Running head: MEDIA AND VIOLENCE Media and Violence April 16, 2009 Media and Violence Violent content in media has become the issue of the day. From the earliest days of the popular newspapers, magazines, journals, and TV programs there was widespread public concern about violent scenes and episodes. Although there is no direct proof to the assumption that violence in the media causes violence in real life, still, what has been a subject of controversy is whether the media have enough power to directly affect the perceptions of the audience about the seriousness of human violence. Also, in case media presents violent scenes as something acceptable and normal, do media sources encourage people (especially the youth and teenagers) to specific forms of violent behavior? According to Fast Fact Sheet, presented by the National Institute on Media and the Family, by the time a child reaches 18 years old, he sees over 200,000 acts of violence (including 40,000 murders) (Fact Sheet: Children And Media Violence).
The average child (ages 8-18) spends significantly more time watching TV and other media than any other activity, except of sleeping. Also, according to the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and other reputable sources, media violence negatively influences childs behavior. No wonder that the issue of violence and media is so important. This essay examines the phenomenon of media and violence and answers the most important questions, such as: Why is there so much violence themes in the media, Does portrayal of violence result in violent behavior in teenagers and adults, What does society think about violent media content, What meanings concerning our cultural and social environment are clearly communicated by the way media represents the scenes containing violence, and, finally, What, if only anything, can be done about violence in the media.
Annotated Bibliography Barker, M. and J. Petley. Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate. New York: Routledge, 2001. In this book, the authors revisit the public debate over violence and media.
The authors of the book explore the dimensions of violence, and summarize the most important researches focused on individual responses to violent media content. In their book, Barker and Petley offer insight and explanatory models which are able to transform the societys picture of these media, their cultural, social and political implications and the influence violent media content has on audience. Palmer, E. and B. Young. The Faces of Televisual Media: Teaching, Violence, Selling to Children. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003.
In this book, the authors offer a collection of state-of-the-art contributions from the most valuable and recognized authorities in children’s TV media. The scholars present current media research, policy-making and political climate issues and most important trends related to children and violence in media. The book also provides a summary of the recent studies on media violent content, examining comprehension, patterns and effects in TV entertainment, violence programming, and TV advertising to children. Larson, Karl. “Analyzing the Impact of Drugs, Violence, and Sex in the Media.” American Journal of Health Education 38 (2007).
In this article the author provides thorough and comprehensive analysis of the impact violence, sex and drugs in media have on youth. Media is analyzed for potential influences of sexual content, violence and drug.
This article can be used for classroom activities to help students to gain better awareness of the influence media has on individuals behaviors. Carter, C. and C. Weaver. Violence and the Media. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2003. The book presents the basic concepts of the problem, examining what is media violence, provides approaches to research into media violence, the politics of the media violence debate and other important information. This volume on media effects research and theory has been expanded by the authors to embrace current approaches in media violence research and theory.
As this subject of study continues to evolve, the book will serve as a core of research and theory for current generations of scientists. Works Cited Barker, M. and J. Petley. Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate. New York: Routledge, 2001. Carter, C.
and C. Weaver. Violence and the Media. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2003. Fact Sheet: Children And Media Violence. 2006. 16 April 2009 .
Larson, Karl. “Analyzing the Impact of Drugs, Violence, and Sex in the Media.” American Journal of Health Education 38 (2007).
Palmer, E. and B. Young. The Faces of Televisual Media: Teaching, Violence, Selling to Children. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003..