A Market for Cruelty 1996

A Market for Cruelty
The debate surrounding the effect of violence in the media has become more and more pertinent as violence on television increases. Television drama is more graphic, news reports increasingly have become a hunt for sensations and ‘reality-tv’ satisfies our voyeurism for violence and fear. A Market for Cruelty is an extensive programme developed by the Goethe Institute which provides insights into and raises questions about these issues.

Whilst the programme is mainly devoted to the study of television in Germany it is undoubtedly relevant to much of the world’s media including that of New Zealand.

“…the Goethe Institute is attempting to make it’s contribution to the years of discussion about the way television deals with the social phenomenon of violence. …this package does attempt to illustrate the entire spectrum of the presence of direct and indirect violence starting with the news broadcasts, via fictional violence right up to self-reflections of the media.”
Dr Norbert Spitz
Broadcasting and Visual Communication Dept
Goethe Institute, Munich

A selection from the 18 programme package will be screened at the University of Otago and the Waikato Museum of Art & History during October. The screenings will also be accompanied by discussions of the issues raised in the programmes.

Auckland screening- Massey University, Albany Campus February 18th

A Market for Cruelty is presented by the Moving Image Centre in association with the Goethe Institute, Wellington.