Does This Photo Glorify Violence?
NOTE: I realize this is a controversial subject and I am letting you know right up front that I intend to share my unvarnished opinion. It may not agree with your own. I know there are two sides to this story, but I have my side and see no reason to stop doing what I am doing. Read ahead with that disclaimer in mind.
One of the things I greatly dislike about the internet is the fact that it is populated by lots of people who want to steal joy. They are usually miserable people who think the only way they can make it through life is to drag others down with them.
So I got my first toy photography troll! I have lots of trolls who have followed me over the years. I have more than 200,000 Twitter followers. It’s safe to say 1.5 to 2.00 percent of them are there to troll me. I don’t understand what value it brings to their lives but I have come to accept it. I just block them since there’s nothing I can do to help them — after all, I am not the Jackass Whisperer. . .
But enough fun and games.
Violence is a serious subject and I want to address the fact that someone accused me of “glorifying violence’ by posting this picture. I will still use some humor here because I think it’s appropriate. Stick with me because I will also deliver a more serious take on the subject.
In a nutshell — I do not believe that my photo of an imaginary, plastic elf holding two one-inch long plastic long swords (yes — I know all elves are imaginary but I added that for effect) is glorifying violence. This is a toy! It’s six-inches tall and posed inside a 3D printed tree trunk with a human face on it (also imaginary.)
There’s a part of me that thinks this is simple parody or maybe an attempt at comedy but the guy was serious. My picture triggered him. Now before I go on, I am genuinely sorry he feels that way but I am not sorry about posting the photograph and I am not going to stop posting such photographs. It’s not my intention to offend anyone. I am just trying to have fun. This is joy for me. If it is not fun or joy for you or someone else, then my advice is to simply disengage. Move along. There’s nothing for you here. I don’t want you to have to see things that bother you so just stop following me, clicking on my links, looking at my posts, etc.
It’s like television. If you don’t don’t like R-rated movies, then don’t watch them. We all have built-in censorship devices. Use the remote — change the channel. But don’t scream at the sky about the R-rated movie. NOBODY IS FORCING YOU TO WATCH!
It saddens me a little that some people are so triggered. But I don’t think it’s fair for them to try to steal my joy. I do what I do because it’s fun for me. I hope some of you find it fun too. We are talking about toys here!
I do want to take a serious moment and break down the dictionary definition of the words he used.
1. Glorify
2. Violence
According to dictionary.com — GLORIFY means:
verb (used with object), glo·ri·fied, glo·ri·fy·ing.
to cause to be or treat as being more splendid, excellent, etc., than would normally be considered.
to honor with praise, admiration, or worship; extol.
to make glorious; invest with glory.
to praise the glory of (God), especially as an act of worship.
I do not believe posting a photograph of a six-inch tall, imaginary toy figure with an imaginary toy sword in his hands meets that standard but maybe you do.
According to dictionary.com — VIOLENCE means:
noun
swift and intense force:
the violence of a storm.
rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment:
to die by violence.
an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws:
to take over a government by violence.
a violent act or proceeding.
rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language:
the violence of his hatred.
damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration:
to do editorial violence to a text.
Again, I do not believe posting a photograph of a six-inch tall, imaginary toy figure meets that standard but maybe you do.
The toy elf is simply sitting in a toy tree. He’s not hurting anyone. But of course even if he was, that would be IMAGINARY since we’re talking about TOYS!
I do understand some people are particularly tender-hearted or acutely concerned about violence. I am actually one of those people. But I am able to tell the difference between toys and the real world. Some people apparently lack that skill.
I do have my own standards. They belong to me and came from my heart. I do not modify my conduct to conform to other people’s opinions. But I also don’t post pictures of actual militaristic characters like GI Joe — nor do I post wrestling or boxing figures. I don’t post pictures of tanks or bombs. You get it. There is a line there for me personally and that’s where I draw it. It’s not a big deal. I don’t make a big THING out of it. It’s just not as much fun for me so I don’t do it.
I do post pictures where there are imaginary weapons in the hands of imaginary action figures because I am not really a photographer. I am a storyteller. And ALL good stories have CONFLICT. In fact, it’s an absolutely required component of ANY good story.
Don’t take my word for it. Use your search engine and type in — “conflict is a required element of a good story” — as you see, universally, conflict is recognized as a key element to a good story.
So in my photos, which I like to style as motion pictures that contain only one frame — I have to have an element of tension or conflict. Holding a spear or a gun or other weapon implies such conflict.
But I am willing to admit I may be wrong in some people’s eyes. But here’s the MOST IMPORTANT PART TO THIS STORY…
By claiming that photos of imaginary, six-inch tall, plastic, toy elves, bearing tiny plastic swords, is “glorifying violence” I think you are actually doing those who have suffered REAL violence a huge disservice. You are MINIMIZING violence which is as bad or worse than glorifying violence.
You see, I know a thing or two about actual, real, pain-inflicting, life-changing violence because I have been a victim of such violence. And not just a couple of times — but throughout my life.
As I shared here over the past weekend, my parents beat me so badly that as a child, I made multiple trips to the hospital. (In the 1950s hospital staff were not as well trained or aware of the complications that attend violence against children so the police weren’t called and the parents were free to continue the violence.)
My first actual memory is of being hit by a hot poker from our fire place by my mother. I was in diapers.
It didn’t stop there. And I won’t bore you with the details but I have been beaten up, stabbed, and shot in my life. I also played football, which is one of the most violent sports around and during that time regularly had my nose or ribs broken. Broke my leg. Lost teeth, etc. In college I rode a motorcycle. A fellow who didn’t seem to like motorcycles ran me into a ditch, totally destroying my bike, giving me a concussion and leaving me with yet another hospital stay.
I could go on but it serves no purpose. I have made my point. I know what REAL violence is all about. By conflating what I do (making photographs of LITERAL TOYS — imaginary figures in imaginary settings) with actual violence, you minimize the real deal. Those who hold that view in fact engage in the trivialization of actual violence. I think it’s dangerous and foolish. I also think it is insensitive and a slap in the face to all who suffered real violence.
CONCLUSION
I’ve seen this come up before in other forums and I knew that eventually I might be subject to it. But I’ve made my decision. My path to toy/action-figure photography has been a joyous one. And I know for a fact that others (not masses of people but enough that it matters) are enjoying my work. So I will not stop. I will not let anyone steal my joy.
At the same time, I do want to assure folks who are bothered by my toy photography that there is a simple solution for them. They can merely block or unfollow me. I do not wish to cause them any anguish. I really do not. I know this can be real for some people. I don’t understand it but I recognize it. That said, I still refuse to let them or the others who are just trolls expressing their desire for faux outrage — ruin my fun.
So be forewarned, I will continue in my quest and will continue to post these images. And I sincerely hope that you enjoy what I do and enjoy seeing me have fun with it. I repeat. I am sorry if someone finds my work offensive. But I will not stop.
Yes — I am going to close this article like I do all my articles because my opinion is unchanged.
Remember — toys are joy.
