Sociologists and cultural critics still argue about the effects of media violence. I don’t think anybody really knows the answer so why even bring it up in the first place? So kids, why even stock the flames? Still, violence and sensational gore is part and parcel of the beloved action-adventure film, science fiction, and suspense thrillers. It is an important component in the craft of screen writing. In this age of computer animation and special effects, it has become as mundane as ‘coffee and donuts’. Believe me, if they ever pull it all out, you’ll sit up on your sofa one day after your favorite show, or leave the movies after the world was saved and wonder what you…
In Gerard Jones’ “Violent Media Is Good for Kids” found in our text, Practical Argument, Jones argues that children should not be sheltered from violence. Gerard Jones discusses his own experiences growing up in a home that banned any violent media. He was a scared, introverted child in desperate need of help understanding the feelings he was taught to bottle up. When a few Incredible Hulk comics somehow made it past his parents and right into his eager hands he was a child reformed. The stories of the violent brute known as The Hulk gave Jones an outlet for his internal rage. Consequently, he became braver and happier with his new so called “fantasy self”.…
Many of Jones acknowledgements in this story come from self-accomplishments through reading comics and violent media that has led his path to success. He states how he “followed the Hulk to make new friends in the geek world.” This statement can emphasize on how he had things in common with other people at his school and allowed him to be outspoken. These comics gave him courage to stand up and be himself, but it could have also led him to be crazy and unstable in the head. It seems…
Jones’s essay does a good job of connecting himself to the audience, even in his first example, where he uses his own personal experience of how The Hulk saved him in his childhood to introduce his point. The violence of the comic books helped him both get over his fears and find an identity for himself, as seen when Gerard states that he later wrote comic books and action movies in his thirties. In the essay, Gerard has many real life examples of how comics, rich in combat and killings, have helped children become stronger individuals. I think his use of real life examples really captures…
In “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” the author Gerard Jones claims that violent media is good for children because it prepares them for violence in reality and teaches them how to control with rage. He argues against people’s view of violent media being negative influence on children. This view suggests that it is important to keep children away from violent media because it promotes imaginary gun battles, killing, blood, and violent fighting. In response, the author argues that such violence in media can give children a tool to master their rage.…
In Gerald Jones’ article “Violent Media is Good for Kids” contained in the book Practical Argument he uses logos to present his argument that the censorship on the emotions of children. The censorship of children from their own emotional tendencies is preventing them from exploring and understating themselves. Jones provides example of this by describing a little girl that had been acting out her anger in her writings and drawings. Adults that interacted in her life attempted to control the violent acts that she wrote about causing her to act out more. With the help of the little girls’ she was encouraged to express herself in her writings. This led to the girl to become more self-confident about herself and to channel her anger better.…
Jones uses his life as an example in proving that violent media is good for kids. He explains how his parents tried to shield him from violent media but "the Incredible Hulk smashed through it." The Hulk taught him to be a more self-empowered person. He tried this violent…
Young children who observe their surroundings and learn from it are like a sponge. Even though people point out that violence is influencing young children through media a lot, this article argues media has its own benefits if used correctly.…
I was especially fond of Jones’s creativity in not using the overused example of “standing up to a bully.” As a child Jones describes himself as “small and puny” unable to face any of his fears. Then one day his mother’s friend suggested that she bought The Hulk comics for Jones. Beginning that day Jones describes his delight to fulfill his inner rage and relate it to the Hulk. Jones claims that this is his inspiration to one day becoming both a famous action movie film writer and comic book writer. As he interviews and comes across children who have also been inspired by his works he says they all had one thing in common, they overcame personal fears as “people pulling themselves out of emotional traps by immersing themselves in violent stories.” In modern society where rage is absolutely opposed, so many kids are unable to release their rage. Where is all this bottled up anger supposed to…
The essay, “Violent media is good for kids”, written by Gerard Jones, was first published in Mother Jones magazine in the year 2000, and nearly two decades later, this subject is still relevant today. Jones is author of violent media himself, as he has written many books for Marvel Comics. The essay argues that violent media is good for kids, which is also Jones’ thesis. To support his thesis, Jones discusses several arguments, such as his personal experience with violent media, as well as his son’s use of superheroes to overcome fears and other overwhelming emotions. Jones also references to authority to back his theory and assert the necessity of violent media as an outlet for overcoming emotional…
Jones uses his personal experiences and researches to support his thesis that violent media is not entirely bad for the children. Jones was a lonely boy and his parents did not let him connect with the violent media. He lived like a nice boy until that day when “Incredible Hulk smashed through it” (para. 2). He got a chance to play with violent video games because his mother’s students convinced her to violent media has a positive side too. That one change helped him to be “unafraid of his desires and the world’s disapproval.” Now he can handle any difficult situation, and now he would be able to fight against the modern society. Another example that Jones gives to prove his point is his son experience. Jones mentions, “In the first grade, his friends started climbing a tree at school. But he was afraid: of falling, of the centipedes crawling on the trunk, of sharp branches, of his friend’s derision” (para. 6). Jones gives his…
Jones begins by describing his own childhood and the loneliness felt by being consumed with internal fears of adolescent boyhood and acceptance. His parents who didn’t trust the violent world separated him from “the crudest elements of American pop culture” until the Hulk arose through Marvel Comics (195). To his world, the Hulk represented everything he was feeling. The Hulk’s rage carried Jones into this fantasy world where he was unafraid of “the world’s disapproval,” and became “unhesitating and effective in action” (195). This enhanced creativity ultimately resulted in his ideas transferring into paper and as an adult saw his own creations turned into games and cartoons. Jones promotes this upon his own son who he sees shying away from perceived stereotypes and enhances his own creativity to surpass the most basic fears such as tree climbing. The problem with his initiating argument is that Jones is comparing violent media to an angered superhero. The Hulk and all other Marvel Comic books do display forms of violence; however, they also function as moral lessons for…
In “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” Gerard Jones states and tries to prove that violent media is indeed good for children. He attempts this by saying that he believes, he grew up too passive because he was sheltered from the media. Hearing that the media has "lofty messages of pacifism and tolerance,” his mother borrowed some comics for him to read so he could learn about independence. After reading the comics he said that he followed Hulk for a while then switched to "more sophisticated heroes, “and "finally found my own lead along a twisting path to a career and an identity." Later on, his son was afraid to climb a tree, so Jones read the stories of Tarzan to his son. About a week or two later, his son was climbing trees. He also gives other examples of children who used violent media to overcome their stressful and hurtful lives. "When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood." Jones is right to say this; violent media can help kids if it is used in the right way rather than being abused. In recent years there's been dispute about whether or not children should view, or listen to violent media. In "Violent Media is Good for Kids" Gerard Jones says that we should. "When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood." Jones is right to say this; violent media can help kids if it is used in the right way rather than being abused. He doesn't include statistics to back-up his arguments and that is a downfall of Jones's essay. He does however include examples as to why he believes that violent media is good for children. His examples my not be credible, but when you think about it he has a good point: violent media is good for kids if used the right way. So instead of trying to keep the kids away from the media we should…
In modern years, there has been dispute about whether or not children should view, or listen to violent media. In "Violent Media is Good for Kids" Gerard Jones says that we should. "When we try to protect our children from their own feelings and fantasies, we shelter them not against violence but against power and selfhood." Jones is right to say this; violent media can help kids if it is used in the right way rather than being abused. He does not include statistics to back-up his arguments and that is a downfall of Jones's article. He does however include examples as to why he believes that violent media is good for children. His examples maybe far-fetched, but when you think about it, he has a good point violent media is good for kids if used in a specific aspect. Therefore, instead of trying to keep the kids away from the media we should teach them how to use it correctly so that it is productive rather than…
During the past few years, more and more people have been discussing the topic of violent media to figure out if it triggers violent behavior to some people. Some media critics believe that young people play violent video games and read violent comic books as a safe place for kids to let out their aggression. Gerald Jones wrote a passage arguing that violent comic books and video games are useful for young people. He was taught as a little kid that violence was wrong and that anger was something you had to learn to overcome. While he was young, he was given violent comic books that also had good life lessons in them. Since those comic books Jones has been writing action movies and comic books, and made him into the man he is today. He believes…