Assignment 2 Response

2.1

1. Stories of violence and superhuman combat often aid in the emotional development of certain individuals.

2. Jones argues that violent stories aid in the emotional development of children. He says that violent stories like those in comic books allow children to explore the "taboo" feelings that they have inside. As our society largely tries to suppress these feelings, comic violence makes for a good way to release it. There is also the argument that the stories help children cope with difficult situations, like family issues because they can relate to them. It has been shown that oftentimes those that relied on violent stories as children did not revert to drugs or alcohol in later years.

3. A common argument against Jones' opinion is that violent games, music, comics, etc for children, results in actual violence. For this argument Jones references a girl who utilized "gangsta rap" to get through difficult family situations. Despite all the violence, hate, and cursing of the rap, she never did resort to violence as some claim is bound to happen. Another rebuttal is that allowing children to grow up "too passive, too distrustful of themselves, [and] too easily manipulated," may do significantly more harm than anything otherwise. Violent stories in a sense help children grow.

4. Preventing children from releasing their inner feelings may in-turn be very damaging when they grow up.

2.8

According to Gerald Jones, violent media can actually have positive effects on young people because it allows them to explore feelings that they are forced to keep at bay due to social norms. Jones also believes that violent media are a positive influence on children because it helps them develop a sense of self identity. It prevents them from growing up too passively and without a sense of trusting themselves. Jones makes some good points. For example he says that he once knew a girl who relied on "gangsta rap" to cope with difficult family situations. In the end, she didn't turn to violence or drugs as some often attribute to a childhood filled with violent media. However, there is still concern as to whether this would be the case for all children. It is always possible that a child could be more apt to move into violence, inspired by say, a superhero comic. All in all, Jones poses an interesting perspective on the issue of childhood violence. A better result may come about after further scientific investigation.