Jessica Zarate Blog 3 Takeaways

Currently, one major issue my children and I are faced with in our home is technology usage. It is not necessarily the exposure to technology but more how they choose to use technology. Often more times than not my children are attracted to violent, games, movie and other forms of media. As a parent, altogether avoiding “violent popular culture” is incredibly difficult. Not only are 7,9, and 11 year old exposed to violent content on television, theaters, as well as especially video games. It is very hard to eliminate exposure to violence when it is all around us. the According to Sternheimer (2013), “Because Americans spend so much time, energy, and money focusing on violent popular culture, ironically we fail to understand violence itself. If violence is really the issue of importance here, we should start by studying violence” (p. 103). In chapter five, Sternheimer goes on to discuss how crime and violence has gone down in the last two decades, as media begins to expand within the United States. She also makes a valid point in stating “It is important to consider the context of violence in media to understand how people of all ages make sense of violence in media, their communities, our nation, and the world” (104). In my opinion, this quote in simpler terms means for individuals to consider the source. Something my father whom is 61 years old and grew up in a different era might perceive something as more violent than I would. When studying the video games my children play and are exposed to, I am shocked to see the graphic content in those games. On game for example is “Grand Theft Auto”. To my son, the violence, cussing, and crude content is not shocking at all to him; whereas, my father and I myself are appalled and shocked so see images that that in a video games. One of the terms used in the text is “emotionally immune” and I would say this term applies to my children and other young children who are constantly being exposed to these types of games and shows. I would also agree with the text where Sternheimer (2013) states, “Of course, witnessing violence in person has a different meaning that mediated violence. Ironically, critics of media violence seem to have problems distinguishing between in-person violence and media violence” (125). (That game was given away to an adult friend by the way) As a parent, with all of the gadgets today, I have to be 100% on top of my children in what they are looking at online and with the games they are playing. I have been naive in the past, and they have pulled the wool over me in more than one instance. For these reasons, I am looking at things from a protectionist’s standpoint. It is my job to limit their exposure to media and content I find inappropriate for their age whether they like it or not. The chapter then goes on to state that people seem to think that child violence is on the rise when “the reality is that adults commit most crime, but a much smaller percentage of these stories make the news” (107). I would agree that the media focuses on stories that will gain attention and sell more newspapers and magazines. Which story would you as the audience be more interested in reading, “14 year Old Boy Murders His Siblings”, or “Man of Los Angeles Burglarizes and Murders”. I believe that the first headline would automatically draw more attention and therefore gain the popularity in the media. Sternheimer (2013) also goes on to state, “Violence may be an act committed by an individual, but violence is also a sociological, not just an individual phenomenon, one that is related to patterns of persistently high unemployment, limited educational opportunities, and geographic isolation from more stable communities” (108). Chapter five has plenty of great statistical information but overall in my opinion, children in the classroom as well as at home do not possess the skills at younger ages to be trusted whole heartily with technology.
According to the NCCP, “Being a child in a low-income or poor family does not happen by chance. Parental education and employment, race/ethnicity, and other factors are associated with children experiencing economic insecurity” (Jones, Ekono, & Skinner 2015). Their research supports the idea that the amount of children living in low income families is on the rise and has jumped from 39% to 44% from 2007 to 2013. The great thing about media, is the capability to shine light on major issues such as these. Child poverty is a huge deal. There is no reason why children in America should go to bed hungry. ty. The media can be put to good use and shine light on major issues such as these. Websites such as these can show statistics to educate Americans and facilitate change in society. People can create website and use their media knowledge for good use, but listing local resources and organizations people can turn to for support and assistance. YouTube is also a great source for bringing attention to real life issues. For example, in an additional resource retrieved from YouTube 60 Minutes visited homeless families and interviewed the parents and the children. They asked a group of children what it feels like to go to bed hungry. The children were very honest in describing their hunger pains and feelings. One quote from the video that stood out to me was (20011) “Homeless kids tiptoe in the world of insecurity, hoping to be invisible” (9:45). A person might see this video and find ways in their own capacity to make a difference in their community. This is a great example of how media can be used for the positive.