Why are energy weapons seen as more acceptable in children's shows than guns that fire bullets?
This is a question about the real-world factors that have influenced the development of science fiction and television for children.
In children's television (as well as movies), especially animation, there is a strong tendency toward using science fiction (or sometimes fantasy) energy weapons instead of more realistic weapons that fire projectiles. The leads to things like DC superhero cartoons, such as Superman (1988), featuring villains with laster pistols, even when the rest of the shows' technology is quite realistic; or Hank the ranger of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon shooting yellow energy bolts from his bow, rather than arrows. (The fact that He-Man never seems to actually attack anybody with his magical sword, instead using it to deflect enemies' energy beams, is probably related.)
I know that this the energy weapons appear because they were considered less violent or disturbing than realistic slug-throwing weapons. But I would like to have a clearer picture of how it was decided that guns with bullets were worse. Was it because there would be more blood and body wounds with guns? Was it because there were worries that children would imitate characters they saw using guns? And how was the decision made that these were important concerns?
tv science-fiction-genre
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
add a comment |
This is a question about the real-world factors that have influenced the development of science fiction and television for children.
In children's television (as well as movies), especially animation, there is a strong tendency toward using science fiction (or sometimes fantasy) energy weapons instead of more realistic weapons that fire projectiles. The leads to things like DC superhero cartoons, such as Superman (1988), featuring villains with laster pistols, even when the rest of the shows' technology is quite realistic; or Hank the ranger of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon shooting yellow energy bolts from his bow, rather than arrows. (The fact that He-Man never seems to actually attack anybody with his magical sword, instead using it to deflect enemies' energy beams, is probably related.)
I know that this the energy weapons appear because they were considered less violent or disturbing than realistic slug-throwing weapons. But I would like to have a clearer picture of how it was decided that guns with bullets were worse. Was it because there would be more blood and body wounds with guns? Was it because there were worries that children would imitate characters they saw using guns? And how was the decision made that these were important concerns?
tv science-fiction-genre
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
2
Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago
add a comment |
This is a question about the real-world factors that have influenced the development of science fiction and television for children.
In children's television (as well as movies), especially animation, there is a strong tendency toward using science fiction (or sometimes fantasy) energy weapons instead of more realistic weapons that fire projectiles. The leads to things like DC superhero cartoons, such as Superman (1988), featuring villains with laster pistols, even when the rest of the shows' technology is quite realistic; or Hank the ranger of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon shooting yellow energy bolts from his bow, rather than arrows. (The fact that He-Man never seems to actually attack anybody with his magical sword, instead using it to deflect enemies' energy beams, is probably related.)
I know that this the energy weapons appear because they were considered less violent or disturbing than realistic slug-throwing weapons. But I would like to have a clearer picture of how it was decided that guns with bullets were worse. Was it because there would be more blood and body wounds with guns? Was it because there were worries that children would imitate characters they saw using guns? And how was the decision made that these were important concerns?
tv science-fiction-genre
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
This is a question about the real-world factors that have influenced the development of science fiction and television for children.
In children's television (as well as movies), especially animation, there is a strong tendency toward using science fiction (or sometimes fantasy) energy weapons instead of more realistic weapons that fire projectiles. The leads to things like DC superhero cartoons, such as Superman (1988), featuring villains with laster pistols, even when the rest of the shows' technology is quite realistic; or Hank the ranger of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon shooting yellow energy bolts from his bow, rather than arrows. (The fact that He-Man never seems to actually attack anybody with his magical sword, instead using it to deflect enemies' energy beams, is probably related.)
I know that this the energy weapons appear because they were considered less violent or disturbing than realistic slug-throwing weapons. But I would like to have a clearer picture of how it was decided that guns with bullets were worse. Was it because there would be more blood and body wounds with guns? Was it because there were worries that children would imitate characters they saw using guns? And how was the decision made that these were important concerns?
tv science-fiction-genre
tv science-fiction-genre
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
asked 34 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
37.2k6126203
2
Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago
add a comment |
2
Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago
2
2
Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago
Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The Comic Code Authority restricted the amount of blood and gore that could be depicted, starting in the mid-1950s.
Thus, it was simpler in comics to have an energy weapon that vaporized enemies than a kinetic one that splattered them. And remember, this was also the dawn of the atomic age when we thought we’d all be flying personal atomic airplanes to work. I have no doubt that merchandising also played a role, there are more possibilities for selling fancy energy weapon toys than boring old pistols replicas.
Well after the heyday of the CCA, we still feel energy weapons are superior to slug throwers due to their extensive use in sci-fi comics.
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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votes
The Comic Code Authority restricted the amount of blood and gore that could be depicted, starting in the mid-1950s.
Thus, it was simpler in comics to have an energy weapon that vaporized enemies than a kinetic one that splattered them. And remember, this was also the dawn of the atomic age when we thought we’d all be flying personal atomic airplanes to work. I have no doubt that merchandising also played a role, there are more possibilities for selling fancy energy weapon toys than boring old pistols replicas.
Well after the heyday of the CCA, we still feel energy weapons are superior to slug throwers due to their extensive use in sci-fi comics.
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
add a comment |
The Comic Code Authority restricted the amount of blood and gore that could be depicted, starting in the mid-1950s.
Thus, it was simpler in comics to have an energy weapon that vaporized enemies than a kinetic one that splattered them. And remember, this was also the dawn of the atomic age when we thought we’d all be flying personal atomic airplanes to work. I have no doubt that merchandising also played a role, there are more possibilities for selling fancy energy weapon toys than boring old pistols replicas.
Well after the heyday of the CCA, we still feel energy weapons are superior to slug throwers due to their extensive use in sci-fi comics.
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
add a comment |
The Comic Code Authority restricted the amount of blood and gore that could be depicted, starting in the mid-1950s.
Thus, it was simpler in comics to have an energy weapon that vaporized enemies than a kinetic one that splattered them. And remember, this was also the dawn of the atomic age when we thought we’d all be flying personal atomic airplanes to work. I have no doubt that merchandising also played a role, there are more possibilities for selling fancy energy weapon toys than boring old pistols replicas.
Well after the heyday of the CCA, we still feel energy weapons are superior to slug throwers due to their extensive use in sci-fi comics.
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
The Comic Code Authority restricted the amount of blood and gore that could be depicted, starting in the mid-1950s.
Thus, it was simpler in comics to have an energy weapon that vaporized enemies than a kinetic one that splattered them. And remember, this was also the dawn of the atomic age when we thought we’d all be flying personal atomic airplanes to work. I have no doubt that merchandising also played a role, there are more possibilities for selling fancy energy weapon toys than boring old pistols replicas.
Well after the heyday of the CCA, we still feel energy weapons are superior to slug throwers due to their extensive use in sci-fi comics.
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
answered 25 mins ago
RoboKarenRoboKaren
1,75811235
1,75811235
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Another good example: All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989), a story about anthropomorphic Depression-era mobsters, uses a "thermal atomic ray gun" instead of a "real" gun, even though it otherwise features murder by blunt-force trauma, slavery, and torture.
– Robert Columbia
28 mins ago