By Ms. Warren
Yeah, I saw Training Day with Denzel Washington. And no, this is not a movie review. I just feel inspired to share how deeply this movie affected me in light of all the tragedy that has engulfed our society and sensibilities recently.
In brief, this movie centered on a corrupt cop, portrayed by Denzel, whose overwhelming violent tendencies, self-absorption and degradation surprised me. Of course the negative karmic path he moved through eventually destroyed him. His rookie in training set him up to be killed by gang on a path of revenge, which climaxed with Denzel being utterly destroyed in a hail of bullets stemming from approximately 5-7 people.
Now, all in all I am used to these formulaic shoot 'em up, beat 'em up movies. I guess I would call it desensitized. As a matter of fact, I like a movie with some action and gratuitous violence is all part of the package. But as I left the movie, a loyal Denzel fan and action movie buff, I found myself in a suspended state of feeling or emotion. I sort of felt blank. And as the day progressed I grew progressively melancholy and slightly depressed. As I tried to figure out just why I had elapse into such a rut, especially on the first day of a looked forwarded to three-day weekend, the realization hit me. What I was feeling was an unnerving reaction to the film intensely related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
I am well aware that the film industry stopped the premiere of many movies that showed the World Trade Center, terrorist activities and crashing planes, as well as waited a few weeks before bringing movies like Training Day to the public arena. But I am quite perplexed. Because was it not the gratuitous violence tied to delusional selfish goals that rocked our world? The same violent configuration exemplified in this film.
In reflecting back to the "day of destruction" there are the terrorists and crashing planes that left a multitude a people dead, dying and grieving. The terrorists as individuals feeling powerful, in control and untouchable, taking life gratuitously in the name of some righteous cause - selfish, sick and delusional justice. And then in Training Day there is Denzel's character - the king, the ruler, showing his small world that all inhabitants are subjected his control and killing as a means to some selfish end, which he thought was tied to his aim of ridding the streets of evil. In addition, to his costar, the rookie setting him up to die as means to his selfish end - retribution for a higher cause - Denzel had to die for his corrupt ways.
At this time, my question is why does our society feel so comfortable in the continual output of movies that depict violence and destruction? Yes, the movie industry's attempt to consider our feelings was admirable by delaying releases and curbing the show of images that would ignite painful memories. In thinking critically about the vocal decision of the film industry not to depict terrorist plots or show images of artifacts tied to the terrorist attacks, it is in a way defining for us what should trigger bad memories. To see the World Trade Center, terrorists taking over a plane and then some, based on the film industry's opinion, would make us get upset, bring up bad memories. And based on their decision, they are telling us where to focus our grief - what should emotionally disturb us.
But this upsetness, so to speak, is not totally tied to the blantant display of terrorism or images that relate to the terrorist attacks on September 11th. It would seem that the overwhelming gratuitous violence enacted in the name of some self (well, national/religious) righteous cause is also an extremely important factor. It is the basis, the fundamental aspect of the entire event. This basis, theme, storyline will continue to be repeated in movies regardless of the "trigger" images or movies that have terrorism as a storyline. But how come no one even thinks about that, that it would also bother some of us? Perhaps more of us than could ever be realized.
With the horrific occurrences overwhelming our nation and world, a step back is necessary and reevaluation of values needs to take place. What type of society are we living in where we are completely destroyed emotionally by real life violence (albeit our country is set upon revenge) and laud violence through media? Or for that manner have absolutely no trepidation in seeing a flick that has a massive amount of violence.
For me, Training Day, summed up the disturbing conundrum in which our society exists. How can we ever overcome and rise above hurt and pain if the main components of the tragic events, death, destruction, revenge, sick self-righteousness and tainted justice, are constantly shoved down our throats by the film industry? Those ideas epitomize our real life horror show on September 11 and will forever jog the memory of what occurred no matter what.
Until We Meet Again,
Peace
Besides freelance writing, Ms. Warren holds a Master's Degree in Media Ecology. Currently, she teaches Rhetoric at New York University and Media Culture studies at The College of Staten Island. Ms. Warren also teaches computer literacy to elementary school students within the New York (NY) Parochial and Public School Systems, as well as serves as a vendor to the NY Board of Education in Multicultural Education. Next year ('02) she will be attending a Speech Communication Doctoral Program to further her studies of Rhetoric and Intercultural Communication as related to computer technology and the African Diaspora.