Media and Its Effects on Society
S. Jade Flewelling
Ms. Melissa Hicks
English 225, Section 23
Final Paper Draft 1 The media is an obvious factor in the increase of violence, risky behavior, and obesity in kids in our society. Television programs and movies are becoming more and more violent, and more abundant to fulfill the demand for an overly desensitized audience. For any type of television show or movie to be considered good and entertaining it must excel in at least 3 categories: blood and guts, curse words, and the most important element of all how believable are the scenarios. The good guy must prevail, even if it means murdering 25 men in order to rescue the super hot defenseless heiress. It’s sad really, for some it is engaging and entertaining as long as the graphics and cinematography are good. Parents wonder why their 13 year old daughter dresses provocatively, and why their 15 year old son has begun smoking cigarettes. The need for linear progression of violence and risky behavior continues to grow. Where will it stop? At this rate it won’t it will keep growing, but what’s the point when no one can really be shocked or surprised anymore. The line between reality and virtual reality is blurring for some people, allowing them to become more and more capable of doing the unthinkable. The question is whose responsibility it is to monitor the quality of the programs that are abundantly available in our society. The Constitution is television programmers’ main defense when posed this question. According to Professor Doug Linder of the University of Missouri-Kansas City explains in his website the role and value of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech or expression with the hopes that exposure to such things will promote tolerance. A tolerant society is a better society (Introduction to the Free Speech Clause). Though yes, the First Amendment serves to protect our individual rights, we as a society have a responsibility to
Ms. Melissa Hicks
English 225, Section 23
Final Paper Draft 1 The media is an obvious factor in the increase of violence, risky behavior, and obesity in kids in our society. Television programs and movies are becoming more and more violent, and more abundant to fulfill the demand for an overly desensitized audience. For any type of television show or movie to be considered good and entertaining it must excel in at least 3 categories: blood and guts, curse words, and the most important element of all how believable are the scenarios. The good guy must prevail, even if it means murdering 25 men in order to rescue the super hot defenseless heiress. It’s sad really, for some it is engaging and entertaining as long as the graphics and cinematography are good. Parents wonder why their 13 year old daughter dresses provocatively, and why their 15 year old son has begun smoking cigarettes. The need for linear progression of violence and risky behavior continues to grow. Where will it stop? At this rate it won’t it will keep growing, but what’s the point when no one can really be shocked or surprised anymore. The line between reality and virtual reality is blurring for some people, allowing them to become more and more capable of doing the unthinkable. The question is whose responsibility it is to monitor the quality of the programs that are abundantly available in our society. The Constitution is television programmers’ main defense when posed this question. According to Professor Doug Linder of the University of Missouri-Kansas City explains in his website the role and value of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech or expression with the hopes that exposure to such things will promote tolerance. A tolerant society is a better society (Introduction to the Free Speech Clause). Though yes, the First Amendment serves to protect our individual rights, we as a society have a responsibility to
Cited: Media Use and Obesity Among Children. November 2006. 3 April 2009. . How TV Affects Your Child. October 2008. 2 April 2009. . Stanton, Carina. “TV Viewing Good and Bad for Kids, Seattle Study Says.” The Seattle Times. 5 July 2005. 3 April 2009. Rao, Goutham. Child Obesity: A Parent’s Guide to a Fit, Trim, and Happy Child. Amherst: Prometheus Books, 2006. 68-84. Linder, Doug. Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Introduction to the Free Speech Clause. 2 April 2009. .