Elizabeth Taylor
The first article discuses the effects media violence, particularly video games, has on children. It is divided into different sections including: “The History of Violence in Video Games,” "Research on the effects of video games,” "Early Research Compared to Recent Research,” and other sections describing the different studies conducted. The article provides research that violent video games have negative effects on youth. However, the video game’s industry claims that aggression due to exposure to violence in the media could be explained by the fact that aggressive children simply enjoy being exposed to media violence. Although extremely aggressive behaviors are formed by a combination of different risk factors it would be helpful for parents to know the dangers of letting their children play a violent video game. Just because only some children who play violent video games end up committing violent crimes doesn’t mean playing violent video games is good for the children who do not commit crimes.
I agree with the fact that parents should be well informed of the video games they are purchasing for their children but I disagree that violent video games effects children significantly. Although I think it is good to be cautious of what children are allowed to be exposed to I do not necessarily believe it is a big concern. So many other factors, such as violence in the home, contribute to violent crimes that are committed that the exposure to video games is the least of anyones worries.
The second article explains how Harvey Weinstein has separated himself from working on violent movies. The article starts out summarizing Weinstein's achievements in the movie industry then continuing on to how he bravely spoke up about the issue when no one else had the courage to do so. Although it is uncertain whether or not media violence and actual violence are related, Weinstein decided he no longer wants to work on such films. The article also discuses real life events such as Sandy Hook and how we never really had a discussion about media violence even after that incident occurred. I agree that being exposed to too much media violence is worse than being exposed to a small amount. I think it is great that we are finally having this conversation about media violence because people are more likely to take it seriously if it is brought up by someone widely known as an producer of violent films.
I agree with the fact that parents should be well informed of the video games they are purchasing for their children but I disagree that violent video games effects children significantly. Although I think it is good to be cautious of what children are allowed to be exposed to I do not necessarily believe it is a big concern. So many other factors, such as violence in the home, contribute to violent crimes that are committed that the exposure to video games is the least of anyones worries.
The second article explains how Harvey Weinstein has separated himself from working on violent movies. The article starts out summarizing Weinstein's achievements in the movie industry then continuing on to how he bravely spoke up about the issue when no one else had the courage to do so. Although it is uncertain whether or not media violence and actual violence are related, Weinstein decided he no longer wants to work on such films. The article also discuses real life events such as Sandy Hook and how we never really had a discussion about media violence even after that incident occurred. I agree that being exposed to too much media violence is worse than being exposed to a small amount. I think it is great that we are finally having this conversation about media violence because people are more likely to take it seriously if it is brought up by someone widely known as an producer of violent films.
The third article is much more direct than the first two articles. It was written by Marilyn Manson after the Colorado school shooting and explains that we haven’t become more violent as the result of movies, video games, or other technology but because of technology we are now able to spread the knees about what is happening across the world. Manson did not supply any direct evidence because there isn’t any proof whether or not media violence and actual violence are related. However, he gave several examples explaining how it isn’t the media that is to blame for violent crimes but instead it is the person who commits it. It is true, we love to blame outside forces. We cannot simply blame video games, movies, or television shows for our violent behavior. As Manson wrote we live in a free country and with the freedom we have been given comes responsibility.
I found the third article the most convincing because it seemed the most direct. I felt like the writer was talking to me. Although there is no correct answer when it comes to whether or not media violence effects actual violence I tended to lean towards the fact that it does not. My beliefs did not change while reading these articles but after reading the third article my beliefs became even stronger. I had not thought of all of the points given in Manson’s article including the point that we all search for something or someone else to blame when the blame may be in ourselves. The three articles were very persuasive because they all included evidence that strongly supported their beliefs. While reading the articles I agreed with several points given but my beliefs have not changed.
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