George Gerbner Cultivation Theory and dramatic violence

Dramatic Violence is defined by George Gerbner as " The overt expression of physical force (with or without a weapon, against self or others) compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt and / or killed or threatened to be so victimized as part of the plot"(Griffin, 350). Most Dramas that have violence in them have an average 5 violent incidents per viewing hour. And there is 20 cases an hour of mayhem on weekend children's shows. George Gerbner is also the director of the Cultural Indicators research project which for over 20 years has selected a week to videotape ever prime-time Network show as well as programming for children on Saturday and Sunday. they have found that " By the time the typical TV viewer graduates from High School, he or she has observed thirteen thousand violent deaths.

This clip from TVs LOST shows all Deaths from season 3


On a TV drama Gerbner says that it is risky to be " other than White" and also female. It is believed that old people and children are harmed at a much greater rate than are young or middle-aged people, also that African Americans and hispanics are beaten or killed more than their Caucasian counterparts. Gerbner's analysis of television records show that 50 Percent of the people on TV are white males. Women are outnumbered 3 to 1. But the most excluded minority is by far the elderly which only make up 3 Percent. the Cultural Indicator project reveals that the margins of amercain society are put into harms way more then others. when written into the script they are put there to be a victim.