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Savage Pastimes: A Cultural History of Violent Entertainment
Does violence in movies, on television and in comic strips and cartoons rot our children's brains and make zombies-or worse, criminals-of adults at the fringes? In this cogent, well-researched book, American pop-culture expert Harold Schechter argues that exactly the opposite is true: a basic human need is given an outlet through violent images in popular media.
Moving from an exploration of early broadsheet engravings showing torture and the atrocities of war, to the depictions of crime in "penny dreadfuls," to scenes of violence in today's movies and video games, Schechter not only traces the history of disturbing images but details the outrage that has inevitably accompanied them. By the twentieth century, the culture vultures were out in full force, demonizing comic books and setting up a pattern of equating testosterone-fueled entertainment with aggression. According to Schechter, nothing could be further from the truth. He also blasts those who bemoan the alleged increased violence in media today, and who conveniently scapegoat popular entertainment for a variety of cultural ills, including increased crime and real-life violence. Though American pop culture is far more technologically sophisticated today, Schechter shows that it is far less brutal than the entertainments of previous generations.
Savage Pastimes is a rich, eye-opening brief history that will make you rethink your assumptions about what we watch and how it affects us all.
Moving from an exploration of early broadsheet engravings showing torture and the atrocities of war, to the depictions of crime in "penny dreadfuls," to scenes of violence in today's movies and video games, Schechter not only traces the history of disturbing images but details the outrage that has inevitably accompanied them. By the twentieth century, the culture vultures were out in full force, demonizing comic books and setting up a pattern of equating testosterone-fueled entertainment with aggression. According to Schechter, nothing could be further from the truth. He also blasts those who bemoan the alleged increased violence in media today, and who conveniently scapegoat popular entertainment for a variety of cultural ills, including increased crime and real-life violence. Though American pop culture is far more technologically sophisticated today, Schechter shows that it is far less brutal than the entertainments of previous generations.
Savage Pastimes is a rich, eye-opening brief history that will make you rethink your assumptions about what we watch and how it affects us all.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
6 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Harold Schechter
79 books1,397 followersAka Jon A. Harrald (joint pseudonym with Jonna Gormley Semeiks)
Harold Schechter is a true crime writer who specializes in serial killers. He attended the State University of New York in Buffalo, where he obtained a Ph.D. A resident of New York City, Schechter is professor of American literature and popular culture at Queens College of the City University of New York.
Among his nonfiction works are the historical true-crime classics Fatal, Fiend, Deviant, Deranged, and Depraved. He also authors a critically acclaimed mystery series featuring Edgar Allan Poe, which includes The Hum Bug and Nevermore and The Mask of Red Death.
Schechter is married to poet Kimiko Hahn. He has two daughters from a previous marriage: the writer Lauren Oliver and professor of philosophy Elizabeth Schechter.
Harold Schechter is a true crime writer who specializes in serial killers. He attended the State University of New York in Buffalo, where he obtained a Ph.D. A resident of New York City, Schechter is professor of American literature and popular culture at Queens College of the City University of New York.
Among his nonfiction works are the historical true-crime classics Fatal, Fiend, Deviant, Deranged, and Depraved. He also authors a critically acclaimed mystery series featuring Edgar Allan Poe, which includes The Hum Bug and Nevermore and The Mask of Red Death.
Schechter is married to poet Kimiko Hahn. He has two daughters from a previous marriage: the writer Lauren Oliver and professor of philosophy Elizabeth Schechter.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 1, 2011
Another library book I've had out for a while and needed to finish and get back. This is a "discussion" of the effects of "violent entertainment" on us...the unwashed masses...the hoi polloi.
Actually I agree with the conclusion that the author comes to here. To wit, that on the whole violent entertainment doesn't turn people (young or old) into serial killers, mad bombers, raving lunatics...or lawyers.
So, why only 3 stars if I agree with Dr. Schechter? Because there are some flawed arguments and to my mind that takes away from his point rather than adding to it. Still, the book isn't a scholarly treatise, it's a popular work for a popular audience. PhD Schechter is a professor of Literature and also a well know "true crime" writer. While the book makes it's point very well there are a few places where he strains a point a bit and some places where he make what I think are invalid comparisons.
For example in comparing the violence in movies and TV "today" he points out that 1950s television (especially children's programing) was far "more" violent than today's TV offerings. In a way that's so. He goes to (the programs I grew up on) the TV and movie westerns of that era. It's true. Shootouts right left and center, bad guys killed at the close of each episode (and henchmen killed during the body of the show...get it, body?). Still those were largely "bloodless" shootouts. While (as said) I largely agree with his point I don't think that the black and white shootouts really compare with today's blood spattered offerings. Still this may be a bit picky on my part. You'll need to decide for yourself what you think here. I also think those programs and movies were mostly more openly morality plays that you'll find today.
I do think that violent entertainment divorced from moral direction (as for example many "slasher" movies) may do much to lower the moral threshold. (For example, the phrase "take him out" has entered our language as an answer to...well you get the idea.). Still as much as I detest "slasher flicks" (and I do detest them) I'm forced to admit that most slasher movie aficionados also don't become mass murderers.
He (the author) spends time making the point that "we" (that is humans) are a violent species who spent 1000+ generations slaughtering animals to stave off starvation and that we still have certain "aggressive tendencies. He "attempts" to draw corollaries between family viewing of public tortures and executions in the past to viewing of violent movies today. Again a strained comparison, but at least on some level valid.
Better are his examples and comparisons of the violent literature, plays etc. of the past with the same medias of today. In fact we, in out tastes are quite tame compared to the tastes of our ancestors.
All in all a pretty good book that makes a convincing argument for it's premise. He hits many topics in a somewhat scatter-gun style, from movies and literature to the censorship of comic books in the 1950s. That I also remember.
As a side note, some of the book was very nostalgic for me. Growing up in the 1950s my playtime was almost entirely made up of "violent play". I owned hundreds (really hundreds) of plastic soldiers, cowboys (western figures), pirates, knights, and even (oh no not really?!?!) big game hunters. I also strode the land from the time I was old enough to do so, strapped with my trusty 6 shooters, well actually they were mostly cap guns that were 50 shooters. Thus the name of the first 2 top of the line "cap buster" I owned, from Mattel, my Fanner 50s! Of course I also had the (are you ready?) Mattel Buffalo Hunter Set which included a six gun and rifle that shot "shootin' shells". These were brass cartridges with a spring inside. You put a green "stickem cap" on the back and pushed a plastic bullet into the spring. When you shot the gun the plastic bullet "shot", the cap went off..bang.
Ahh the good old days. If you want to buy a cap gun for a child today you have to find a shady character in a dark ally who keeps the toy guns hidden inside his oversized coat. "pssst...wana' buy a cap gun?"
I also lived through the Davy Crockett craze, and loved it. I still have a photo of my small self in my coonskin cap, buckskins and holding "Old Betsy". That craze outstripped any children's movie merchandising craze from then till now...including Star Wars. Schechter relates something here I was unaware of. During the craze raccoon skins went from 25 cents a pound to $8 a pound.
And you know what...I'm not a serial killer (of course that's just what a serial killer would say I guess), but really, I'm not.
Actually I agree with the conclusion that the author comes to here. To wit, that on the whole violent entertainment doesn't turn people (young or old) into serial killers, mad bombers, raving lunatics...or lawyers.
So, why only 3 stars if I agree with Dr. Schechter? Because there are some flawed arguments and to my mind that takes away from his point rather than adding to it. Still, the book isn't a scholarly treatise, it's a popular work for a popular audience. PhD Schechter is a professor of Literature and also a well know "true crime" writer. While the book makes it's point very well there are a few places where he strains a point a bit and some places where he make what I think are invalid comparisons.
For example in comparing the violence in movies and TV "today" he points out that 1950s television (especially children's programing) was far "more" violent than today's TV offerings. In a way that's so. He goes to (the programs I grew up on) the TV and movie westerns of that era. It's true. Shootouts right left and center, bad guys killed at the close of each episode (and henchmen killed during the body of the show...get it, body?). Still those were largely "bloodless" shootouts. While (as said) I largely agree with his point I don't think that the black and white shootouts really compare with today's blood spattered offerings. Still this may be a bit picky on my part. You'll need to decide for yourself what you think here. I also think those programs and movies were mostly more openly morality plays that you'll find today.
I do think that violent entertainment divorced from moral direction (as for example many "slasher" movies) may do much to lower the moral threshold. (For example, the phrase "take him out" has entered our language as an answer to...well you get the idea.). Still as much as I detest "slasher flicks" (and I do detest them) I'm forced to admit that most slasher movie aficionados also don't become mass murderers.
He (the author) spends time making the point that "we" (that is humans) are a violent species who spent 1000+ generations slaughtering animals to stave off starvation and that we still have certain "aggressive tendencies. He "attempts" to draw corollaries between family viewing of public tortures and executions in the past to viewing of violent movies today. Again a strained comparison, but at least on some level valid.
Better are his examples and comparisons of the violent literature, plays etc. of the past with the same medias of today. In fact we, in out tastes are quite tame compared to the tastes of our ancestors.
All in all a pretty good book that makes a convincing argument for it's premise. He hits many topics in a somewhat scatter-gun style, from movies and literature to the censorship of comic books in the 1950s. That I also remember.
As a side note, some of the book was very nostalgic for me. Growing up in the 1950s my playtime was almost entirely made up of "violent play". I owned hundreds (really hundreds) of plastic soldiers, cowboys (western figures), pirates, knights, and even (oh no not really?!?!) big game hunters. I also strode the land from the time I was old enough to do so, strapped with my trusty 6 shooters, well actually they were mostly cap guns that were 50 shooters. Thus the name of the first 2 top of the line "cap buster" I owned, from Mattel, my Fanner 50s! Of course I also had the (are you ready?) Mattel Buffalo Hunter Set which included a six gun and rifle that shot "shootin' shells". These were brass cartridges with a spring inside. You put a green "stickem cap" on the back and pushed a plastic bullet into the spring. When you shot the gun the plastic bullet "shot", the cap went off..bang.
Ahh the good old days. If you want to buy a cap gun for a child today you have to find a shady character in a dark ally who keeps the toy guns hidden inside his oversized coat. "pssst...wana' buy a cap gun?"
I also lived through the Davy Crockett craze, and loved it. I still have a photo of my small self in my coonskin cap, buckskins and holding "Old Betsy". That craze outstripped any children's movie merchandising craze from then till now...including Star Wars. Schechter relates something here I was unaware of. During the craze raccoon skins went from 25 cents a pound to $8 a pound.
And you know what...I'm not a serial killer (of course that's just what a serial killer would say I guess), but really, I'm not.
November 23, 2018
A short, readable look at one of the most common misconceptions of our time (that America is getting more and more violent as time goes by) and the most common reason given for it (that kids are exposed to violence in media). Though a solid if rather less detailed and well supported case is made that America is actually less violent than Steven Pinker made in The Better Angels of Our Nature, and we get a shocking look at how gruesome stories used to be, I would have liked to have seen more on the subject of WHY? Why do we seem to not just want but need violent entertainment and why/how does it actually make us less violent in real life?
June 4, 2017
Thought-provoking and nicely interspersed with images and text boxes. I would like to see this updated for the current decade.
November 16, 2013
Good compilation of cultural history from about the middle ages until recent history, which shows how our entertainment as well as the society around it has gotten less violent. I learned about this book in Steven Pinker’s Better Angels of Our Nature. There were some odd moments where it seemed Schechter was making the case that when people consume simulated violence in their entertainment it reflects evil violent tendencies ingrained in those people. I also think he exaggerated his descriptions of the violence in some of the art, like the Bayeux Tapestry. His descriptions of that sounded horrific, but later when I looked up pictures of it, there is a lot of clashing, but not much hacking and splattering – more like dancing line-drawing figures. I haven’t studied it that closely, but his descriptions didn’t seem to match up with what I saw. Toward the end of the book he seemed to reverse a bit, and argue more that the consumption of simulated violent entertainment doesn’t reflect any violent tendencies, that it can be a structured way for people to confront and process fears, and curiosities, to better deal with them in the real world. So the book ended very reasonably I think – except for a typo in the very last sentence of the book. There were several typos throughout the book, but it was good and short, with a good works cited in the appendix. I got what I wanted from it.
January 24, 2011
A terrific read. Really gets you thinking about the past, present and future of media and violence as well as the growing audience - us.
Initially I picked up this book as I am becoming a big fan of Schechter's, but also because I was looking for insight into my own odd interest and curiosity with the macabre.
I've read over a dozen books about Jack the Ripper, countless mystery novels, historical true crime and unsolved murders and "Crimes of the Century" types and I thought - perhaps this book can shed some light onto why so many people, myself included, are fascinated with the seemingly taboo. I am not a violent person in the least, was raised in the country with loving friends and family but have ALWAYS been interested and fascinated by historical murder, mysteries, crimes and so on. I can see a vast audience finding this book relevant to their own lives in a number of ways, be it they are a teacher and surrounded by youth, a film maker/writer, into history of media, to psychoanalyze their own fascination, and on.
I loved it.
Initially I picked up this book as I am becoming a big fan of Schechter's, but also because I was looking for insight into my own odd interest and curiosity with the macabre.
I've read over a dozen books about Jack the Ripper, countless mystery novels, historical true crime and unsolved murders and "Crimes of the Century" types and I thought - perhaps this book can shed some light onto why so many people, myself included, are fascinated with the seemingly taboo. I am not a violent person in the least, was raised in the country with loving friends and family but have ALWAYS been interested and fascinated by historical murder, mysteries, crimes and so on. I can see a vast audience finding this book relevant to their own lives in a number of ways, be it they are a teacher and surrounded by youth, a film maker/writer, into history of media, to psychoanalyze their own fascination, and on.
I loved it.
August 23, 2008
I like to bring books to school as I finish them to share them with my students as a way to inspire them to read. I won't be doing that with this one.
There were pictures.
They were mostly illustrations from very old thrill rags - by very old I mean eighteenth century and older, but even so they were more graphic than I'd want to share with my students.
The author's main argument is that they hysterics over the violence in the media - TV, movies, video games - is blown out of proportion. As it turns out, our culture is far less violent now than it has been in the past, and that vicarious violence or violent imagery can actually serve to reduce violence in society.
It was a pretty fascinating book.
There were pictures.
They were mostly illustrations from very old thrill rags - by very old I mean eighteenth century and older, but even so they were more graphic than I'd want to share with my students.
The author's main argument is that they hysterics over the violence in the media - TV, movies, video games - is blown out of proportion. As it turns out, our culture is far less violent now than it has been in the past, and that vicarious violence or violent imagery can actually serve to reduce violence in society.
It was a pretty fascinating book.
March 16, 2009
This book is a wonderfully diverting look at all of the terribly violent ways human beings have been entertaining themselves -- and each other -- throughout history. I've always thought that indulging in violent media leads to violent behavior, but this book pretty much debunks that theory with facts. So.... if you're worried that video games and R-rated movies are leading our youth to go out and shoot people, etc. please read this book! You will be greatly relieved to know it's not true. You'll also be entertained by Mr. Schechter's excellent writing. What an interesting discussion book this might be...
April 20, 2007
Every age is violent. New media create storms of outrage and censorship. And things were actually worse before you were born.
Read this book and find these and other nuggets of not-so-common sense. Includes horrifying samples of past violent entertainment, complete with scalpings, murders, etc.
I consider this another nail in the coffin of "common wisdom".
Read this book and find these and other nuggets of not-so-common sense. Includes horrifying samples of past violent entertainment, complete with scalpings, murders, etc.
I consider this another nail in the coffin of "common wisdom".
December 26, 2007
awesome book that makes the case that entertainment is not only less violent in modern times, but that most public entertainment throughout human history was based around execution and torture. super disturbing. makes me want to start collecting Police Gazettes from the 1890's.
April 2, 2013
Ok, pop culture is violent, big whoop. People are violent.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews