YOUTH AND VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA

Youth And Violence In The Media

Youth And Violence In The Media

Introduction

Why is violence becoming and everyday event in our society? When you flip on the "television" and tune into the news, the highlight of every show is somehow directly related or connected to violence. We see it every evening and perhaps say "Oh my gosh, how terrible." and then forget all about it two minutes later. Or perhaps we don't even make any comments at all, just a simple grunt or ".Huh.". This numbness to violence is very scary and very real. I believe it is this numbness to violence that has made the world so violent. (Cappella 2001)

When I think back to my childhood and remember television I remember watching such programs as "Sesame Street", "Mr. Rogers", and "Scooby - Doo".(Cappella 2001) I have nothing but pleasant memories filled with happiness, peace, understanding, and learning. When you watch children's programs today you see senseless violence often as the first means of solving a problem. The classic view of "good" versus "evil" is the basis of these shows with violence as the answer. When children watch these programs they copy the actions and "morals" of these shows depicting "good" and "evil". Children do not know what "good" is or what "evil" is, how can they? This world is not broken into "good" and "evil".(Worden 2002) "Evil" to children is what opposes them, what does not agree with them, or any other person or thing that poses a possible difficulty. (Shrum 2002)

Children must be taught that there are differences in this world. This world is filled with many people holding different beliefs, ideas, and morals. That is what makes this world so unique and colourful. Children need to learn to respect these differences from a very young age. They need to learn to talk out and solve any disagreements or problems through other means than violence. They must not "know" violence as an answer, as if violence was never even an option to consider in solving a problem. (McGuire 2006)

Discussion

The media claims that they have no influence on children that could not be further from the truth(Petty 2002). Children are the easiest to manipulate and take advantage of because they are innocent and because they are innocent they are also ignorant. Some people say that the boy was merely maturing, becoming more like a man. The main problem was the television shows that he was watching. That is very obvious. Television gives the viewer both sight and sound at once leaving only three senses to imagine. Radio leaves four senses. Books leave all five senses to imagine. (Rubin 2002)

What has the media done to counteract this? Very little to nothing. (McLeod 2006) They deny that the problem actually exists. But the problem does exist and is very real, and they can help stop it. (McLeod 2005) They can help change it. What then is preventing it? What is preventing the media from trying to help? Money of ...