Movies, music, radio, and television are new types of media that have emerged in past hundred years. Although these media are popular and part of our daily life, there are controversies over licenses, censorships, and contents.
I doubt that the movie ratings protect children and teenagers from harmful movies. As the text points out, many underage children are able to get in a movie theater without being accompanied by parents. Not every movie theater asks customers to show their official ID to check their ages because it is not required. Even if there are restrictions to watching certain movies in public theaters, a lot of movies are available online and in stores, so children can access to many kinds of harmful media. As long as pornography, violence, and alternately other kinds of harmful media exist around the world, you can access to them. Television is the same matter. Even if all the televisions have V-chips, it does not mean all parents access the system so that their children are protected. Parents who cannot discipline their children would allow their kids to be exposed to harmful media. It seems to me that excessive television programs are broadcasted even during the prime hours. Modern kids at least stay up until 11 or 12; South Park and Family Guy, which air around this time can be offensive to many people.
On the other hand, I think music is treated more leniently. In the point that music does not convey images, it is less harmful to listeners, and lyrics are more like a book. It is interesting to me that Sheryl Crow included the phrase which suggests Wal-Mart deals with guns and refused to change the part. I think there are many alternative words that sound better than “Wal-Mart.” I am wondering why her management company or record labels did not persuade her to change the word. Here, I see the picture of American media; they express and behave however they want regardless of the criticisms. In my country, for example, one young female actor was reluctant to be interviewed in the movie preview, and the media was very critical of her. Later she gave comments on her blog, saying that everything she did was bad and she needs to take her responsibility for it. She rarely shows up the media after that incident. If Sheryl was a singer in another country, her behavior might have damaged her career. Cultures and behavior of celebrity are closely related.
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3 comments:
I agree with you that almost every kid can now access very harmful media with the very little effort. Getting into movies, accessing content online, and so on is becoming increasingly easy for younger kids and they’re able to dodge parental restrictions without problems. That’s also assuming that the parents are attempting to block their children from such content. Many modern parents are simply to busy to even think about monitoring everything their children are exposed to, and like you said even if there is V-chip put in every TV made, not every parent is going to utilize them. Protecting youth from harmful content was easier in past decades because of the lack of ease in accessing it, but now it’s become nearly impossible to shield children from sex, drugs, and violence.
It is much easier now for people to access anything their heart desires through the media maze of the internet and television. Censorship is growing more and more impossible with the continued growth of the internet. Parents should try to block obscenities form their children's lives but not through restricted internet or television privileges educate them about what they might find. Not only does the education approach open a dialogs between child and parent, creating trust, but also educates children on how to live healthy lives.
I agree as well, its so difficult today to block kids from certain content coming from the media. Kids are exposed to things not only from the internet, TV, magazines and movies; but also from just observing people around them. I agree that parents are simply too busy this day in age to completely control everything their kids are exposed to. What families need to do is just educate and prepare their kids for the world around them. Thats the best idea that I can come up with, because the entertainment industry wont be changing anytime soon..
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