The Joker in 2019. Do movies cause aggression?

"Joker" recently came out in theaters on October 4, 2019. If you haven't seen it, you've probably heard about it from someone who hated it or heard it from someone who hated that another person hated it. This new "Joker" movie has Joaquin Phoenix as the main character, where previously the villain has been played by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger.

This movie is mixed with black humor and dark satire, something that necessarily can't be paired with a warning label. A few reviews are "a film so disturbing it feels almost dangerous: whatever about its hard R rating, they should maybe think about background checks and a mandatory three-day waiting period at theaters." 

The Joker can play into the most angry and repressed viewers by showing society's dark side. However, does this invite real life violence? Many of those who disliked the movie saw it potentially causing aggression in viewers. Although there are many opinions on this topic, I think cinematic films can only enhance aggression in those who are already prone to it. To some, this movie can be seen as a film about mental illness with a political message about a failing health, but it can't help to relate to the mass shootings of white males with mental illnesses.

I do think watching violent movies can cause someone to want to act upon their feelings of aggression, but only if there are already those feelings present. The correlation between X or R Rated films and violent video games and the rise of violent crime has been a debate for many years. This debate has become increasingly more popular as mass shootings have unfortunately increased.

In many studies, the subject's brain metabolic activity is measured. Participants in these studies also have their blood pressure taken every five minutes and asked how they were feeling every fifteen minutes.

Aggression is a trait that develops over time starting in someone's childhood with behavior patterns becoming solidified. Although there are violent films and video games out there, I think it will only trigger those who are already prone to it.