The Dark Knight Rises Tragedy

This is one thing I think most writers worry about; someone using the image of a character in their story to commit an unspeakable act of violence.  Now, I know the gunman in Friday's early morning shootings couldn't have possibly seen the movie beforehand.  He may have seen the trailers and clips, but that was the very first showing of it in his area.  My husband argued that he could have seen a pirated version of it.  I countered that it was unlikely.  Obviously, there was a lot of planning that went into this; from the clothing he wore to wiring his apartment.  It isn't always one thing, like seeing a movie or comic series, that causes someone to flip out and go on a rampage.  It's usually a multitude of things.  Clearly, there is something seriously wrong and people missed the warning signs.

My husband and I have argued for years about action films and how he thinks those films influence people to do things like that.  Sure, a movie can seem very real when watching it on the big screen.  But, when you access the special features on the DVD and watch the making of, you realize that the weapons are plastic or rubber, the gun shots are added in later with the sound, as well as the explosions with special effects.  One other important thing to remember is that the actors and stunt people, in which their characters they portray have died in the scene, get back up again when the director says, "Cut."  That is the big difference between fiction and reality.

People seem so quick to blame the arts when tragedies like this occur.  Has anyone ever considered that maybe the media is also to blame?  I mean, when they constantly talk about all these shootings, going into every horrid detail, is it not possible that someone unstable could be influence by it?  They could be seeking publicity and what a way to gain it!

It's sad when going to the movies isn't safe anymore.  Imagine the horror those poor movie-goers had to endure.  Think of all those people who were excited about seeing the midnight premiere, probably waited for weeks, maybe even months, for the opening night.  And someone deeply troubled took that all away from them.  He took it all away from the people who made that movie, as well.

I still plan to see The Dark Knight Rises.  I have been a fan of Gary Oldman since I first saw him in Dracula.  Christian Bale since I saw him in Reign of Fire.  If you wish to see the movie, don't let this stop you.  Don't let this senseless act take it away from you, too.

Veronica