This MoviePush blogpost is partly based on speculation, but I
think it raises a good question and therefore thought it was worth blogging
about.
(Apparently) Netflix were planning to surprise launch the
new Marvel series The Punisher on the streaming service this weekend (Oct 7),
after debuting the first episode at New York Comic Con during a panel focused
on the series. However, following the incident in Las Vegas, that panel was
cancelled and as a result The Punisher’s launch has been delayed.
The above story isn’t 100% confirmed, but it is being widely
reported, and whether it is or isn’t true doesn’t really change what I want to
blog about specifically. This blogpost is more about the general principle of not
releasing violent content in the wake of real-life violence and tragic events.
So here we go…
Now of course, the decision to delay the release of a TV series that focuses on a vigilante who uses high-powered weaponry and guns after the events in Las Vegas is absolutely the right decision.
Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to The Punisher, so
I was disappointed to hear it was “delayed” but completely understand why it would
have been.
However, the reason I’m blogging this, is really looking at the
principle of that type of decision. Yes, Netflix have (allegedly) delayed the
series because it wouldn’t be appropriate to release such a series so close to
such a tragic event. It’s not uncommon for media that features fictional content
that’s very similar to recent real world tragedies to be held back for a later
date.
But then, when does that ever not become the case? Especially in the case of gun violence.
I read a report a few days ago that referenced that there is
a mass shooting in America almost every day. The Gun Violence Archive reported
that in the first 275 days of 2017, there had been 273 mass shootings in America; Mass
shootings being defined as “4 or more people, not including the shooter, are
shot and/or killed in the same incident.” Now most of these are not as
high profile as the Las Vegas incident, as they’re not getting the same level
of media coverage or have the same level of loss of life. But they are still
happening upsettingly frequently and are all tragic events (no matter how big
or small).
My point being, is there ever really an appropriate time to
release a show like The Punisher in the current climate? As arguably there is
always going to be someone impacted by a recent mass shooting, whether
or not it’s on the front page of news media.
What would have happened if The Punisher had launched a week
earlier, a couple of days before the tragedy. The content would have been in
the public domain, so would they have pulled the content from Netflix in the
wake of the incident. I’m not sure…
If it becomes a decision made purely based on the scale of
such an attack and/or timing, then you have to question whether the decision is
made from an ethical perspective or a PR one. Is it purely about timing and
association?
I’m not sure I have the answer, but it’s definitely worth
thinking about.
What are you're thoughts?
Written by @RossBishop for MoviePush. Follow Ross on Twitter.
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