Teenager stabs friend after playing Call Of Duty

An article about a boy who plays a lot of video games, attacking his friend.  He is in court on trial at the moment and this story has re-ignited the row about video games causing violent behaviour.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2318846/13-year-old-Xbox-player-slashed-friends-throat-knife-row-met-online-playing-ultra-violent-game-Gears-War-3.html

Christian Dior Adverts and Airbrushing

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2221757/Natalie-Portman-ad-Christian-Dior-mascara-banned-misleading-women-thinking-gave-lusher-lashes.html


The latest Christian Dior mascara advert has been banned for misleading audiences due to the extreme photo manipulation (digital retouching) of the eyelashes.   Should adverts be retouched?  What effect do you think this retouching has on an audience?

Video Games and Violence

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2249308/Obama-advisor-attacks-showing-violent-video-game-adverts-wake-Sandy-Hook-massacre.html 


What do you think?  Are violent video games encouraging real life violence?  What are the theorists arguments for and against?  Can you find other examples of video game institutions marketing murder as "fun"?

Some people are calling for a ban on video games like Call Of Duty..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2250811/Sandy-Hook-shooting-reignites-debate-violent-video-games.html 

New Film Censorship Rules for Violent Films

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246216/At-censors-crack-sexually-violent-films-corrupt-teenage-boys-minds.html


Do you agree?  Do violent films corrupt people?  Should films be censored (eg have parts removed) or does that stop the audience being able to see the whole "artistic message" of the director?  Could you come up with an argument for and against the censorship of films using media theorists to back up your points?  Theorists to think about are Bandura, Ross and Ross as well as Frankfurt School, Stuart Hall, David Gauntlett etc..