Gerard Jones's Essay 'Violent Media Is Good For Kids'

Controlling Your Inner Rage In Gerard Jones short essay, “Violent Media Is Good for Kids” he argues violent comic books, bloody video games, and explicit rap is beneficial for youth. Jones believes violent media does not make a child violent, but helps them release rage and help develop confidence. Jones uses a personal example of how the Hulk helped him in his adolescence. Due to this experience as a child, he decided to research and discover if other kids had the same issues. As Jones began his investigation, he kept hearing the same answer, “people pull themselves out of emotional traps by immersing themselves in violent stories” (565). As he found his theory was common in youth, he sought out the expertise of psychologist, Melanie Moore. Moore thinks very similar to Jones, stating, “Children need violent entertainment to explore the inescapable feelings that they’ve been taught to deny and to reintegrate those feelings into a more whole, more complex, and more resilient selfhood” (qtd. by Jones 566). He then goes on to explain how rage can be healthy …show more content…
Jones primary goal in his essay was to convince the audience that violent media can have a positive impact on children and teens if used properly. He is very conceiving when speaking of his theory; he uses personal examples, a psychologist’s study, and other case studies on families. He states, “The dual-identity concept at the heart of many superhero stories helps kids negotiate the conflicts between the inner self and public self as they work through the early stages of socialization” (Jones 566). I find this statement to be the most convincing because it is relatable and realistic. I believe Jones accomplished his task of convincing the reader of his theory on the media and rage, and has helped spark new perspectives in many