subject: Depiction Of Alcohol [print this page] With the correct attitude, alcohol can be consumed safely and responsibly. However it is a potent and powerful intoxicant with the potential to utterly ruin a life, so it is important to respect this capacity for destruction.
Unfortunately, given alcohols place in our society, a deeply ingrained, historically reinforced position of social acceptance, this is easy to forget, and it is not hard to understand why people fall into patterns of alcohol misuse and abuse.
There is a wealth of scientific study that supports the concept that media can influence the behaviour of its audience. I find this notion inherently problematic all too frequently I have seen violent videogames and cinema scapegoated by the tabloid papers as a catalyst for violent crimes and actions.
Within my experiences, both personal and observations of the experiences of those around me, I find this to be false fantasy violence in films or games is no more responsible for real world violence than fantasy racing in films or games is responsible for a sudden upswing in the driving abilities of the general population. Pushing buttons on a controller or lying on a couch viewing violent acts, even visceral ultra-violence is a world away from the sensory assault of real-world violence. However, with something like alcoholism- one topic that comes up time and time again in these studies, it is more believable. Given the flippant offhand nature of alcohol portrayal in mainstream media, it is not hard to see this attitude spilling into real life. The big question is whether this is simply reflective of our society or responsible for it. Many family soap operas and childrens films flirt with the idea of alcohol consumption for comic effect. Teen dramas and films portray binge drinking with a sort of bohemian romance an embodiment of pure hedonism, to be pursued and desired. Film noir holds alcohol in esteem with a sort of dark glamour, wallowing in its negative traits for dramatic effect. None of these depictions offer anything in the way of alcohol advice or guidance for treatment.
I am keen not to be guilty of the same thing I have lambasted others for doing when it comes to using the influence of media as a scapegoat. However, I think something as serious as alcoholism should be afforded careful consideration if there is a capacity to save future people from suffering at the hands of alcoholism.
