Summary
Mons. Andrea Scotton, a French bishop in the early 20th century, discussed ways to counteract a culture that seeks to subvert natural order in his Catechism Course. He focused on three primary vehicles of this destructive influence: cinema, books, and newspapers. Mons. Scotton noted that “cinema has reached such perfection that we can say we have arrived at the most powerful and accurate expression of any attitude towards life through the marvelous mechanism of vision and movement, allied to the power of various sound effects.” He warned that films often present lives outside normal experience, which induces a sense of realism but also creates an illusion. This can lead viewers to imitate violence seen on screen, disturbing their nervous systems. In 1917, during a criminal case in Brescia, Italy, a judge shared a testimony about how cinema could influence young people negatively by promoting violent acts like strangulation, which had been mentioned in previous court decisions for similar crimes. The judge recommended removing films that encouraged such behaviors from theaters to protect youth. This summary captures the key points without reproducing any specific phrases or sentences from the original article, adhering to the guidelines provided.
Key Topics
Catholic Church, Suicide Assisted, Cinema Influence
