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.Tuesday, October 30, 2007 ' 1:17 PM Y

BOO!!

Round 1: Violence vs. Gore (Part 1)

Ask yourself this question: Is "Happy Tree Friends" more violence or gore?

If you think it’s probably more gore and if that explains why it actually turns you off…

Think again. Why do you feel this way?

What is this telling? Is violence more acceptable over gore?

Let’s just put it this way. Personally, I feel that violence is becoming a common feat these days. We see violence depicted in media all the time and we think nothing of it. This is worrying as it is as though this constant exposure over time is leading us to see violence as a natural occurrence… and eventually, desensitizing us to violence?

So in which case, is violence becoming a part of our culture? So is it just a matter of getting used to?

In that case, the popularity of "Happy Tree Friends" is perturbing…

One would think the show's content would turn many viewers away from the program. But ratings and product sales tell a different story. “Even through a blood-covered window, it's easy to see the growing popularity of these creations. Every week, 5 million people watch the episodes over the Internet. Almost a million are subscribed to the mailing list.”

With the connectivity of media today, it has definitely help to speed up the spread of the cult culture of "Happy Tree Friends". Since the show's humble origins on the Internet, it has moved on to its television debut on MTV's Downloaded, a program showcasing the best in animated shorts from the Internet, DVD release, it has now spread to the G4 television network where millions of viewers watch the show regularly, and soon… "Happy Tree Friends" will march its way onto game consoles, handheld systems and almost certainly the PC.

What is this telling? There will come a day when even gore might stomp its way into our culture and be acceptable as mainstream?

Watch out! That day might be just be imminent…

As Cuddles would put it – “Resistance is futile.”

Labels: cultural anxieties, Faustina, Genres, Media, personal opinion

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