Violence in Media

Video Game Violence:

This article gives a detailed argument that video game violence influences real life aggression. Using copious amounts of data from the last 20 years on the effects of video games, Gentile and Anderson cover a scope of topics in their 16 page paper, from the history of violence in video games, to a description of the different studies that have been conducted, to the public policy options to deal with what they believe is a causal relationship between violent video games and aggression.

Columbine: 

In this article, Marilyn Manson boldly refutes claims that his music, or any media may have been responsible for the columbine shootings. He attacks the media for celebrating and publicizing criminals like the Columbine shooters and for scapegoating musicians and movies for the behaviors of these individuals. Strengthening his argument by pointing out that the shooters were not actually fans of his and that the messages of his songs have been misinterpreted by the media, Manson defends himself and attacks the media industry that put him in the cross hairs in the first place.

Movie Violence: 

In the wake of Harvey Weinstein announcing that he would no longer make violent movies, Andrew
O'Hehir explores the complicated relationship between movie violence and real violence. He applauds Weinstein for taking a stand but points out that there is not conclusive evidence of the connection. Overall violence is down in this country, he points out, in a time when violent media is at it's most prevalent. O'Hehir urges caution in jumping to either side of this issue because it's just so hard to know what is influencing mass shootings.