Technology And Television Essay, Research Paper
Technology and Television
Adrian Dominguez
Professor Fourzan
English
November 30, 1999
Technology has created many good things for humanity such as cures for illnesses,
ways to make transportation faster and many other things. Yet technology has also done
harm to human culture, and it is easily spread to many people all over the world. This
dark side is communication, either by television or radio, violence is spread everyday. The
most affected are children because they are young, easily persuaded and their innocence
can not distinguish right and wrong. Children tend to see violence as a ?funny factor? and
practice it not only at home but also in other places like school, playgrounds and stores.
Children are more likely to be affected by cartoon violence. This is because in a
cartoon a character can easily be destroyed and revived five minutes later with no serious
injury. Not only do children think this is funny, but think it is true because no one tells
them that it is make believe. Reports say that this might cause children to commit serious
crimes because their is little or no consequence. (Official AAP website pg. 1) Violence is
what sells these days from every day cartoons like Power Rangers to Pokemon, each show
contains someone being seriously injured and in seconds being cured. Networks should
explain to children that the acts of violence are made up: in a fun and simple way that they
can understand.
Television violence leads to many problems. CYFC stated in an article that ?Just
as children learn from their family they also learn from their super heroes. (Official CYFC
Webpage pg. 1) children tend to become either fighters or victims and may encourage or
provoke fights among friends. Many schools began to ban Pokemon trading cards not
only because children did not pay attention in class, but because they would fight each
other for the cards. This type of violence is encouraged by commercials because if a child
does not have the product they are not cool or part of the group. Also the more a child
sees violent acts of crime the more they become immune to it. For example a child will
lose all emotions and will have no sympathy to the victims of crime. They might also think
that it is funny and laugh at people just as they would if they were watching
television.(Official AAp Webpage)
Violence is not only in cartoons it is also in movies like Austin Powers the Spy
Who Shagged Me. The name itself has a hidden meaning, the word shagged is not
appropriate. Their one bit in the movie that shows a woman being shot, blown up with a
bazooka, and thrown out a window. When the bit is over Austin asks her why don?t you
want to die? Another bit shows a rocket in the shape of the male genitalia and is then
described in many forms. A child may see their parents laugh and repeat these words in a
place where they should not be spoken. What if the child finds a gun in their parent?s
drawers and decides to shoot their brother or sister? No long
child may become traumatized. Parents, not only the networks, should take the time to
explain to their children that it is only make-believe. This can prevent a horrible accident
from ever occurring, because now a child knows better.
Violence is not only on television it is also on the radio and the music people like
to hear. Many songs portray women as low creatures that are beaten by their pimps or
how drugs, alcohol and guns are ?cool? and solve every problem. their are times when a
person turns on the radio and does not notice what the lyrics mean. While the music is on
a child can be listening and slowly will begin to decipher what the singer is implying. As
the Child begins to make sense of what the singer means they might end up practicing
what their role models sing. They might use drugs or commit acts of violence because the
singers do it in their songs. Before a parent even realizes what has happened their child
might have become a menace to society.
Another reason that evil and violence is spread so easily through television and
radio is because all the violence is justified. This means that all the fighting is done in the
name of justice and good in other words good vs. evil.(Official Edmontonjournal
Webpage) In the eyes of children beating up other people is all right as long as the other
child did something wrong. Though it is wrong a child feels glory and happiness because
they are doing what their violent super heroes would do.
technology has helped the world but has it done harm to the innocent minds of the
children. Many groups and studies like CYFC, say yes, and have used technology to
create object such as the V-chip to regulate the amount of violence a child sees on
television. Even though an adult can distinguish the difference between real violence and
fake violence a child can not and their innocence should not be taken for granted. Not
only are they blackening the minds of the children they might help create violent members
of society if not corrected. This does not mean that a child should go without television
radio but that a parent should be more cautious and regulate what their children watch.
Works Cited
?The Changing Face of T.V. Violence.? Journal Extra.
14 Jan. 1998. http://www.edmontonjournal.com
/archives/011498tv.html
?Media Violence and Media Literacy.? American Academy
of Pediatrics. 23 Nov 1999. http://www.aap.org
/advocacy/child healthmonth/media.htm
?T.V. Violence and what can Parents Do.? CYFC.
23 Nov 1999. http://www.cyfc.vmn.edu/Documents
/C/C/CC1016.html/
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?The Changing Face of T.V. Violence.? Journal Extra.
14 Jan. 1998. http://www.edmontonjournal.com
/archives/011498tv.html
?Media Violence and Media Literacy.? American Academy
of Pediatrics. 23 Nov 1999. http://www.aap.org
/advocacy/child healthmonth/media.htm
?T.V. Violence and what can Parents Do.? CYFC.
23 Nov 1999. http://www.cyfc.vmn.edu/Documents
/C/C/CC1016.html/