Death on the Small Screen: The Psychology of Viewing Violent Television

by Jonathan F. Bassett

Overview

Mortality remains a taboo topic in much of Western society, but death and violence continue to be staples of popular television. We can better understand the appeal of violence by investigating psychological theories surrounding anxiety about death and the defenses we use to manage that anxiety. This book examines five recent television series--Game of Thrones,The Punisher, Jessica Jones, Sons of Anarchy and Hannibal--and shows how fictional characters' motivations teach viewers about both the constructive and destructive ways we try to deal with our own mortality.

Instead of dismissing violent television as harmless entertainment or completely condemning it as a dangerous trigger of hostile behavior, this book shows its effects on viewers in a more nuanced manner. It provides a new perspective on the enjoyment of violent television, enhancing fans' appreciation and sparking ongoing discussions about their value to both the individual and society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476648040
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/12/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	212
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jonathan F. Bassett, PhD is a professor of psychology at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, where he teaches courses on death and dying. His research focuses on the application of existential psychology, especially Terror Management Theory, to the analysis of popular culture in the areas of literature, television and movies.
Jonathan F. Bassett, PhD is a professor of psychology at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina where he teaches courses on death and dying. His research focuses on the application of existential psychology, especially Terror Management Theory, to the analysis of popular culture in the areas of literature, television, and movies.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. Dying to Watch: The Role of Death Anxiety in the Appeal of Fictional Violence
2. The Paramount Place of Death in Human Psychology: An Overview of Terror Management Theory
3. Applying TMT to Illumine the Motives for and Reactions to Fictional Violence
4. There Is Only One Thing We Say to Death—Not Today: Battling Existential Terror in HBO’s Game of Thrones
5. Death-Denying (Super)heroism: Gender, Trauma, and Violence in Marvel’s The Punisher on Netflix
6. Death-Confronting (Super)heroism: Facing Existential and Social Problems in Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix
7. Moral and Existential Dilemmas and the Quest for Death Transcendence in the FX Television Series Sons of Anarchy
8. Giving Voice to the Unmentionable: The Appeal of Transcending Mortality and Corporeality in the NBC Television Series Hannibal
Final Thoughts
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

An original and timely interpretation of our cultural preoccupation with violence on television, its psychological appeal as well as individual and social impact.”—Jennifer L. McMahon, Professor of Philosophy and English, East Central University

From the Publisher