Summary Of Violent Media Is Good For Kids By Gerard Jones

Gerard Jones’s “Violent Media Is Good for Kids” is a compelling piece about his perspective on violent media and how it correlates with youth. In my opinion, Jones article was thoughtful in the way he connected it back to his own personal experiences. Although, well written, Jones lacked key components in solidifying his argument. I believe Jones is less coming of age, and more catering to the ideals of his own youth. For example, from my own personal experience, the characters he mentions would not be viewed as violent in my world. Even though I disagree at points, I believe Jones’s wrote a thought provoking article that was true to his time. Jones starts his argument by explaining his own personal experience with violent media.

He writes “My parents, not trusting the violent world of the late 1960s, built a wall between me and the crudest elements of American pop culture. Then the Incredible Hulk smashed through it” (Jones 1). This quote exemplifies how in the 60s comic books were viewed as the violence in the world, and how Jones parents closed him off from this in hopes he’d turn out normal. Then the Hulk came around and opened a door to Jones mind. Although I enjoy the way Jones introduces the Hulk as his savior, I believe this is the point of his article where it strays from the idea of violent media. When one thinks of violent media, you think blood, gore, often guns, and things young kids should stay away from. When one thinks of stories such as the Hulk, they often see a misunderstood guy, who uses his power for good. Now I cannot speak on the 60s, it may have been a different time back then. Maybe in 1960 violence was a robber running down the street with a woman’s purse, and then bam out of nowhere the hulk smashes him to bits! But Jones does not stop his argument at his own personal experience, he then proceeds to connect his own personal experience to those of his

As a comic book nerd, myself I agree that indulging yourself into something helps you mask the world around you. But it’s hard to just introduce what the real-world critiques as violent games into the lives of young children everywhere when you know the disgusting truth around them. Just like it has been shown to help young teens it has also been shown to influence others to do horrible tragic things. Living 34 minutes away from Sandy Hook Elementary School, I have seen what violent media could do to the minds of people. But I guess in Jones defense it is all about experience, he can easily brush off the opposition with a simple “but all the while, especially in the wake of the recent burst of school shootings” (Jones 2). But when it hits close to home, he’ll be more reluctant to refer to violent media as “good”. What Jones and I can both agree on is that media such as superheroes and Disney characters who have an audience of 2+ is what’s suitable for kids. Whereas something that has a rating of 14+ should not be even considered in a world where children are so easily