Modern Society, Media, and Violence

             In modern-day society, the media, advertising, and entertainment industry has become a powerful means that influence how consumers view themselves and the world around them. With murders, assaults, and rapes being frequently telecasted, and with serial killers and mass murders continually making headlines, it seems logical to assume that mass media is responsible for endorsing violence in the world today.
             Violent television shows, movies, video games and toys promote aggression and destructive behavior. As such entertainment is profitable, the manufacturers target it at those, who are likely to imitate it, and thus promote violence. Its most lethal impact therefore, falls on children and the teenagers.
             The two largest kinds of media that contain violence today are the movies and television. The violence in these two forms of media have a very large impact, due to widespread movie theaters, and ninety-nine percent of homes having at least one television. Television violence is the front and foremost way that children and teenagers are exposed to media violence. A recent study counting the number of violent acts on television shows that on primetime television, one report found that 50 crimes and 12 murders were committed per hour. Another report found that 20 violent acts per hour were committed on a Saturday morning cartoon show. Characters that have desirable attributes, making them favorable role models, initiate almost 40% of violence. Humor is included in at least 40% of violent scenes, leading to the conclusion that violence is not objectionable. However, half of the violence displayed would be lethal or crippling if it were to occur in real life. Evidence shows that by the time the average American youngster is 18, he will have viewed an estimated 18,000 murders on television.
             The second media that exposes the younger generation to violence is the movies, as they are constantly watched at home and in the theatre, and ...

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Modern Society, Media, and Violence. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 16:02, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/81701.html