Bashing the Violent Media--OK?

On Apr 29, 2008, at 10:20 AM, David Kleeman wrote:
DK: Am I then to conclude you believe that every act of aggression or violence is directly caused by violent media exposure? 

--Not any more than I think a girl with an eating disorder has been affected by the culture, or that a kid who smokes has been affected by movies or a child that is overweight has been affected by advertising. I think that due to the exposure, each act becomes more likely, even if just a tiny bit more likely.

--As I said, from 8-24%. You don't like my story? OK, I appreciate your POV, but still think the example works. You don't have to, but the story is all too true. It made an indelible impression on me. You should have seen this girl; the guards agreed; she was an angel.

--Personally, I don't doubt that there are many more kids out there like Michelle who have tripped while walking the tightrope of this incredibly violent, gun-laden (accelerator-laden), drug riddled, youth culture. I taught 7th graders in one of the toughest public schools in this country. Teachers in those schools know how easy it is to push good kids into violence. To me, a trillion dollar industry is a big push.
 
DK: I welcome your critique of the book and study; learning to analyze and synthesize varied perspectives on media, media literacy and young people is why I come here.
--Cool.

DK: It’s the over-reaching, media bashing, guilt by association (without even the association!) that I object to.

--With all respect, we'll again have to agree to diagree. My motto is, "If they deserve bashing (your word--a stereotype), criticize (my word) them!" Big Media continues to pursue profits at the expense of our kids. I am in the camp of Kilbourne, McChesney, Pipher, Jhally, Gerbner, Postman, etc. You don't have to be there.

--However, recognize the extent of Big Media's coverup. The pro-violence industry manipulates the culture so much that honesty and reality demand more criticism, not less.

--Studies (see Gentile, Huessmann & Taylor) show that during the last few decades, as the effects research has grown more persuasive, Big Media, which owes most of it's salaries to anti-social messages, covers the responsible research less and less, while making sure that stuff like Kutner and Freidman get plenty of coverage.

--Lastly, in those same decades, Big Media's role modeling has been a non-stop race to the bottom: Body image, violence, politics, nutrition, sexism, poverty, racism, war . . . . Just keeping it real, pick a subject.

--You do what you have to do; I'll do mine. I respect your opinion and appreciate the dialogue.

Going to play Pokemon now, because it is as good as chess,

Bob

ACME/Free Press Media Education 2.0 Summit
Minneapolis, June 5th -

Presenter, Media Educator, Consultant
www.bobmccannon.org

Co-President, Co-Founder
The Action Coalition for Media Education,
www.acmecoalition.org
2808 El Tesoro Escondido, Albuquerque NM 87120
mccannon@flash.net (505) 839-9702

Author, "Media Literacy/Media Education
Literature Review" in Children Adolescents
and Media, 2nd edition - college text, due:
July, 2008

Executive Director, 1993 -2005
The New Mexico Media Literacy Project (founded 1993)