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
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
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
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 4 mins ago
BuzzBuzz
37.2k6126203
37.2k6126203
add a comment |
add a comment |
0
active
oldest
votes
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "186"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f205557%2fwhy-are-energy-weapons-seen-as-more-acceptable-in-childrens-shows-than-guns-tha%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
0
active
oldest
votes
0
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f205557%2fwhy-are-energy-weapons-seen-as-more-acceptable-in-childrens-shows-than-guns-tha%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown