SUMMARY
This article is directed towards parents and teachers, informing them of the negative affects violence in media may have on their children or students. Although a direct correlation between violent behavior and the amount of exposure youth have to violent media hasn’t been proven, it is becoming an accepted idea. Twenty-six percent of adults still “have residual anxiety many years after viewing horror movies in childhood.” Many media industries market these violent films to teenagers and children. In fact much of the time they have the young population review the movies and concepts. It is proven that eighty percent of the movies were in actuality targeted towards the population less than seventeen years old. The article suggests a few things that parents can do to help prevent the viewing of these violent films to ultimately prevent violent behavior, increased fear, and desensitization to actual violence. Parents need to explain their stance on violent movies and set family rules for their children to abide by; they also need to be well informed of recent movies and the ratings. The article warns of “PG” ratings because they “actually contain content that isn’t suitable for young adolescents.”
MY RESPONSE
The media is so accessible and prominent with cable television in the majority of American families, the Internet, magazines, facebook, and even billboard advertisements. As I drive down the freeway I am constantly being bombarded with advertisements, sometimes graphic and even disturbing. I definitely think that as we expose ourselves to violent material we become desensitized to the seriousness of violence, especially teen violence. The movies make this violence seem acceptable even normal at times. The movies hardly ever show the consequences of the violent behavior, as long as the ends justify the means? Or do the ends ever justify the means? But then again I guess it doesn’t really matter because the movies don’t “include” any “consequences” for these actions. I think this gives teenagers a skewed perspective of violence, thus leading them to violent actions themselves and accepting violence around them. It is a scary thought that media industries are targeting the youth of the world to view their movies. I think that all too often parents are oblivious to the material their children are watching because they view their children, as good kids and can trust them. Although most teenagers are good kids it doesn’t make them immune from violent media and it’s affects. I think saying that “PG” ratings can be inappropriate for teenagers is a little extreme, seeing you can’t be overprotective, but I do believe that parents should communicate with their children.
