"Meld" seems to imply that mere contact with a violent person could evoke violent urges in an originally peaceful person. This is similar to the werewolf mythos, which offers a view of violence caught through an animal bite, like rabies. Opinions?
"Meld" and violence as a contagion
- Thread starter kissthestar
- Start date
Its not a stretch...The classic 1963 Bandura experiment showed that children who observed adults acting violently againts a doll did themselves act violently againts the doll and not only that they continued to act aggressively without reinforcement.
I hadn't heard of that one.
But, the episode also implied that we seek out violence if there is none present, that some of us must have it to survive. Remember, there was whole underground network of people trading stories with violence in them.
I'd say this indicates that people need a balance instead of extremes. The episode also implied that though policing was really ineffective because there will always be some who will find ways around it.
I'm not sure it was really showing that violence is contagious. The old lady who acted out did so on her own. We later found out that she was one of the underground people who had been reading the violent stories for a while. I think that underground showed that some people are naturally inclined toward more violent behaviour than others. As such, she was was who was.
It wasn't because of the art she was reading. What she had been reading was a reflection of herself.
I'd say this indicates that people need a balance instead of extremes. The episode also implied that though policing was really ineffective because there will always be some who will find ways around it.
I'm not sure it was really showing that violence is contagious. The old lady who acted out did so on her own. We later found out that she was one of the underground people who had been reading the violent stories for a while. I think that underground showed that some people are naturally inclined toward more violent behaviour than others. As such, she was was who was.
It wasn't because of the art she was reading. What she had been reading was a reflection of herself.
Well isn't that the problem with all Utopias? They are boring!
So we are designed to seek out new [violent] life and new [violent] civilizations?
Only if they're weak enough for us to kick their ass. Otherwise, yay peace!
People,
I think this was one of the best eps of VOY. It tackled a subject that is still controversial: How much does violent content affect the behavior of others? Also, it showed how legislating such behavior can be self-defeating. As with that society, it simply goes underground. I esp. enjoyed the scene where Tuvok takes over the meld and forces the ringleader to experience violence directed at him. He got more than he bargained for!
Oh, and BTW, the ep you're referring to here featuring the Mari is called Random Thoughts. Meld is the ep where Tuvok melds with Betazed Lon Suder to find out why he committed murder.
Red Ranger
I think this was one of the best eps of VOY. It tackled a subject that is still controversial: How much does violent content affect the behavior of others? Also, it showed how legislating such behavior can be self-defeating. As with that society, it simply goes underground. I esp. enjoyed the scene where Tuvok takes over the meld and forces the ringleader to experience violence directed at him. He got more than he bargained for!
Oh, and BTW, the ep you're referring to here featuring the Mari is called Random Thoughts. Meld is the ep where Tuvok melds with Betazed Lon Suder to find out why he committed murder.
Red Ranger
I was referring to the Arts of dystopias as found in Brave New World and others...Life wouldn't exist without violence our bodies immune system constantly destroys microbes eveyday to keep us alive.
Last edited:
We think with our brains, not our antibodies.
Similar threads
