A Rhetorical Analysis of Editorial, “the Effects of Violence in Children’s Cartoons”

on television they are more likely to imitate such acts at a younger age. When children watch violent shows they become more aggressive and they have more violent tendencies. Children view characters in T.V. shows as their role models when they see them doing risky acts they think that it is normal behavior, and are more likely to mimic the acts in their preteen years. Physiologist have linked childhood exposure to violence through media.When children watch television shows that are too mature for them they are more likely to see the world as a scary unsafe place. Even television that is designed for kids can send a message that fighting and destroying things is fun and acceptable.”Children under (age) 2 learn a lot by facial expression, tone of voice, and body language — much of which doesn’t translate well on a flat screen, especially in animated or cartoon form.”(Darice).Many shows today paint an unrealistic picture of what teen agers should look like and be like. When young kids see such things they are more likely to to try to live up to these standards even if that means taking substances or starving themselves to do it. Too much T.V. time can also lead to behavioral problems such as attention deficit disorder commonly known as ADD. Children who consistently watch four hours of television a day are more likely to be overweight. Physical activity is getting pushed aside in favor of Television shows

Numerous studies have concluded that the content and amount of television programming watched by individuals – especially by children - has a direct result on the behavior of that individual. The behavior affected by television viewing can be anything from a desire for a certain food or material good to violent distemper (Zuckerman 1985.) Recently, more and more woman have given up their traditional role of raising their children opting instead to work during the day and leave their children to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, many children find that spending countless hours in front of the television to be a worthwhile way to entertain themselves. Most parents tell their children never to talk to strangers, but what they fail to realize is that every day their children are subject to the messages and ideas of strangers on the television. In fact, a study concluded that an average American by the age of 18 has spent more time watching television than they have spent in school; this study also went on the state that children spend more time watching television than any other activity besides sleeping. This may explain why an additional study revealed that if a child was told something by his or her parents and then viewed on television something that contradicted what the parents had said, four times out of five the child opted to believe the

In “Violent Media Is Good for Kids” the author Gerard Jones tries persuading his readers on violent media and the reasons

* Forty-six percent of all television violence identified by the study took place in children's cartoons. Children's programs were least likely to depict the long-term consequences of violence (5%) and they portray violence in a humorous fashion 67% of the time. (14)

In his article “Violent Media Is Good For Kids,” comic book author Gerald Jones, claims that violent media such as comic books and cartoons can have a positive effect on our children because children use violent stories to meet their emotional and developmental needs. Jones argues against other people’s views that violent media will have a negative influence on children. Gerald Jones had many strengths in his article which helped support his argument and could possible make his argument effective. His strengths were mainly the use of emotional appeal like story telling and personal experiences to help convince his audience. While Jones’s essay started off strong, he only gave a few weaknesses like the lack of examples and how he only used one reference, his life, to justify his point of view which in the end did not help persuade the audience.

Television is the mainstream of our culture. Violence on television has been a topic of conflict since before 1950. There have been repeated debates on how to protect children from the harmful effects of violence on television. Television is one form of modern media that influences the everyday lives of people. Televised violence has a major effect on how children perceive the world and how they behave. "American television has become the most violent in the world. It is for this reason why researchers have focused their attention toward television violence" (Cantor & Hoffner 424-4-25). Children enjoy watching television and now with the increased technology of cable and movie

The portrayal of violence on television is shown in cartoons, comedies, horrors, dramas, and many other genre television shows. Some cartoons as well as other television shows, endlessly display violence--that youth often view as a form of entertainment. However, the actions and behavior conveyed on the television do not make youth commit violent acts. It induces them to believe that violence is just the standard way of living life. On the television, the lawbreaker gets away with the crime and does not face disciplinary actions, and therefore they are not held responsible for the repercussions of their wrongdoings (Menhard 11).

From early childhood, parents, teachers, and other adults instill in us that violence is bad and unethical. We can all agree that we should avoid certain forms of violent behavior if possible; however, it is incorrect to assume that all forms of violence is bad. In his article "Violent Media is Good For Kids", Gerald Jones argues that "creative violence" such as gory video games, Comic books, and play fighting give children tools to master rage and actually help more kids than they hurt. What the author is saying here is correct because children use these types of influences in imaginary play at a young age,

Over the past two decades, hundreds of studies have examined how violent programming on TV affects children and young people. While a direct "cause and effect" link is difficult to establish, there is a growing consensus that some children may be vulnerable to violent images and messages.

In the modern-day world, people are convinced that the Earth is plagued by mass shootings and other acts of violence because of violent media. Children and adolescents being exposed to violent media is deemed, by society, to be detrimental to their mental health. In Gerard Jones’ “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” he vindicates violent media. Exposing children to violent media through video games, comic books, and movies are beneficial to children in Jones’ claim. He believes that violent media creates opportunities for children and teaches children to overcome their fears in order to battle their own subconscious hurdles.

In “Violent Media is Good for Kids,” Gerard argues that, violent media is not necessarily harmful to kids, rather very essential and of great importance to them and their future lives.

The essay “Violent Media is Good for Kids” by Gerard Jones was published by the New York Times in 2000. Jones was a well-known author both in fiction and nonfiction and mainly focused on comic books. Jones argues that the violent behaviors depicted in comic books can be beneficial because they can help children overcome their fears. Jones incorrectly assumes that all children are the same and although a comic book may help one child, other children may become emotionally scarred by them.

Today’s society is heavily influenced by television. The violence disrupts a child’s learning process and can alter the moral beliefs that an older person has. Children view more violence on Saturday mornings than any other time. The cartoons aimed at little children influence youngsters to mimic violent acts because their parents do not fully explain the effects of the stunts. It is pathetic that in such a technology based society, such a simple thing as television can have a negative effect on people.

Children view violence in different ways when they watch it on television, whether it is cartoons or a type of drama and action programming. After children have watched these television shows, they may have interpreted the meaning into a negative behavior. It could influence them by becoming aggressive, afraid of the world that surrounds them, or it may lead to confusion. When it is said that children may become confused because their parents teach that violence is wrong. When they view someone in a “superhero” position participating in violence, they may see that as it is all right for the simple fact the good person does the action. According to the American Academy of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, “the impact of TV violence may be immediately evident in the child's behavior or may surface years later (AACAP, 2011).”

Young boys are evidently influenced by things in their environment such as media, peers, and family. Elementary school aged boys are influenced easily because these are critical years in developing their sense of individuality and social skills with their peers. The vulnerably of young boys are a reason why they are a target of the popular culture of displaying television violence because they have rarely encountered it in previous years so they find that fighting is intriguing from the action to the cartoon characters in the shows. The children television networks have a choice on what they air, so instead of making a children’s network, like cartoon network, age appropriate shows