What is the word for this kind of violence?
September 21, 2015 1:45 PM Subscribe
I feel like there is a word for the type of violence in movies and TV that is indeed violence, but isn't all that disturbing. My Google skills haven't come up with much.
I.e. fighting (especially fighting where the characters don't seem that hurt despite repeatedly getting punched, slammed into walls, etc.), guns, some blood, even people dying - but nothing degrading, extreme, no torture, horrible close-ups, sexual violence, etc. Nothing where the characters have realistic human reactions to violence.
Not necessarily hammy ridiculous violence, although that counts too.
Fake harmless movie violence, basically. What is that called?
I.e. fighting (especially fighting where the characters don't seem that hurt despite repeatedly getting punched, slammed into walls, etc.), guns, some blood, even people dying - but nothing degrading, extreme, no torture, horrible close-ups, sexual violence, etc. Nothing where the characters have realistic human reactions to violence.
Not necessarily hammy ridiculous violence, although that counts too.
Fake harmless movie violence, basically. What is that called?
People talk about “cartoonish” or “cartoon” violence in movies (including non-animated ones), for example in this review of Kingsman. “Slapstick” is also close, though I don't think it’s quite what you mean.
posted by mbrubeck at 1:53 PM on September 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 1:53 PM on September 21, 2015 [6 favorites]
I don't have a particular word, but my gf told me that she loved the action in Age of Ultron because they were fighting robots and not people. On preview, I think "stylized violence" fits.
posted by transient at 1:54 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by transient at 1:54 PM on September 21, 2015
If it's from a comedy, "Cartoon violence" or "slapstick" would work.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:03 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:03 PM on September 21, 2015
In advertising and promoting a movie with a lot of this kind of thing, distributors generally fall back on the vague term "action" to denote violence but not the upsetting kind.
posted by Flexagon at 2:08 PM on September 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by Flexagon at 2:08 PM on September 21, 2015 [5 favorites]
I would call this "ersatz violence." Googling that term, though, suggests that is not a common formulation.
posted by Doc_Sock at 2:10 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by Doc_Sock at 2:10 PM on September 21, 2015
"PG-13" is a term for it that I've used.
(The limits of PG-13 have relaxed over time, so these days you might have to say "G-Rated violence" instead.)
posted by anonymisc at 2:42 PM on September 21, 2015
(The limits of PG-13 have relaxed over time, so these days you might have to say "G-Rated violence" instead.)
posted by anonymisc at 2:42 PM on September 21, 2015
action movie violence, cartoon violence is a bit more exaggerated imo?
posted by Sebmojo at 3:38 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by Sebmojo at 3:38 PM on September 21, 2015
I've heard that ESRB sort of "cartoon" or "animated" violence used to great effect describing exactly this, yea.
I remember my mother describing this as Animated Violence even when it wasn't an animated cartoon or movie.
posted by emptythought at 4:19 PM on September 21, 2015
I remember my mother describing this as Animated Violence even when it wasn't an animated cartoon or movie.
posted by emptythought at 4:19 PM on September 21, 2015
To me "cartoon violence" is someone literally eat a grenade and then say something about heartburn while having smoke coming from ears, mouth and nostrils, or kicking someone to the moon - basically, something that defies physics (hence, that could only happen on a cartoon). Slapstick is comedic violence - slapping the guy holding the guy you want to slap, being hit in the balls/breasts/face stepping on a rake or a closing door - but in the realm of physical possibility.
I think stylized violence describes it best. Maybe sanitized violence, depending on context.
posted by lmfsilva at 4:19 PM on September 21, 2015
I think stylized violence describes it best. Maybe sanitized violence, depending on context.
posted by lmfsilva at 4:19 PM on September 21, 2015
"cartoon violence" or "action violence" or "fantasy violence" is very common. Sometimes "sci-fi violence" when genre-appropriate.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:44 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:44 PM on September 21, 2015
When it serves no plot purpose: gratuitous violence.
posted by Dashy at 5:59 PM on September 21, 2015
posted by Dashy at 5:59 PM on September 21, 2015
Response by poster: I don't think stylized violence is quite right, my impression is that that refers to glamorised, choreographed violence, which can still depict extreme or disturbing acts. I think Bensherman's definition is the closest to what I'm talking about, but sanitized/cartoon/mild/action movie also gets at it.
Thanks all.
posted by reshet at 6:31 PM on September 21, 2015
Thanks all.
posted by reshet at 6:31 PM on September 21, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by vunder at 1:52 PM on September 21, 2015 [5 favorites]