Did Child’s Play 3 turn kids into killers?

When two children murdered toddler James Bulger in 1993, the British media lost their damn minds and tried to blame a horror video. Rich tells Ben that this argument really started a decade earlier with the “video nasties” panic. Join us as we unravel a tangled web of sensationalism, fraudulent research, and some truly bizarre claims about dogs.  

Show Notes: 

Links and references: 

Bailey, Susan (1996) “Adolescents who murder,” Journal of Adolescence, 19, 19-39.  

Barker, Martin and Julian Petley, eds. (2001) Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate. Routledge. (Especially Barker’s chapter on the Newson Report) 

Barker, Martin, ed. (1984) Video Nasties: Freedom and Censorship in the Media. Pluto Press. (Check out Brian Brown’s chapter for the incredible full story about Clifford Hill’s research) 

Barlow, Geoffrey and Alison Hill, eds. (1985) Video Violence and Children. Hodder & Stoughton. 

Cumberbatch, Guy (1994) “Legislating mythology: Video violence and children,” Journal of Mental Health, 3:4, 485-494. 

Newson, Elizabeth (1994) “Video violence and the protection of children,” Journal of Mental Health, 3:2, 221-227 

[Video] 'Suitable For Viewing In The Home ?' (Video Censorship & Video Nasties Documentary). YouTube. 

[Film] Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010). Dir. Jake West. 

Note: Journal articles are often behind paywalls. If you don't have institutional access but would like a copy of these papers please email Illeffectspod@gmail.com and we will happily send you a copy.

Credits: 

Hosts – Rich McCulloch and Ben Litherland  

Music by  - Brutalust (Colin Frank and Maria Sappho), recorded and mixed by Joe Christman 

Creative producer – Rachel Wood 

Technical producer – Caroline Pringle 

Technical production – Colin Frank