The football match watched the night before or the drama in a television series permeates life, forming the subject of daily conversations. Experts state that generations raised with television also shape their lives through television, noting that violence is extensively covered for viewers not only in dramas but also in comedy series. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer emphasizes that violence is being attempted to be normalized through comedy series. Sirer points out that a 2020 study by RTÜK revealed that the public is most disturbed by scenes containing sexual violence.
Sexual violence content is the most disturbing…
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer, Head of the Radio, Television, and Cinema Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, addressed the effects of violent TV series and films on society.
TV series characters become role models
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer stated that television is the control center of the new epistemology in our era, saying, 'Many expressions and ways of life are shaped by the direction of television. The football match watched the night before or the drama of the young girl in a TV series permeates our lives by forming the subject of daily conversations, also becoming a determinant of many attitudes and behaviors. In fact, characters in TV series serve as role models for society.'
Television enters every home with the power of images
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer stated that Neil Postman's book 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' (Turkish title: 'Televizyon: Öldüren Eğlence') includes the lines 'as a psychiatrist said, we all build sandcastles. The problem arises when we try to live in these castles.' She added, 'The book explains that television enters every home using the power of images and creates a 'peek-a-boo' world. In this magical world, everything seems possible. However, such a situation does not exist in real life.'
Increasing viewership is television's main goal
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer continued by stating that there are generations today raised and mesmerized by television:
'These generations shape their lives through television. Although it may seem easy to make sense of life through the television's window, many problems are reflected in their lives. Foremost among these is the idea that life outside the door is an unsafe place. Increasing viewership is television's main goal. For this reason, we can say that televisions utilize conflicts when constructing the dramatic structure to ensure continuous viewership in TV series. Violence is seen to play an important role in the construction of these conflicts. Therefore, violence is not something desired, but rather a phenomenon that is watched more because it is circulated more. Its impact multiplies its usage rate. Consequently, the viewer qualitatively thinks they are watching more violence-laden productions.'
Images containing sexual violence are disturbing
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer stated, 'According to the results of RTÜK's 'Violence in Television Broadcasts Research' conducted in 2020, 94% of participants indicate that violent content is present at a moderate and higher level in television broadcasts,' and she continued:
'The World Health Organization classifies violence as physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence. In RTÜK's research, participants believe that psychological violence is present in TV series at a rate of 75.4%, and physical violence at a rate of 73.8%. The most disturbing content in broadcasts includes: images containing sexual violence at 61.6%, images containing physical violence at 57.2%, images containing economic violence at 57.6%, and images containing psychological violence at 57.4%.'
Violence is combined with comedy
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer pointed out that for television viewers, violence is not only circulated through drama but is also extensively processed as a comedy and entertainment element. She said, 'Violence mediated by comedy is portrayed as more endearing. In comedy productions on television, a violent word or action is circulated the next day, ensuring it finds a place on everyone's agenda. It is also spread to unaware audiences through social media.'
Violent content is normalized
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esennur Sirer stated that the view that increasingly violent content in TV series has become normal for viewers is a point on which everyone in society agrees today. She said, 'Violent content structured within a dramatic framework in TV series is being attempted to be normalized. What should not be forgotten is that when an actor or actress escapes a bad situation they fell into as part of their role after a conflict ends, the images of violence are not erased from the memory of viewers who take them as role models.'