The social aspects of violence and the media role: Between condemnation and apology

Abstract

The mass murders at the "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School in Belgrade and in the vicinity of Smederevo and Mladenovac, in addition to general condemnation and anxiety of people, have also opened up many questions about dimensions of violence in society, everyday life and public space. And, as it usually happens after an event with such adverse consequences, the response to serious crimes is, above all, in the repressive sphere - in the increased presence of the state repressive apparatus, proposing stricter legal provisions and rhetoric in public space that is "coloured" by emotional responses to the issue. This period is followed by a review and analysis of various social processes and phenomena that, in a different manner, have contributed to the occurrence of such events. Therefore, on the pages of this paper, starting from the already postulated social experiences with violence in public space, in various times, in different localities and from different subjects, the attention is primarily focused on the social aspects of violence in reality. Although it cannot be said that the media are directly responsible for the recent massacres that have upset the Serbian society, the media narratives after these tragedies point to the presence of violence in the media that exceeds the limits of what is acceptable. The response of institutions and society, directed towards the incrimination of such media behaviour and public action, is imposed as one of the most important challenges faced by our society and state.