Has the media desensitized domestic violence?

Shelbi Ware
Staff Writer

Domestic violence has been displayed in the media for years. Some of the most popular movies, music videos, and TV shows are engrossed with domestic violence.

Has media’s constant depictions of this crime made this social ill the norm? When asked to give an example of domestic violence in the entertainment industry, most Jackson State University students surveyed, rattled off example after example without hesitation. Here are some of the most memorable movies with domestic violence scenes.

1. “Sleeping With the Enemy”: In this movie, Laura and Martin have been married for four years. They seem to be the perfect, happiest and most successful couple. The reality of their household, however, is very different. Martin is an abusive and brutally obsessed husband. Laura is living her life in constant fear and waits for a chance to escape. She finally stages her own death, and flees to a new town and new identity. But when Martin finds out that his wife is not dead he will stop at nothing to find and kill her.

2. “What’s Love Got to do With It”:  This ever so popular movie depicts the very public life of Ike and Tina Turner. Tina is a supportive and talented wife that soon becomes a punching bag. The increasingly violent and unstable husband, Ike, has no care in the world for neither his wife’s happiness nor safety. He is verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive. “”Eat the cake Annie Mae” a chilling line from the movie can be heard on any given day.

3. “Temptation”: Tyler Perry’s hit movie is a lesson for many viewers. Judith, an ambitious and beautiful wife is tempted and soon drawn to an abusive and manipulating billionaire. Her husband and childhood sweetheart Brice must save her from her abusive lover and also herself. After Harley beats Judith so badly, she soon finds out she has contracted HIV and lost her one true love. She then becomes a marriage counselor to save young naïve girls like she once was.

4. “The Color Purple”: One of the most famous and repeated lines in the movie, “You told Harpo to beat me..All my life I had to fight my daddy, fight my uncle, a woman ain’t safe in her own home. I loves Harpo, God knows I do, but I KILLEM’ DEAD before I let him beat me.” This movie encompassed domestic violence, incest, rape and much more, however, when many repeat the famous line above, it is with humor.

As the month of October and the recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness comes to a close, sit back and monitor what you watch and listen to. It is up to the individual to make sure you do not turn a blind eye to the plight of the 1.3 million women who are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.