The Origins of Violence
Photo by Andrew Coop on Unsplash
Fantasy
Some have suggested that writers who want to have their work read by the public should cater to the demand for teen fantasy, which is the trend. Although I’m happy that teens are reading at all, the most popular type of teen fantasy involves violence, among other themes. I have to confess I have read none of these books because I’m well past my teen years. Perhaps a new trend involving teen aspirations should start by some clever person. It must be something that absorbs the anger and frustration young people feel, particularly during their teen years.
Safety in Fear
With all that young adults have to contend with in the teen years, we can excuse them for losing themselves in violent stories. I remember, growing up on a lonely timber estate, that we spent the most exciting evenings glued to the radio set, listening to scary stories. I guess that hasn’t changed for youngsters today; that need to feel afraid in order to feel safe? I suspect it’s instinctive. It may sound like a paradox, but perhaps we cannot feel secure unless we know what fear is?
Violence at School
What happens though, when violence is not channeled into some fantasy going on in our heads? Is that the origin of young violence in schools today? Not enough fantasy violence, or is the fantasy being played out when the story is over? Whatever the attraction to violent fantasy, I think it is something worth exploring. I will attempt to do so starting with Susan Collins: Hunger Games.
Photo by Jerry Zhang on Unsplash
Sport
On another note, playing a sport can be a way to use pent-up energy. Young people often have more than enough pent-up energy, and half of the time they don’t know what to do with it. However, the competition that sport generates often creates such violence that it defeats the original purpose. The need to win, driven by greed of the club-mentality variety, often focuses on the bottom line.
Purpose
This not only defeats the purpose of sporting, but it also turns the vast majority of people into couch potatoes. This type of sports fan thinks if you are cheering your teams on, then you take part in the sport. This makes it unnecessary to do anything about lazy ways. I think we need to put the word, play back into sports. The entire nation must go out to play for the sheer fun of it, but we must start at public schools.
A Healthy Mind
All education ministers in South Africa take note–bring back the balance, that the concept of a healthy body is a healthy mind, taught. Bring back Physical Education Training in schools, and perhaps the violence in school will lessen. I can preach now about the value of an active life because I’ve learned the hard way. A physiotherapist showed me that without a balance between active and sedentary living, you can literally become crippled. I spend too much time seated when I write and this slows down circulation. So apart from finding out more about the Hunger Games, I will also try to keep fit. Until next time this is…
Lynda Rogle©
