Gerard Jones's 'Violent Media Is Good For Kids'

“Violent Media is good for Kids” is an article which attempts to persuade the reader that violence (if used in the correct manner) can help children more than it hurts them. Famous comic-book author Gerard Jones claims that gory video games, comics, and cartoons may do a thing or two in helping to increase a child’s self-confidence. Jones says ‘creative violence’ can help by “giving kids a tool to master their rage.” In this time and age parents are more than ever protective of what their child watches, hears, or even comes into contact with. For all the right reasons including the ‘thug’ culture that was first displayed in hip-hop music but now throughout entertainment even including cartoons such as The Boondocks, Family Guy, and The Simpsons. …show more content…
I was especially fond of Jones’s creativity in not using the overused example of “standing up to a bully.” As a child Jones describes himself as “small and puny” unable to face any of his fears. Then one day his mother’s friend suggested that she bought The Hulk comics for Jones. Beginning that day Jones describes his delight to fulfill his inner rage and relate it to the Hulk. Jones claims that this is his inspiration to one day becoming both a famous action movie film writer and comic book writer. As he interviews and comes across children who have also been inspired by his works he says they all had one thing in common, they overcame personal fears as “people pulling themselves out of emotional traps by immersing themselves in violent stories.” In modern society where rage is absolutely opposed, so many kids are unable to release their rage. Where is all this bottled up anger supposed to …show more content…
In this research Jones and Moore look for how violent children stories help children develop confidence. How it can help them fulfill both their developmental and emotional needs. Moore and Jones created a Power play program which help kids realize their self-worth by having those reading books such as Tarzan, Hulk, and Superman. These books instill that the child can imitate whatever the hero does. The hero who is ruthless and brave does not let anything or anyone stop him/her from achieving their goal. From just reading these stories the child can feel that they can take over the world and nothing can stop them. Pretending to be a hero helps a child conquer fears which can come from being so little, small, and powerless due to such great dependency. Children are also able to fight back against bullies, fears, and great dependency which they can mold into