Kurt Sutter
created the hit television series, Sons
of Anarchy. A close-knit group of
outlaw motorcyclists who operate a small town called Charming in California. It
is centered around Jax Teller the now President of Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle
Club, Redwood Original (SAMCRO). The series premiered on September 3, 2008, and
had their newest 6th season begin on September 10, 2013. Through many different evil rapes,
decapitated victims, murders, and many other hardships, SAMCRO works to protect
and control the community of Charming through close relationships, bribery, and
violence. The viewers are rooting for this group of criminals throughout the
whole series. Why is it these characters can commit crimes and in the end still
be viewed as “good guys”?
In the 6th season opener, Sutter was took the show
to all new heights by having an 11-year-old boy shoot up a school. Viewers
could hear the terror and see blood spatter on the window from the murdered
teachers and students. Something that has hit so close to home in recent times
due to the Colorado Movie Theater shooting and Sandy Hook Elementary School, is
now being used in television plots. Gun violence has sky rocketed in television
and movies in recent years and according to a study on gun violence in movies,
authors “predict that youth will be more interested in acquiring and using guns
after exposure to gun violence in films”.
(HERE). Although, I’m sure most parents aren’t allowing younger children
to view this television series, adults are committing these crimes as well.
This is also a common fear many people face today. There is always a thought in
the back of people’s mind on their safety, and if you go anywhere today that
are some sort of security system you must go through. If Sutter really wanted
to make a “school shooting” episode of Son’s
of Anarchy, there are better ways he could have portrayed this. Why
not make the members of SAMCRO realize the troubles they have caused and the possibility
that it could have been their children, and get out of the gun-running
business? It goes on to Gemma
Teller wrapping a toy gun as a gift for a young boy. In the eyes of SAMCRO,
weapons, violence, and sex are what defines masculinity.
In later episodes, Jax tries to fix the issue of the school
shooting by only thinking of ways they can avoid the blame for this incident.
We are once again rooting for the bad guys that in some way, shape, or form had
provided this gun to the boy’s father and in a way enabled the school shooting.
SAMCRO showed no guilt or involvement with the deaths of these school children,
and as viewers we want to see it work out for these outlaws.
Many viewers didn’t
agree with this episode. Looking to twitter many posted statements including:
“I love SOA but the kid shooting up a school was horrible,
pointless and a terrible influence” - @SGottii810
“That shooting scene was so uncomfortable to watch and I
still don’t understand the significance. #soa” - @maggieee0
“Shame on #FX #classless #insensitive and #poorform to
include school shooting scene in #SOA” - @Pat1018
Through all of these criticisms though, we will hopefully
see SAMCRO start to wrap up and bring everything to an end throughout the end
of season 6 and rest of season 7. The main reason we continue to watch and root
for SAMCRO is how they treat women. Throughout the entire series, through drug
and gun running the women and children were always taken care of. However, the
further and further we get in the episodes, more women are shown getting
rapped, murdered, tortured, and killed.
Will the disgusting scenes and disturbing violence change the
way we feel now? Will our sympathy turn and lose support for the members of
SAMCRO? How is that we support and cheer for this group? As viewers, we are
need to reach that point where we can’t sympathize for these obscene characters
any more If there was an episode that would do it, it has got to be this one.
These antiheroes need to fall in our eyes in or to have that feeling of good
conquering evil. We need to sit back and think about what we
are watching. We are pushed to the edge of our seat to see that we are cheering
for the bad guys.
Does good really trump
evil in Son’s of Anarchy?
Nancy Tartaglione. (November 11, 2013). Gun Violence in U.S.
Movies on the Rise; PG-13 Levels Exceed R-Rated Films: Study. http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/gun-violence-in-u-s-movies-on-the-rise-pg-13-levels-exceed-r-rated-films-study/
Kristen
Acuna. (September 11, 2013). The Internet Reacts to Controversial ‘Sons of
Anarchy’ Season 6 Premiere. http://www.businessinsider.com/sons-of-anarchy-controversial-school-shooting-twitter-reactions-2013-9
@SGottii810.
Twitter.com, http://www.businessinsider.com/sons-of-anarchy-controversial-school-shooting-twitter-reactions-2013-9
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