University of Kwazulu-Natal

Trigger Warnings Aren T Spoilers Or Needlessly Woke They Collider

Bonisiwe Shabane
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trigger warnings aren t spoilers or needlessly woke they collider

In recent years, trigger warnings have become an increasingly integral part of much of the media that audiences interact with on a daily basis. Social media content, podcasts, and television episodes commonly feature warnings before their content begins, offering a simple way to inform audiences about potentially harmful or distressing content. Despite this, trigger warnings have yet to become common practice in the cinematic world. In the wake of recently released films like It Ends With Us and Blink Twice, which both offer explorations into the horrors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, discussions about these types of warnings... While some may argue that the presence of trigger warnings may lead to parts of stories being "spoiled" for audiences, the controversy surrounding ambiguously marketed films like It Ends With Us proves that the... When audiences are unknowingly brought into a triggering scenario, it can lead to the viewer feeling blindsided.

A lack of trigger warnings can also be a great disservice to the movie and its potential for success. As the discussion around the presence of trigger warnings continues, it is important to stress how they are almost always a harmless yet meaningful way to ensure that the moviegoing experience remains safe and... Much of the online discussion around the 2024 film It Ends With Us has centered around its leading actors' rather trivial and mostly hypothetical drama on set. In fact, the film has garnered so much attention that it has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year. While this style of controversy may prove beneficial in terms of box office success, it ultimately pushed discussions about what the film is actually about to the side. This, alongside a rather ambiguous and romanticized marketing campaign, ultimately led many unsuspecting viewers to witness a rather traumatizing story about domestic abuse with no sort of warning beforehand.

Although the film does feature an end credits notice that offers resources to real-life victims of domestic abuse, its placement in the film made it so that many viewers never got to see it. In the weeks that followed, audiences saw Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice prefaced by a trigger warning regarding the film's sexual violence content, which many suspected to be a direct response to It... While it is impossible to know whether the team behind Blink Twice inserted the trigger warning after witnessing the backlash of other similarly themed films, it is safe to say that some audiences would... When comparing how the two films handled their potentially unnerving content, audiences have celebrated Blink Twice for allowing room for those viewers who wish to be informed of anxiety-inducing scenes beforehand. Both television and film have an immense power to immerse audiences into the world of the stories they tell, including the traumatic and unnerving events that are oftentimes so important to share on screen. For viewers who suffer from PTSD, anxiety, or various other mental health conditions, these scenes can oftentimes be an overwhelming viewing experience that reminds them of traumas from their past or trigger distressed feelings...

Television networks have become particularly aware of the potential risks of not including trigger warnings in their content, as evidenced by major shows like Industry, Euphoria, and Baby Reindeer all including content notices ahead... This trend becoming the industry standard for popular television shows makes TV viewing a much safer space. Jake Fittipaldi is a Freelance Features Writer for Collider based in Philadelphia, PA. When not in the weeds of an Adobe Premiere Pro project, you can find Jake raving online about HBO's newest limited series or in line at the concession stand of his local movie theater. In recent years, trigger warnings have become an increasingly integral part of much of the media that audiences interact with on a daily basis. Social media content, podcasts, and television episodes commonly feature warnings before their content begins, offering a simple way to inform audiences about potentially harmful or distressing content.

Despite this, trigger warnings have yet to become common practice in the cinematic world. In the wake of recently released films like It Ends With Us and Blink Twice, which both offer explorations into the horrors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, discussions about these types of warnings... While some may argue that the presence of trigger warnings may lead to parts of stories being "spoiled" for audiences, the controversy surrounding ambiguously marketed films like It Ends With Us proves that the... When audiences are unknowingly brought into a triggering scenario, it can lead to the viewer feeling blindsided. A lack of trigger warnings can also be a great disservice to the movie and its potential for success. As the discussion around the presence of trigger warnings continues, it is important to stress how they are almost always a harmless yet meaningful way to ensure that the moviegoing experience remains safe and...

'It Ends With Us' and 'Blink Twice' Started a Wider Conversation About Trigger Warnings Close Much of the online discussion around the 2024 film It Ends With Us has centered around its leading actors'... In fact, the film has garnered so much attention that it has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year. While this style of controversy may prove beneficial in terms of box office success, it ultimately pushed discussions about what the film is actually about to the side. This, alongside a rather ambiguous and romanticized marketing campaign, ultimately led many unsuspecting viewers to witness a rather traumatizing story about domestic abuse with no sort of warning beforehand. Although the film does feature an end credits notice that offers resources to real-life victims of domestic abuse, its placement in the film made it so that many viewers never got to see it. In the weeks that followed, audiences saw Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice prefaced by a trigger warning regarding the film's sexual violence content, which many suspected to be a direct response to It...

While it is impossible to know whether the team behind Blink Twice inserted the trigger warning after witnessing the backlash of other similarly themed films, it is safe to say that some audiences would... When comparing how the two films handled their potentially unnerving content, audiences have celebratedBlink Twice for allowing room for those viewers who wish to be informed of anxiety-inducing scenes beforehand. Trigger Warnings Make Movies More Inclusive Both television and film have an immense power to immerse audiences into the world of the stories they tell, including the traumatic and unnerving events that are oftentimes... For viewers who suffer from PTSD, anxiety, or various other mental health conditions, these scenes can oftentimes be an overwhelming viewing experience that reminds them of traumas from their past or trigger distressed feelings... Television networks have become particularly aware of the potential risks of not including trigger warnings in their content, as evidenced by major shows like Industry, Euphoria, and Baby Reindeer all including content notices ahead... This trend becoming the industry standard for popular television shows makes TV viewing a much safer space.

Related 'Blink Twice' Sneaks Up on Another Domestic Box Office Milestone The film has had another relatively strong weekend in theaters. Creating a similar safe space within the film industry, despite not being a guarantee that no viewer will ever experience feeling triggered by a moment on screen, is ultimately a step in the right... An increase in trigger warnings will help those who seek to connect with films in deeply personal and meaningful ways without putting them in potentially harmful mental spaces. Although it is impossible to understand exactly how effective trigger warnings are at completely removing audiences from these situations, attempting to ensure just a single viewer's safe viewing experience is enough reason to push... Trigger Warnings Are Rarely Ever Spoilers Even though it may seem that trigger warnings only seek to protect audiences from potentially triggering or panic-inducing viewing experiences, many have criticized them for their ability to... Popular actor Matt Smith, star of TV hits such as House of the Dragon and The Crown, has stated that he is not "on board with trigger warnings" for similar reasons.

To Smith, the inclusion of trigger warnings is a way of "policing stories" and ultimately does a disservice to films that are intended to make their viewers feel uncomfortable or challenged. While Matt's desire to keep shock value alive in cinema and television is certainly warranted, most trigger warnings provide just enough context to alert viewers to potentially harmful content without revealing specific plot details... In the case of Blink Twice, it would have been almost impossible for audiences to guess exactly how the film's acts of violence would play out from simply viewing the trigger warning alone. The assertion that trigger warnings are inherently spoilers, which may be understandable for viewers who prefer to know nothing about a film beforehand, simply isn't a strong enough reason to avoid protecting vulnerable audiences. As the industry continues to make strides towards a more cautious and inclusive way of presenting films, there are certainly ways to ensure that viewers will not get spoiled. Take streaming platforms, for example, which could potentially introduce a way in which viewers are given the option to view a trigger warning before viewing content if they wish.

They could even have sections of their catalog of content that don't require trigger warnings so they know any title they choose is a safe option. In theaters, while purchasing a ticket patrons could be notified that the movie comes with a trigger warning. Despite some viewing them as a threat to storytelling, trigger warnings ultimately serve as a tool to create a more inclusive, welcoming, and compassionate space for movie lovers to enjoy stories. Through thoughtful incorporation, the film industry can continue to tell stories that spotlight real-world issues, while also ensuring that everyone feels safe in the theater.Release Date August 23, 2024 Director Zoe Kravitz Cast Naomi... Feigenbaum Expand Blink Twice is in theaters now. Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

I Want More Movies To Follow Blink Twice's Lead With Trigger WarningsFrida and Slater from Blink Twice are in front of the words "trigger warning." Read more » The new Evita revival in London’s West End, starring Rachel Zegler and directed by Jamie Lloyd, was always going to spark a conversation. From its stripped-down aesthetic to the now-viral staging of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” sung from a balcony outside the theatre, this production invites strong reactions. But the latest controversy isn’t about Zegler’s performance or Lloyd’s vision. It’s about a sign. Specifically, a sign in the foyer of the Open Air Theatre warning audiences about haze, flashing lights, and loud music.

Some tabloids jumped on it, calling the production “woke” for adding “trigger warnings.” Online, a few commenters complained that the list of effects was “ridiculous” and spoiled the experience. But this outrage misses the point entirely. Let’s be clear. Content warnings are not spoilers. They are tools. And in many cases, they are life-saving ones.

For patrons with photosensitive epilepsy, a flashing light warning isn’t about comfort. It’s about safety. Without it, an audience member could experience a seizure mid-performance. For others, such as veterans with PTSD or individuals on the autism spectrum, loud sudden noises or overwhelming sensory input can trigger genuine panic responses. The warning isn’t about coddling feelings. It’s about allowing audiences to make informed decisions about their own bodies and brains.

What’s frustrating is how easily the theatre world, which prides itself on empathy and storytelling, falls into dismissive language when it comes to access and accommodation. We build entire musicals around revolution, trauma, and liberation but balk at the idea of placing a small sign near the box office? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. The demonisation of the word ‘woke’ has gotten to the point where its meaning seems to have been lost in translation. It isn’t a bad thing – and ‘trigger warnings’ have never been a woke creation: we’ve had them ever since age ratings became widespread. And in this context, I can’t agree with former Doctor Who Matt Smith, who says these warnings are part of a ‘dumbing down’ of art and storytelling (Metro, Tue).

Media audiences are fairly desensitised to certain topics, for instance blood and drug misuse. Posted April 1, 2024 | Reviewed by Devon Frye Trigger warnings may be defined as “alerts about upcoming content that may contain themes related to past negative experiences.” The rationale for using such alerts emerged from the PTSD literature, which found that many... The application of this idea beyond the clinic’s confines began in the late 1990s on feminist internet message boards, with the intent of cautioning readers about graphic depictions of rape in certain posts for... Since their emergence, trigger warnings have been adopted for use with a variety of contents other than those related to violent or sexual trauma. Trigger warnings have been slapped on general language content (e.g., adult humor) medical content (e.g., human bodily functions), and stigma-related content (e.g., depictions of racism), and the concerns they purport to address have branched...

All the while, the value of trigger warnings has been hotly debated. Proponents argue that they serve to inform and educate consumers of the content they are about to consume. They argue that people, particularly those who have suffered a traumatic experience in their past, will be better able to handle difficult content if they are prepared in advance and are given the choice... James Bond fans are shaken — and more than a few are stirred — after Amazon quietly added trigger warnings to all 25 films in the 007 franchise. The changes appeared at the start of October, when the entire Bond collection became available to stream on Prime Video, and every title now opens with a brief content advisory. Older installments like Dr.

No (1962) now warn viewers of “violence, alcohol use, smoking, and foul language,” while later films add tags for “nudity,” “sexual content,” and, in some cases, “womanising” — yes, genuinely, a warning about someone... Good grief. Still, fans quickly noticed that other moments — like Sean Connery’s racially insensitive disguise in You Only Live Twice (1967), where Bond darkens his skin and alters his eyes to pose as Japanese —... The update follows Amazon’s 2022 acquisition of MGM Studios, which gave the tech giant both distribution rights to the classic films and creative control over the Bond brand moving forward. Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, a self-professed Bond fan, blasted the move, calling it unnecessary political correctness. “Everyone knows fast cars and fast living are what James Bond is about,” he said, continuing, “It feels like they want to turn Bond into a Disney character.”

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In Recent Years, Trigger Warnings Have Become An Increasingly Integral

In recent years, trigger warnings have become an increasingly integral part of much of the media that audiences interact with on a daily basis. Social media content, podcasts, and television episodes commonly feature warnings before their content begins, offering a simple way to inform audiences about potentially harmful or distressing content. Despite this, trigger warnings have yet to become com...

A Lack Of Trigger Warnings Can Also Be A Great

A lack of trigger warnings can also be a great disservice to the movie and its potential for success. As the discussion around the presence of trigger warnings continues, it is important to stress how they are almost always a harmless yet meaningful way to ensure that the moviegoing experience remains safe and... Much of the online discussion around the 2024 film It Ends With Us has centered aroun...

Although The Film Does Feature An End Credits Notice That

Although the film does feature an end credits notice that offers resources to real-life victims of domestic abuse, its placement in the film made it so that many viewers never got to see it. In the weeks that followed, audiences saw Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice prefaced by a trigger warning regarding the film's sexual violence content, which many suspected to be a direct response to...

Television Networks Have Become Particularly Aware Of The Potential Risks

Television networks have become particularly aware of the potential risks of not including trigger warnings in their content, as evidenced by major shows like Industry, Euphoria, and Baby Reindeer all including content notices ahead... This trend becoming the industry standard for popular television shows makes TV viewing a much safer space. Jake Fittipaldi is a Freelance Features Writer for Colli...

Despite This, Trigger Warnings Have Yet To Become Common Practice

Despite this, trigger warnings have yet to become common practice in the cinematic world. In the wake of recently released films like It Ends With Us and Blink Twice, which both offer explorations into the horrors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, discussions about these types of warnings... While some may argue that the presence of trigger warnings may lead to parts of stories being "spoiled...