Video Games and Violence: the Truth Behind the Craze Sweeping Up the Youth
Vince D’Agostino
8 November 2010
ENG 101: Cosby (1-1:50)
Video Games and Violence: The Truth Behind the Craze Sweeping Up the Youth
Video games are wondrous. They allow the user to experience a life they may never be able to experience in reality. Becoming a racecar driver, professional football player, or the king of all middle earth is as easy as popping in a disc. Video games are not a new form of entertainment, although the video games being played today are nothing like the Atari games that once used to dominate. They have become more realistic and violent than many believe they should have, mainly because they are falling into the laps of the youth. Hot topics of discussion range from whether or not video games have led to an increase in youth violence, which was brought together by researcher and writer Henry Jenkins, as well as an opposing view by the MSNBC writer Kristin Kalning. Secondly, whether or not they are marketed towards children was strongly argued by researcher Regina Holtman conducting experiments by having minors purchase mature games. Third, arguing whether or not the games are socially isolating, and Fourth, how gender is portrayed in the games which were both heavily argued by a team of researchers and other writers, some of which are political writers. Although there are strong reasons why there should be no violence in video games, there are many opinions on the subject as well as ways to deal with these problems.
One of the biggest issues with the gaming world today is that many feel that violent video games have led to an epidemic of youth violence. In his article “Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked,” Henry Jenkins explains how the current perception of the use of violent video games by our children is that they are corrupting the minds of the youth and causing them to commit violent crimes. He states that this is not the case, writing “The rate of juvenile violent crime in the United States is at a 30-year low.
8 November 2010
ENG 101: Cosby (1-1:50)
Video Games and Violence: The Truth Behind the Craze Sweeping Up the Youth
Video games are wondrous. They allow the user to experience a life they may never be able to experience in reality. Becoming a racecar driver, professional football player, or the king of all middle earth is as easy as popping in a disc. Video games are not a new form of entertainment, although the video games being played today are nothing like the Atari games that once used to dominate. They have become more realistic and violent than many believe they should have, mainly because they are falling into the laps of the youth. Hot topics of discussion range from whether or not video games have led to an increase in youth violence, which was brought together by researcher and writer Henry Jenkins, as well as an opposing view by the MSNBC writer Kristin Kalning. Secondly, whether or not they are marketed towards children was strongly argued by researcher Regina Holtman conducting experiments by having minors purchase mature games. Third, arguing whether or not the games are socially isolating, and Fourth, how gender is portrayed in the games which were both heavily argued by a team of researchers and other writers, some of which are political writers. Although there are strong reasons why there should be no violence in video games, there are many opinions on the subject as well as ways to deal with these problems.
One of the biggest issues with the gaming world today is that many feel that violent video games have led to an epidemic of youth violence. In his article “Reality Bytes: Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked,” Henry Jenkins explains how the current perception of the use of violent video games by our children is that they are corrupting the minds of the youth and causing them to commit violent crimes. He states that this is not the case, writing “The rate of juvenile violent crime in the United States is at a 30-year low.
Cited: Cumberbatch, Guy. "Only a Game?" New Scientist 10 June 2000: 44-50. Print. Dietz, Tracy L. "An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications for Gender Socialization and Aggressive Behavior." Women and Language 23.2 (1998): 425-42. Print. Griffiths, Mark. "Video Game Violence and Aggression: Comments on 'Video Game Playing and Its Relations with Aggressive and Prosocial Behaviour ' by O. Wiegman and E. G. M. Van Schie." British Journal of Social Psychology. 39.1 (2000): 147-149. Holtman, Regina. "FTC to Veto Violent Videos." Insight on the News 17.9 (2001): 31. Print. Jansz, Jeroen, and Martin Tanis. "Appeal of Playing Online First Person Shooter Games." CyberPsychology and Behavior 10 (1999): 133-36. ArticleFirst. Web. 8 Nov. 2010. Jenkins, Henry. "The Video Game Revolution: "Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked" by Henry Jenkins | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. Kalning, Kristin. "Does Game Violence Make Teens Aggressive? - Technology & Science - Games - On the Level - Msnbc.com. Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. 8 Dec. 2006. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. Scharrer, Erica. "Virtual Violence: Gender and Aggression in Video Game Advertisements." 17 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2010.