Introduction
Violence is one of the most devastating problems facing humanity today. At its most basic level, it is defined as any bodily harm or injury one person inflicts upon another (Swanson, 2020). This can include everything from punching someone in the face to shooting them with a gun.
Violence is often used in warfare and other forms of conflict resolution; however, it is also commonly employed by everyday people. Some people use violence to solve problems or express frustration with others’ behavior or their own. Others may use violence because they have become accustomed to being violent and feel like they have no other way of responding when they are upset or angry about something happening around them. Many kinds of violence exist today, such as domestic abuse, child abuse, bullying, gang violence, rape, and war crimes (Metzl et al., 2021). This paper examines the root causes, effects, and possible solutions to societal violence.
The “Life of Crime” film explains how greed, violence, and corruption affect individuals and groups. Abuse of all kinds, such as physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological, has a deep historical root in society (Boxoffice, 2022). The home, the classroom, the workplace, and the social circle are all places where this may flourish.
Age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status make no difference regarding violence’s devastating effects. Around 1.6 million individuals are murdered yearly due to criminal violence, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020). This statistic emphasizes the urgent need to take action against this issue and implement effective measures to prevent violence and support its victims.
Theories and Concepts of Violence
Many theoretical models account for the antecedents and subsequent dissemination of violent conduct. These ideas give a structure for identifying the many causes of violence and developing effective countermeasures. The collapse of society is central to one of the film’s core violent themes. The breakdown of social norms and institutions is hypothesized to be accompanied by increased criminal behavior (Swanson, 2020). The film’s protagonists function in a society where corruption is pervasive and the criminal justice system is ineffective, fueling violence. As the protagonists’ illegal actions stem from economic and social disadvantages, the social disorganization hypothesis may be applied to this film.
The video also examines the social learning theory of violence. According to this notion, people pick up aggressive habits by watching and copying others around them. According to this theory, those who grow up in violent environments tend to commit violence themselves (Metzl et al., 2021).
The film’s protagonists and antagonists are shaped by their histories and the violent deeds of others around them. The film also sheds light on the theory of routine activities. According to this hypothesis, criminal activity and violent acts occur when an inspired perpetrator, an inviting victim, and an ineffective protector all come together.
The main characters in the film are motivated by greed and hopelessness as they plan to steal from a wealthy businessperson. The absence of law enforcement in the area makes it easier for the characters to carry out their schemes (Boxoffice, 2022). Moreover, the cycle of violence theory proposes that aggressive tendencies may be passed on from parents to children. Young individuals are more prone to violent behavior if exposed to or experience violence as children or adolescents (Swanson, 2020). There are possible ramifications for the characters’ violent behaviors, and their past experiences of violence impact their current actions.
The Film’s Representation of Violent Behavior
Arguments range from the idea that the movies normalize toxic masculinity and aggression to the idea that they offer a window into deeper social issues. The video shows many different kinds of violence, such as attacks on the body, gunfights, and fights between people. The violence in the movie shows how bad crime is in today’s world (Metzl et al., 2021).
The way violence is shown in the movie is real and gritty, showing how bad all kinds of violence can be. During some of the bloodiest parts of the movie, tense and anxious music adds to the seriousness of the situation. The filmmakers use slow motion and close-ups of wounds, among other things, to show how brutal the violence is.
The powerful are shown in the movie as more likely to resort to physical force, one of the many ways violence is depicted. For example, one of the characters resorts to criminal activity to provide for himself and his family (Boxoffice, 2022). The other characters’ violent actions may be caused by the pain they are feeling on the inside.
People deal with trauma differently, as shown by how different characters react to the same terrible events. Some characters get even angrier and more violent because of the violence, while others want nothing but to escape it. This book also looks at the psychological and emotional effects of violent actions.
To sum up, “Life of Crime” is a powerful movie that deals with the heavy topic of violence and its emotional and social effects. The movie is a wake-up call to deal with the real causes of crime and violence in our society. It does not shy away from tough topics like these. The movie tries to show that if society were fairer, there would be less violent crime, and the world would be safer.
Societal Issues
Crime, poverty, narcotics, spousal abuse, gang violence, terrorism, and war are some weighty topics covered in the film. The video highlights the negative effects these issues have on individuals and communities. Criminal behavior is one of the most glaring examples of violence today (Swanson, 2020).
Theft, assault, and murder may all have devastating effects on their victims and the communities in which they occur since they are typically the result of violent actions. When people’s fundamental necessities, including food, housing, and medical care, are unmet, crime and violence often increase. In addition, the media’s and pop culture’s inclination to glamorize violent acts may contribute to normalizing aggressive behavior.
The video also examines the correlation between poverty and crime. Throughout the film, the characters’ lives endlessly spiral downward due to poverty, violence, and the false assumption that criminal behavior is their only way out (Boxoffice, 2022). The film implies that decreasing crime rates and building a safer society require tackling poverty and inequality. The video also addresses the problem of drug abuse. Drug usage is shown as a coping strategy for the protagonists, and addiction is shown to motivate their criminal actions. Addiction rehab and community support are stressed throughout the film.
Another area of society where violence plays a significant role is domestic violence. Intimate partner violence is between two people who are or have a significant other (Metzl et al., 2021). One partner’s dominance over the other contributes to the cycle of violence that characterizes domestic abuse. Toxic masculinity, the belief that males should be aggressive, domineering, and strong, is a major contributor to domestic violence. This view may help perpetrators of domestic abuse feel justified in their actions and shield them from consequences.
The video raises awareness about domestic abuse and shows its terrible toll on victims and their loved ones. Domestic abuse affects individuals from many walks of life and ages, as seen by the characters’ varied reactions. Viewers are urged to take action against domestic abuse and stand with those victimized by it.
One such social problem that violence contributes to is gang warfare. Gangs use violence to gain power and control in regions with high poverty and high rates of economic disparity. Drive-by shootings, drug-related violence, and turf conflicts are just a few examples of the numerous manifestations of gang violence (Metzl et al., 2021). Communities devastated by gang violence often suffer from widespread trauma and terror.
Terrorism is an ideologically motivated social problem. Terrorists resort to violence to promote their political or religious ideas and often use civilians to achieve this. Terrorism has the potential to cause widespread anxiety and unrest throughout the world. Terrorism may have far-reaching consequences, including modifying established institutions and ways of life.
As a social problem, war is often resolved via acts of violence. Conflicts often break out over political, economic, or ideological disagreements and may devastate innocent bystanders. High trauma, dislocation, and mortality levels may result from war (WHO, 2020). Communities sometimes take decades or even centuries to fully recover from the devastation wrought by conflict.
Personal Reflections
Witnessing or experiencing violence firsthand may leave a lasting psychological impact. I suffered severe emotional wounds from being raised in a violent environment. The countless instances of seeing my parents’ violent altercations affected my sense of worth, connection, and sanity. I had to go through therapy and have others believe in me to overcome the despair and anxiety.
The film’s depiction of violence is equally disturbing. The reappearance of the protagonist’s missing father forces her to face the horrific events of her childhood. She faces pervasive and potentially life-threatening violence as she makes her way through the dangerous underworld of organized crime (Boxoffice, 2022). The video shows that violence is harmful on many physical and mental levels and has far-reaching effects on victims and their loved ones.
Conclusion
Violence is a multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences for individuals and communities. Economic inequality, toxic masculinity, and ideological dispute speed up the situation. The film’s central theme is the ripple effect of violence on society as a whole.
The author’s experiences with violence and the themes explored in the film show that this is a pervasive issue that calls for society’s urgent attention and action. The implications of this theory are extensive and include a wide range of topics, including the need to increase public awareness of violence and support victims and their families. Further research on the causes of aggressive behavior is needed to find effective ways to prevent and cure it.
Individuals and groups must work together to stop violence and create a more equitable society. People should consult an advocate for laws and initiatives that target the root causes of violence if they want to aid victims of violence effectively and offer them greater agency. To make a difference, individuals must take direct action to address these root causes of violence in our society. Individuals and communities may work toward a more equitable and peaceful society by, for example, expanding access to economic opportunities, eliminating harmful beliefs and attitudes, and seeking out amicable resolutions to conflicts.
References
Boxoffice. (2022). Life of crime (Video). YouTube. Web.
Metzl, J. M., Piemonte, J., & McKay, T. (2021). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the future of psychiatric research into American gun violence. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 29(1), 81. Web.
Swanson, J. W. (2020). The color of risk protection orders: gun violence, gun laws, and racial justice. Injury Epidemiology, 7(1), 1-6. Web.
World Health Organization. (2020). Global status report on preventing violence against children 2020. Web.