation of death on TV and social media has normalized the subject, changing how audiences process and interact with death.
The Social Context
As it stands, the way death has been portrayed throughout history and in many cultures has been influenced by various ideologies and cultural norms. Critical studies have urged analysis of suicide within its cultural and historical contexts, and anthropology has played a vital role in understanding death in various cultures and contexts (Fratini & Hemer, 2020). Understanding death and suicide requires an awareness of the person’s cultural environment. Attitudes towards death are exceptionally local and influenced by beliefs that have enormous ramifications; suicide, in particular, is considered a social logic (Fratini & Hemer, 2020). This argument contends that to analyze death properly, the cultural environment must be considered. While death is feared and avoided in certain cultures, it is seen as a normal part of life in others. For example, ancient Egyptians mummified their dead to preserve their bodies for the afterlife because they believed in an afterlife (Szpakowska, 2020). History and cultural customs have also influenced how death is portrayed. Death is even seen as a social event in some cultures, with elaborate rituals and collective customs for mourning. In various African communities, funerals are viewed as occasions to honor the deceased’s life with dancing, singing, and feasting (Szpakowska, 2020). As such, it can be seen that the perception of death is highly dependent on the culture of the society in which it takes place.
The Shifting Perspective
While death is maybe more frequently shown in contemporary media, it is frequently done in a way that is inaccurate to the reality of death. Instead, death is frequently shown in the media as a spectacle or entertainment, which might make viewers less sensitive to the topic. As an illustration, the news media frequently sensationalizes death in an effort to attract viewers and raise ratings (Berents, 2019). Instead of describing the emotional impact of a person’s death, news coverage frequently concentrates on violent and gory facts. This can cause viewers to lose their sensitivity to the reality of death and make them perceive it as an impersonal idea rather than something that personally affects their life. Moreover, the sensationalization of death on social media might result in phenomena like suicide contagion (Carmichael & Whitley, 2019). Likewise, sites like Twitter and Twitch can disseminate gruesome cybersuicide photos and videos, which viewers may find upsetting (Fratini & Hemer, 2020). While some contend that this exposure to death can help individuals accept their mortality, it must be noted that it can also make them less sensitive to violence and death. Media can promote a dissociation from the reality of death and a glorification of violence rather than encouraging a healthy knowledge of death and mortality.
An Alternative View
Notwithstanding, an alternate viewpoint on this matter contends that rather than contributing to desensitization, the frequency of violence and death in media is merely a reflection of the desensitization already present in society. Human history and culture have been filled with violence and death, from battle and conquest to public executions and religious sacrifices (Szpakowska, 2020). Hence, how death is portrayed in media—whether in films, TV series, or video games—is just a mirror of this truth. In fact, because media frequently portrays stylized or exaggerated violence, which can operate as a release valve for society’s tension, media may be less violent than real-life situations (Mortensen & Jørgensen, 2020). Nevertheless, the desensitization to violence and death is greatly influenced by the media. Furthermore, many individuals have lost their natural sensitivity to death and violence as a result of seeing violent or gruesome images on a daily basis. The desensitization due to being exposed to violent media might cause aggressive behavior or a lack of compassion for those who have been the victims of violence. Although it is true that violence and death are prevalent in our culture, the claim that media is merely reflecting pre-existing desensitization ignores the crucial role that media has in influencing how we view and react to death. Thus, the prevalence of violent media can contribute to the normalization of violence in society rather than the other way around.
Death and the Individual
Ultimately, the way that death is portrayed in the media—on television, in films, or online—can have a significant impact on people and how they view death. Perceptions of suicide can be influenced by how death is depicted, with sensational and in-depth coverage possibly influencing those who are at risk to see it as a valiant and acceptable response to their problems. Television shows, for instance, show death in a variety of ways, from news reports on violent crimes or natural catastrophes to plays that focus on the dying process to action movies that casually include death in the plot (Dar-Nimrod, 2012). Others contend that some programs help individuals understand death better than others, while others do not. While it has been demonstrated that materialistic impulses can have detrimental repercussions on both individuals and societies, the exceptionally high occurrence of mortality on television can encourage the development of these tendencies (Dar-Nimrod, 2012). The lines between performer and audience can get blurred in the context of online platforms since the audience can participate in the performance and change the stream’s direction (Fratini & Hemer, 2020). In just a few minutes or seconds, the passing of a celebrity, for instance, can be communicated to their supporters around the world, and social media platforms enable digital mourning and commemoration (Kania-Lundholm, 2019). This contradictory logic of online death leads to both international news coverage and local, informal, and emotional reactions to it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ways how death is portrayed in the media affect individuals and their attitudes towards it. The significance of this argument lies in its contribution to an ongoing scholarly discourse about the role of media in shaping cultural attitudes and perceptions. Although others, such as Mortensen & Jørgensen (2020), might disagree, it appears clear that excessive exposure to death-related media can cause desensitization. At the same time, due to the great frequency of mortality on television, materialistic impulses can develop and have a harmful impact on both individuals and societies. The most effective way to address the changing issue of how people are depicted in death media may be through comprehensive education. However, in the end, individuals must take responsibility for their own consumption of violent media and work to create a culture that respects empathy and nonviolence.
References
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