Little personal space and TV violence causes aggression<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Teenagers are destructive because of factors
\nranging from lack of personal space to excessive exposure to
\ntelevision violence, observers say.<\/p>\n
Noted film critic and military observer Salim Said, retired
\npolice general Koesparmono Irsan, and film director Slamet
\nRahardjo explored here Thursday the roots of social unrest from
\ntheir individual perspectives.<\/p>\n
Each offered a discussion an explanation for why young people
\njoined aggressive activities like the street rallies that were
\nprevalent during the recent election campaign period.<\/p>\n
About 100 people, mostly researchers and educators, attended
\nNational Institute of Sciences' discussion.<\/p>\n
Salim said an absence of local arts festivals forced people to
\nturn to street rallies to express themselves.<\/p>\n
"Arts festivals give people room to be creative," he said.
\n"Taking part in cultural exhibitions and arts performances could
\nreduce people's aggressiveness."<\/p>\n
He said many youths took part in street rallies for fun and to
\nbe creative, not because they supported political parties.<\/p>\n
He said he believed that if there were more arts festivals,
\nthere would be fewer people in street rallies.<\/p>\n
He also criticized television stations whose staple sex and
\nviolence broadcasts limited viewers' choices.<\/p>\n
"Teenagers need an alternative channel to improve their
\nappreciation of art," he said.<\/p>\n
He said state-run television station TVRI should offer more
\ncultural programs as a way of returning people's television
\ntaxes.<\/p>\n
He said people had abandoned TVRI because it was so undecided
\nabout whether to offer quality cultural programs, or commercial
\nones.<\/p>\n
Salim is also Jakarta Arts Council's head, he called for the
\ngovernment to give more funds for local cultural festivals, to
\nincrease appreciation of local culture.<\/p>\n
Slamet Rahardjo also said excessive television violence was to
\nblame for teenagers' poor cultural tastes and their aggressive
\ntendencies. He said a recent item on the news about a petty thief
\nwho was seriously beaten up, was an example.<\/p>\n
"To murder or rape is sadistic. But those who broadcast
\nviolence in a detailed and continuous manner are more sadistic,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Koesparmono is a National Commission on Human Rights member,
\nhe said population growth and the subsequent reduction in
\nphysical and emotional space was to blame.<\/p>\n
"They have to jostle in public transportation. They sometimes
\nrisk being killed as they hang out of bus doors," he said.<\/p>\n
"There is increasingly less room for self expression as well,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"Combine this situation with the widening social gap, and
\nyou'll find teenagers who are inclined to aggression." (11)<\/p>",
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