Violence in Cartoons Essay Example
Alyson Taggart
Internet Research #1
Due: 10/04/10
Violence in Cartoons
Many studies show that violence in cartoons effect children’s behavior. Cartoons such as Toy Story, Scooby Doo, or Tom and Jerry all show children that violence is funny and acceptable behavior. Children are unable to determine the difference between right and wrong, and are very likely to imitate what they see. When a child’s hero such as Batman throws someone through a wall, the child copies what they see because someone they respect does the same thing. Violence in children’s television is believed to cause the child to be more aggressive and violent.
Children start to believe that it is okay when they see their superhero use violence to solve problems. According to Diane Levin and Nancy Carlson-Paige, the authors of ‘The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Teachers Voice Concern’, teachers “reported seeing an increase in violence as children imitated what they had seen on the screen”. Children who imitate what they see on television shows may hurt others and themselves by imitating stunts they see their role-models doing on the television. Power Rangers are actors who play the role of everyday teenagers that get rewarded for their violent acts. Teachers and parents reported that “many children say they want to grow up and be a Power Ranger” (Levin and Paige, 2003), not realizing that what they are seeing is fictional. Teachers also reported that “children were confused over whether or not the Power Rangers were pretend or real” (Levin and Paige, 2003). This becomes a problem because then children believe that this behavior is real and that its acceptable.
Many parents are under the impression that if a movie or show is rated G then it is acceptable for their young children to watch it. What they don’t realize is that movies rated G are just as violent as movies that are rated PG. They also may not realize that their child may be too young to understand the actions they are seeing.
Internet Research #1
Due: 10/04/10
Violence in Cartoons
Many studies show that violence in cartoons effect children’s behavior. Cartoons such as Toy Story, Scooby Doo, or Tom and Jerry all show children that violence is funny and acceptable behavior. Children are unable to determine the difference between right and wrong, and are very likely to imitate what they see. When a child’s hero such as Batman throws someone through a wall, the child copies what they see because someone they respect does the same thing. Violence in children’s television is believed to cause the child to be more aggressive and violent.
Children start to believe that it is okay when they see their superhero use violence to solve problems. According to Diane Levin and Nancy Carlson-Paige, the authors of ‘The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Teachers Voice Concern’, teachers “reported seeing an increase in violence as children imitated what they had seen on the screen”. Children who imitate what they see on television shows may hurt others and themselves by imitating stunts they see their role-models doing on the television. Power Rangers are actors who play the role of everyday teenagers that get rewarded for their violent acts. Teachers and parents reported that “many children say they want to grow up and be a Power Ranger” (Levin and Paige, 2003), not realizing that what they are seeing is fictional. Teachers also reported that “children were confused over whether or not the Power Rangers were pretend or real” (Levin and Paige, 2003). This becomes a problem because then children believe that this behavior is real and that its acceptable.
Many parents are under the impression that if a movie or show is rated G then it is acceptable for their young children to watch it. What they don’t realize is that movies rated G are just as violent as movies that are rated PG. They also may not realize that their child may be too young to understand the actions they are seeing.