Zachary Long
Professor Elchlepp
English 103H
Essay 2
October 12, 2014
Analysis of "Violent Media is Good for Kids" Within Gerard Jones' article, "Violent Media is Good for Kids", first published in Mother Jones on June 20 of 2000, Jones makes a claim explicitly within his title that violent media is good for children, specifically by allowing for children to form an identity and teaching them to overcome life's challenges using the tools they have i.e. channeling their natural, darker feelings such anger. Jones' argument carries with it many strengths such as the use of Melanie Moore as a source and his varied gender examples clearly showing no differentiation in the results of children exposed to violent media based on gender. However, …show more content…
Children can channel their anger through violent media such as comic books, as well as develop their sense of self by doing so. Violent media teaches chidlren how to overcome obstacles. While children are using violent media, they are keeping away from dangerous activities. Violent media allows children to delveop a unique identity through self-expression. My research associate, Melanie Moore Ph.D., also shares the opinion that violent media is good for kids. My personal research also supports my claim, as I have witnessed the positive effects of violent media on various children. "When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood." …show more content…
He uses his son as an example of the male subject, stating that "for two weeks he lived in [the Power Rangers]. Then he put them aside. And he climbed the tree." (201) The tree in his example takes the universal form of life's obstacles, overcome by the tools developed within his son by exposing him to violent media. He also uses "one little girl who went around exploding with fantasies so violent" (201), other parents would question the parenting of the mother to her face. Yet, through exposure to the violent media which Jones offered, the girl was able to express her feelings and grew more "self-controlled and socially competent." (201-202) By using both genders, Jones demonstrates the application of violent media helps children, at least according to his own
Professor Elchlepp
English 103H
Essay 2
October 12, 2014
Analysis of "Violent Media is Good for Kids" Within Gerard Jones' article, "Violent Media is Good for Kids", first published in Mother Jones on June 20 of 2000, Jones makes a claim explicitly within his title that violent media is good for children, specifically by allowing for children to form an identity and teaching them to overcome life's challenges using the tools they have i.e. channeling their natural, darker feelings such anger. Jones' argument carries with it many strengths such as the use of Melanie Moore as a source and his varied gender examples clearly showing no differentiation in the results of children exposed to violent media based on gender. However, …show more content…
Children can channel their anger through violent media such as comic books, as well as develop their sense of self by doing so. Violent media teaches chidlren how to overcome obstacles. While children are using violent media, they are keeping away from dangerous activities. Violent media allows children to delveop a unique identity through self-expression. My research associate, Melanie Moore Ph.D., also shares the opinion that violent media is good for kids. My personal research also supports my claim, as I have witnessed the positive effects of violent media on various children. "When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood." …show more content…
He uses his son as an example of the male subject, stating that "for two weeks he lived in [the Power Rangers]. Then he put them aside. And he climbed the tree." (201) The tree in his example takes the universal form of life's obstacles, overcome by the tools developed within his son by exposing him to violent media. He also uses "one little girl who went around exploding with fantasies so violent" (201), other parents would question the parenting of the mother to her face. Yet, through exposure to the violent media which Jones offered, the girl was able to express her feelings and grew more "self-controlled and socially competent." (201-202) By using both genders, Jones demonstrates the application of violent media helps children, at least according to his own