Film Violence

* Re “Real Blood Isn’t Shed in the Movies,” by Alexander Cockburn, Column Left, May 19:

While there may be some basis for Cockburn’s assertion that poverty and war have an effect on creating violent children, I believe these causes to be debatable in part. If movie and TV violence is not a major force in sucking in our impressionable youth, then why waste billions of dollars yearly sucking them in with advertising? Could it be that Joe Camel is just whistling Dixie by trying to entice children to light up?

Anyone who believes youngsters don’t try to emulate some of the violence they see in the movies or on TV is either in the business of making violent images or a lobbyist for the Land of Make Believe. I believe the evolution of violence on big and little screens to the morbid and graphic state in which it now exists has a lot more to do with influencing children than Cockburn is willing to admit.

PHILLIP J. FESTA

Upland