Preview

Violence Is Cool Or So The Media Tells Us

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2629 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Violence Is Cool Or So The Media Tells Us
Running Head: VIOLENCE IS COOL—OR SO THE MEDIA TELLS US 1

Violence is Cool Or So the Media Tells Us: An Exploration of the Correlation Between the Media’s Presentation of Violence and Society’s Views On Real-Life Violence

VIOLENCE IS COOL—OR SO THE MEDIA TELLS US 2
Abstract
This paper explores the how the media’s tendency to glamorize violence has affected society’s view on real-life violence. Studying this will allow sociologists to determine the factors that perpetuate the cycle of violence in mankind that continues to this day. Through this research, we will be able to make a valuable first step in the path of world peace. By analyzing the way violence
…show more content…
Complete censorship of violence is not a true solution to the problem. The act of banning violence only increases its appeal to viewers as a “forbidden fruit”. It is only through changing the way violence is presented that a true solution may be found. The media is only a tool, and it can be used for both bad and good. Through the way violence is portrayed, the media’s influence on public opinion can be turned from a bad one to a good one. By having the media show the more negative sides of violence, viewers would be able to better understand the consequences of violence in real life. Information is the key to understanding, and having knowledge of both sides of an argument would make a decision more viable. If the image of violence in the media is one that is not glamorized, the public would have a more realistic view of it in real-life. Also, more research into the exact effects of media on public opinion regarding real-life violence is needed. The current information available today is simply not enough. …show more content…
Sid Kirchheimer retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20030303/does-rap-put-teens-at-risk on July 25, 2011
Joint Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children:

Congressional Public Health Summit retrieved from http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jstmtevc.htm on August 11, 2011
Propaganda in Nazi Germany retrieved from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/propaganda_in_nazi_germany.htm on July 25, 2011
Propaganda and World War One np. Retrieved from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/propaganda_and_world_war_one.htm on July 25, 2011
Media Violence May Affect Children 's Minds:
Violence Is Cool—Or So The Media Tells Us 16
Charlotte E. Grayson Mathis retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20050610/media-violence-may-affect-childrens-minds on July 25, 2011
Research on the Effects of Media Violence Jonathan Freedman retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/effects_media_violence.cfm on July 25,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In reading “Violent Media is Good for Kids”; by Gerard Jones, he doesn’t argue against the fact that some harm has come from violence in the media. However the author does convey the fact that he has first handedly seen the positive effects of well managed use of violence in different mediums. Mr. Jones has reinforced my view and opinion on violence in the media by informing me to the efforts of him and his colleague to help children use their natural feelings in a positive manner and find an enlightening outlet.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The amount of homicides and violence is steadily increasing. The media plays a large role in what information is shared with us and how information is shared with us. Without the media, we probably would not know half the things going on in the world. The media is the main means of mass communication. The media can have both positive and negative influences on people. This paper will discuss examples of what can happen when media broadcasts violence. This paper will compare and contrast David Phillips Prize fight experiment as well as Todd Millers reanalysis of Phillips experiment. Also, being compared is Martins experiment on aggression in classrooms and Elson’s review on experiments researching media and violence.…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The role of media violence in violent crime has been exaggerated is very much an issue Media violence has become a scapegoat, onto which we lay blame for a host of social problems. Sociologist Todd Gatling describes how "the indiscriminate fear of television in particular displaces justifiable fears of actual dangers—dangers of which television ... provides some disturbing glimpses." Concerns about media and violence rest on several flawed, yet taken-for-granted assumptions about both media and violence. These beliefs appear to be obvious in emotional arguments about "protecting" children. So while these are not the only problems with blaming media, this [viewpoint] will address four central assumptions: (Mass Media, 2010).…

    • 698 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jacoby vs Rhodes

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages

    There has been disagreement with Jacoby’s argument since some believe the media isn’t responsible for violence at all. In his essay, “Hollow Claims about Violence,” Richard Rhodes argues that society isn’t really desensitized to violence and that all those claims are wrong. Rhodes addresses the reasons why these claims are false and why society shouldn’t listen to them. According to Rhodes, there is no direct link between exposure to violence in the media and violent behavior performed by people. Rhodes provides data from experiments and factual evidence that contain numbers and rates about homicides and violence in all parts of the world for all ages of society. Richard Rhodes concludes his argument with the fact that violence is actually declining in America, implying that Jacoby’s claim is wrong. Although Jacoby presents a valid argument, Rhodes does a better job in convincing the reader that Jacoby’s analysis is wrong through his effective use of factual evidence, recognizing flaws in opposing evidence, and use of a formal writing style.…

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Roberts Peters’ article “Censorship of Violence in Popular Entertainment Is Justified”, he writes about his personal concerns and his personal solutions to combat obscenity and uphold decency standards in the media. He believes that due to the many graphic and violent depictions in TV, films, music/RAP, video and computer games, the children in present society are easily influenced into acting out the media violence and turning it into real life violence. He believes that there are four main problems with media violence. The first problem is that is too much of it. The glut of media violence desensitizes viewers and contributes to the “mean world syndrome.” A second problem with media violence is that it can be easily imitated. He believes that the characters being depicted in the media are mostly glorified, youth characters who are troublemakers and engaged in behavior kids can readily imitate. A third in media violence is the manner in which it is depicted. He believes that the media does not show the purpose of the horror of violence, but rather the media portrays it as an exciting, pleasurable and effective way to handle problems. The fourth problem with media violence is Hollywood’s infatuation with guns, in which I quote, “Why should we be surprised to discover that kids want a gun? If Hollywood stopped glorifying possession and use of handguns, there would be fewer crimes committed by youth with handguns.” Peters wants us to know that whatever minor flaws there may be in enforcement of gun laws permitting crazy people to buy them, the real problem is that our media is saturated with violence. Although Peters’ tries to make valid points about the corruption of youth through media violence, he misses many opportunities to use prime examples as if he hasn’t done much research into the subject himself. I believe that his arguments are ineffective due to his lack of statistical evidence, such as crime rates statistics, to support his statements.…

    • 367 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is are two opposite sides arguing against and for " violence in entertainment". The side which is " for " are the marketers who promote media with violence involved. Consumers enjoy violent forms of entertainment which allows businesses to ascend. Research proves that violence is something expected and desired by the consumers, which allows companies to make more profit. The side that is "against," argue that violence corrupts the society because it allows the promotion of violence. Research also proves that media incorporated with violence is associated with aggressive behavior found in children and young adults, aggressive behaviors such as lack of remorse for the consequences, violence against others, show signs of hostility, decreased emotional responses to violence and injury are the reasons why violence in media is arguing against.…

    • 973 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mean World

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Everyone is influenced and shaped by society. Society affects our perceptions, our consciousness, and our actions. A majority of the influence, especially on the younger demographic comes through the media; specifically through television. It is important to examine how violence in the media develops a pervasive cultural environment that cultivates a heightened state of insecurity, exaggerated perceptions of risk and danger, and a fear-driven propensity for hard-line political solutions to social problems. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the impact of television and media violence, as well as the human cost of violent media, and the overall effects on society from watching TV.…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rudhra Mathiarasan MLA

    • 771 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Only 16% of all broadcast programs show the long-term negative effects of violence. (crisis connection.inc). This activities has been disturbing the cultural values of our society and this sets a bad example for the next generation.…

    • 771 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the united States, a lot of people still believe that the violent media cause violent behaviours, so people spend a lot of money for the sake of safety; for instance, some people may install sullivan camera around their house, build the safe gate and others. That make they feel highly nervous about their community. However, according to JS, in 20 years ago the study showed that the violent crime rate had been increased just because the population rate had been increased. (“Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death”) Therefore, people should think the other ways that the violent media can bring the positive…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    TV's True Violence

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In her Newsweek article “TV’s True Violence” Meg Greenfield argues that excessive fictional violence desensitizes viewers to the image of violence they see on television. Her discussion about this subject “generates hypocrisy and confusion”: the coarsening impact of violence on viewers, the effect on children, the volume of the violence, and the harm of dulling our response to the real thing. Everyone knows that there is too much violence on Television and that the networks must take action. Sex and violence are mixing on the screen and are becoming a “single phenomenon” and everyone knows that this phenomenon can have negative effects on the viewers’ behavior. Greenfield reveals that this “coarsening” makes “the unthinkable just a little less unthinkable, a little more OK.” Two objections Meg Greenfield has, the first is not to the violence itself, but to the volume and the way it is presented on Television. In the history of art violence has frequently played a role in , literature, art, and for example in Shakespeare’s plays, but violence back then had actually meant something. The second objection to TV’s fictional violence is that it will affect the viewer’s reaction to the real thing, for instance, the images of the wounded kids in “Sarajevo” and in other massacres and wars. Greenfield believes that We need to be able to respond appropriately to the images of violence. While every thinking person would agree there is too much violence on TV, the solution Greenfield offers is flawed. Watching more real violence on TV would complicate the issue, because real violence can be biased, desensitizing and manipulated.…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Bobo Doll Experiment

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In this century, the mass media have come to rival with parents, school, and religion as the most influential institution in individual 's lives. There has always been contemplation on whether media is the spark that ignites violence in individuals. Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the society and feel less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. This essay will analyze the effects of violent media on the minds of individuals. While it focuses on media vastly, other contributing factors like emotional processing factors or exposure to violence might be reasons too.…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most studies show that the more real-life based and reasonable the violence media is the greater chance it has of affecting human behavior. In real life violence, the outcome is always suspense; while in fictional violence, the outcome is excepted and happy ending. Example of these would be Kill Bill and Rodney King; in which Rodney King was the one that caused lots of violence and attention since it was a real-life crime…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While growing up there have been a countless number of incidents where I have been exposed to images or messages of violence and war. The ways that this exposure has occurred, and still occurs, is through the many outlets that our society is able to reach the population. The main sources where I, and many others, am subjected to this violence ranges from video games and television violence to the actions of those around us and the ways that our media reports past/present events. Literature and music have also proven to be sources of violence and war through the use of language. Through all of the ways that society presents these images and messages, their effects have personally been unavoidable. The ways that all of these outlets come together have combined to make a lasting impression on the way that I view violence, and have shaped the evolution of society itself.…

    • 1460 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ce333

    • 8968 Words
    • 36 Pages

    Anderson, J. A. (2008). The production of media violence and aggression research: A cultural analysis. American Behavioral Scientist, 51,…

    • 8968 Words
    • 36 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Violence and Drugs Abuse

    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A huge problem with today’s society is the media. Violence is a centrepiece of new movies, and video games revolve around killing and survival of the fittest. Some people just can’t help but apply the absurd violence that is meant for ‘entertainment’ in real life. And then when this happens, there are the shootings that occurred for no real reason, just because a person wanted to try out what they saw on television.…

    • 283 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays