actor Matt Smithknown for his starring roles in Dragon House and Doctor Whoshared his criticism of trigger warnings in a recent interview with The Times of LondonIn a common view among many prominent British actors, Smith has argued that warnings diminish the emotional impact of storytelling, and contribute to a wider culture of censorship in creative media by preventing audiences from feeling uncomfortable.
According to Deadline, Smith has discussed in detail his experience with trigger warnings, and why he believes they are ultimately detrimental to the art of storytelling. As an actor, many of Smith's roles have used morally grey themes or amoral characters; his infamous character in Dragon HouseFor example, he uses extreme cruelty both on and off the battlefield, while other smaller roles include the lead character in the Sky Atlantic TV series Bunny Monroe's death, Smith plays a sex addict with a fetish for women.
Regarding controversial characters like these, Smith said that using warnings only diminishes the emotional impact of his performances, and prevents artists from wanting to tell morally complex stories for fear of censorship. He added that his exposure to inappropriate content at a young age was formative rather than harmful, recalling watching Friday 13 At age nine, feeling uncomfortable was a terrifying but ultimately positive experience. According to Smith, feelings of discomfort are an invaluable aspect of artistic performance, and trying to censor them only degrades the quality and impact of the art itself.
Trigger Warning Debates Unite English Actors
Matt Smith is not the only actor to express such concerns. In an interview with The Guardian, Smith said: Radio TimesEnglish actress Judi Dench was surprised to learn that theatre audiences nowadays expect to hear warnings about certain types of content, including graphic displays of violence, flashing lights or loud noises. Dench, whose repertoire includes impressive roles such as “M” in several James Bond films, said that those who feel they need trigger warnings should not attend the theatre at all, whether to watch live performances or films. Actor Sir Ian McKellen has also expressed his disapproval of trigger warnings, pointing out the importance of emotions such as shock, surprise or discomfort – in art as well as in real life.
Despite these criticisms, the use of warnings has grown significantly in popularity among the entertainment industry, and opinion editorials have appeared in The New York Times, Atlantic Oceanand diverse Many people routinely debate the ethics and values of warnings. Proponents argue that warnings benefit people with PTSD, who may be more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights, or certain subjects such as blatant violence. However, opponents of warnings, such as Matt Smith, believe that they coddle the public and create an atmosphere of censorship.
Unfortunately, these discussions do not seem likely to go away anytime soon. The increased use of warnings coincides with a growing awareness of the adaptation needs of people with mental and physical disabilities, who are more likely to feel uncomfortable and even distressed when exposed to certain theatrical elements. While warnings may seem like they spoil the content of a play or film, they have become an effective tool when it comes to keeping some audiences safe.
