Media Violence

Cultural critics perennially blame violent content in television, film, video games, and music for violent behaivor in young people. There is much evidence to prove this statement. Games such as Grand Theft Auto, and movie like, "The Godfather," just to name a few are perfect examples. As with video games, muscal groups such as Lil Wayne who sing "Lollipop," also incorporate violence in the choice of words. This could also cause a very negative effect on a child and influence them to get into serious trouble. A 2001 review of the seventy top selling video games found eighty-nine percent contained some kind of violence. Half of all the games contained serious violence, while forty-percent contained comic violence. In forty-one percent of the games, violence was necessary for protagonists to achieve their goals. In seventeen percent of the games, vioence alone was the primary focus of the game. It is greatly due to the violent media that surrounds our culture today that so many of our children get into trouble with the law and ultimately get busted by police officers. Researchers have found for a fact, that children tend to be more physically and verbally aggresive immediately after watching violent television shows, movies and/or playing video games. It is also a fact that naturally aggressive children and teenagers watch more violent television than their less aggressive peers. Another noteworth bit of information is that early exposure to television and movie violence seems to increase aggression in later years. Furthermore, I support John Davidson's, "Menace to Society," very aquetable.

Perhaps, if the companies that make the video games and the rap artists that produce the songs would have a less vioent message to our chidlren/teenagers, the death rate amongst them would decrease! It is almost impossible to believe how many frequent swear words or use of weapons are used in such type of music. The "message" in rap music is often related to violent behavior. It is unfortunate that we cannot turn back time to the 1980s and early 1990s when one would not dare sing or create any type of media that could harm the minds of young people in our society.

The way in which a person is raised certainly plays a major role iin their general behavior. If a child is brought up in a broken/disfunctional family with little eduction, and guidance, the child will more than likely have poor judgement and consequently poor or violent type of behavior. A child who grows up in a family with refinement and good values (even if they watch television or listen to rap music occassionally) will be les likely to grow up with a violent demeanor.

In the future, if and when I have children, I know I will try to teach them how to make good choices, not bad ones. I will hope my offspring will make me proud and ignore the negative influences that will surround them during their formative years. I hope I have made my parents proud of me thus far. On a a final note, every twenty-five seconds a child is arrested for some tpye of cruelty act. Shouldn't this tell companies and rap artists something? Children are supposed to be the future of our generation, not the fate of agony!