Summary
Contents
Subject index
The 11 Myths of Media Violence clearly explains why media violence has not only been allowed but encouraged to escalate. Esteemed author W. James Potter challenges many of our assumptions about the relationship between media and violence. He argues that these assumptions are the primary barriers preventing us from confronting the issue of violence in films, TV, and video games. Students and scholars of Mass Media, Communications, Film, and Sociology will find The 11 Myths of Media Violence inspires passionate discussion and innovative research. Consumer activists, teachers, and families will find it an essential resource and invaluable step toward finding solutions to this critical social issue.
Myth 2: The Media are not Responsible for the Negative Effects of Their Violent Messages
Myth 2: The Media are not Responsible for the Negative Effects of Their Violent Messages
A 12-year-old boy in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, killed a 6-year-old playmate by smashing her skull while imitating a pro wrestler he had seen on television. Lionel Tate was arrested for first-degree murder. The 166-pound boy with a below-average IQ flung the 48-pound Tiffany Eunick into a metal staircase after asking her if she wanted to play wrestling. His defense focused on his being influenced to behave aggressively by his exposure to television violence, specifically shows about professional wrestling (Clary, 2001a). This defense failed, and he was convicted of first-degree murder (Clary, 2001b).
In the Tate case, as ...
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