MELVIN CLARIDA

PROFESSOR LUCCA

MEDIA AND SOCIETY

20 APRIL 2011


HOW TV REFLECTS VIOLENCE ON SOCIETY

In today’s society, from the research and life experiences I have been through causes me too believe that most shows on TV turns into violence in the society. We all have been guilty of watching a movie or show or even a cartoon that promotes violence left and right. When does a child witness his first violent TV show?

In a recent search done by, (A.C Nelson Co.) “The average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.” At this rate, by the time a child has hit the age of 6 he or she has already watched at least 14months of non stop TV. Out of those 14 months watching TV how much of this time is this child watching a violent TV show. These are the little things in society we have too watch out for if we want too get our mindset out of the way we have now. TV is designed too show you what is most highly liked or viewed, no matter what the cost of another Childs life here, if it sells than they play it. Once a child has basically hit the age of five, he or she has seen at least 2,00 murders or violent acts already. How do we question our selves when something is done violent in the streets? in today’s society the cartoons that are allowed too be aired are like cartoon for adults not kids. There isn’t any good concepts too these cartoons. It’s nothing but killing and crazy expressions about sexual behavior. Like most kids and adults they do as they see. It’s such a high rate of imitation.

Which brings me too my next point,” Imitation”. Where do most people look for the next big action movie, or drug dealing movie where that attracts the street hustlers, and all they see is what they believe in already. So why wouldn’t you think in there mind that they can do it in today’s society. Then you have these cartoon movie where there killing everyone, and brains and all sorts of elicit language and material shown. With crimes at a all time high with children, researchers have come too at least one answer that television is one issue. Today’s society look at this stuff on TV and want too live that life at all expenses, I’ve seen it lose lives and end up in jail.” reveals that public schools experiencing violent incidents increased from 71 to 81 percent over a five-year period (1999-2004). (The Constitutional rights foundation) they are sitting at home for at least 4hours a day as we said earlier in the paper.

In today’s society crimes are at a all-time high in the adolescents and kids areas. Too many prevails most researchers are coming too the same conclusion that TV plays a big role in today’s society. These kids are running out committing some of the same crimes they are watching on TV. Television can show a child his belief and thought process, and if put in his mind that criminal life is the way too be than that what’s usually happening. "have found that children may become ‘immune’ to the horror of violence; gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems; imitate the violence they observe on television; and identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers" (http://www.ucla.edu/curree…ne/violence/iiid.htm). When you have people, children in general watching these realistic shows and cartoons showing this violence over and over you start too gain feeling towards it. It’s not a good thing, but this is what is being played on television, so people are getting played at the cost of promoting violence.

Violence is able too be promoted if it’s a profit on the back end of the deal, but what television isn’t showing is the lives it’s destroying. I can’t even say destroy because at the end of the day it’s unto to you to do such things, but television plays a big influence. Its basically saying too the public that it’s okay to do these things. Millions of people sit at home a night and watch TV. Kids especially are watching these cartoons with a lot of profanity and sexual content. Children who watch violent shows and movies often show signs of violent behavior, what do you expect when it’s on every channel you turn too nowadays?

In recent studies of the subject, 43% of the violent shows or cartoon, does the person playing victim go unharm. Meanwhile 73% of these very same televised programs the one who is doing all the criminal acts go on basically free at free will. Showing our youth that its ok too be a bad guy or violent. Is watching these violent programs, educational? I think so, its educating you too go out and do things that are against the law. Even in most programs the bad guy goes free until the end of the movie. How can you explain too someone who is in love what they are seeing not too watch it. I mean I watched a bunch of movies growing up. People start too idolizes these characters from the movie, you know! They become heroes too these kids and everything about the character becomes a fascination too them and all they see and want to do is become this character and live and do the things just like his or her hero.

Truth is that, kids start too deal with adult issue at a very young age. They are exposed too so much at young age, that when they see these foolish shows on TV they are already accustomed too the behavior already. The graphics on television are really vivid. Can this be a bad thing? Yes I believe so, because while I was growing up we had innocent cartoons, yea they were a little violent but nothing like today’s cartoons. Like some believe that today is more aggressive, so in natural behavior crimes are high, but televised programs are getting worse. Maybe it could be the fact that most Japanese are in the United States doing these cartoons. But because of the way our society today reacts on things its not going too be a good turnout for much longer.

Earlier I was reading some material from an unknown author,”todays television is here too shape our cultures development. By bombarding the unknowing viewers with political, social and economic messages that are in the program. Television shows a small, distorted view of reality, which can damage people’s views of the real world and change how people think and behave.” now this is what a researcher at ucla has too say on the matter. Where does a person draw the line between realistic stuff? We are all guilty of sitting down watching some sort of movie where we finish watching the movie and we were where ever and was imitating right than and there something you found interesting from the movie. But these cartoons that are so vivid nowadays are very risky too play. To target such a young age can be critical.

Why can targeting a young age with these vivid cartoons can be dangerous? Well for certain, at that age you know its easier too make them believe that is the right thing to do be doing. They believe everything they see, it’s so easy too shape there life cause most of the time these kids are sitting around watching TV all day. They are picking up more and more each time they turn the TV on. If someone told you that TV is kind of messing up the proper growth of a child, would you believe it? Yes, it’s a given fact. Before the TV era got real big, the way to learn was from family and had family morals, not nowadays we a technology era. Socialization wasn’t even a question too be with your friends all day long outside or family too have fun. Nope TV keeps these kids occupied, and the government knows this but because this is keeping money in there hands its going to only get worse. some feel that sponge bob square pants is one of the most violent cartoons on the air nowadays, and it also lacks the importantance of educational tips in it, but yet it is the most viewed cartoon on TV. What do you think these kids are saying all these violent behavior and there favorite character is doing all these violent things without no consequence? They feel like its ok to do because they just seen it on TV so it makes it ok too do. It shouldn’t be that way. It should be more educational values.

Little do they know they are creating little monster towards each other, I say this because it’s a fine line between right and wrong. And if it’s wrong that all they see, they go out into the world and do these things. They even turn them against there own friends because they se these shows on TV and goes out and try them with more aggression towards each other and it leads too other serious problem. While watching TV and sitcoms you see some of the wealthiest folks and some of the highest price clothing. This turns most into materialistic things.

You wonder how I may relate this too television causing violence, well coming from low income households, you will constantly see these kids wearing what they see on TV. In some cases I know people who live that nature by any means necessary. So they will rob and steal and scam the system too receive that next best piece of clothing out. The media (TV) is the root of most crimes. In today’s society you are not viewed as a nice looking person unless you are dressed like the stars you see on TV everyday. Why is that, oh that’s simple it’s because what they see on TV is right, anything else is considered wrong. That’s what TV has done too TV nowadays, take a look at an older generation it wasn’t like that. TV made it cool too be in the most expensive cloths

What are the most violent shows on TV? Well its cartoons. Going as far back as roadrunner and cartoons like bugs bunny cartoon etc. They wonder why the youth is some of the highest crimes rates in society. “Kids today are bombarded with sexual messages and images in all media—television, magazines, advertisements, music, movies and the Internet. Parents are often concerned about whether these messages are healthy” (unknown author page 1) how could we ever debate the fact that TV has a big impact on today’s society. Its noticeable in every neighborhood and all environments, it causes all types of problems.

When is it the best time for you too feel comfortable letting your child watch TV, it’s a shame when we fear our children being entertained by stuff that shouldn’t be allowed too be seen on national television. We should be able too let our kids turn on the TV without worrying bout he or she seeing a chucky like cartoon where the whole cartoon is about killing and all types of foolery. It isn’t a good feeling that you are losing your child too the violence on TV too a young age.

TV has basically revolutionized the world with violent behavior. But why is this? Why do we only enjoy ourselves watching someone else causing harm too innocent people? Is it because while we were growing up we got accustomed too seeing violent cartoons growing up and things of such. So all we know is seeing action in the movie makes it best not educational. Very few television stations are teaching morals and values at the same time, and I don’t see anytime soon it changing.

In 2003 alone, “in this year alone we have researched the fact that TV maybe the cause of some crimes, but yet they are still substantial and mostly minor too other causes of crime. Like medical issues and violence risks factors.”(Dr. Craig Anderson) so let me get this straight because its substantial too bigger issue, it shouldn’t be addressed. This is why there is no effort for change. It’s a shame that we know the solution too our problem but yet there is no big drastic changes made yet. I know I am guilty of it, that I can’t stand too sit down and watch a boring movie with no action in it.

Remember in the intro I told you guys I would put some personal experiences in it, well here it is. Growing up where we from, if your not on your game you will get passed by. Meaning if you can’t keep up with the latest fashions or concepts you will like in school get left behind. Television played such a main role in some people’s lives. Growing up I grew up in the era of movies like menace to society and I was watching this at a young age. So all my life I’ve watched nothing but hustlers and street guys. It started out as a imagination and everyday watching more and more TV helped me realized that’s what I wanted to do. I almost messed up my whole life because I wanted too be just like those were talked about on TV, and even though everything on TV wasn’t violent, there were also good things I picked up. But this is what I desired. All in the name of wanting too keep up in the best life had too offer. TV made this want into a need had too had it at any cost, because I see my favorite artist or actor in something I thought was nice. They need too promote more healthy living habits instead of violence all of the time.

In conclusion, this is my personal opinion on the subject. I believe that television has violence in it in every aspect. It’s not getting better because kids are becoming more aggressive year after year. We need too start teach our youth better and not let them sit in front of the TV all day long. It isn’t healthy for our younger youth too sit down and watch to much TV at a time.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dr. Craig Anderson “the influence of media violence on youth” online [online available]

Slotsve, del Carmen, Sarver, and Watkins—Television Violence and Aggression (2008)

http://www.ucla.edu/curree…ne/violence/iiid.htm
http://www.ucla.edu/curree…ne/violence/i...