Topic > A study on the benefits of exposing children to violence in the media, as described by Gerard Jones in his book, Violent Media is Good for Children

Who better than us to help younger generations overcome anguish and the frustration that comes with the burden of growing up as a comic book artist? In “Violent Media is Good for Children,” Gerard Jones writes about the positive aspects of children's exposure to violent media. Opening the essay with his personal experience and the outlet it afforded him as he grew up, he slowly moves on to discussing other children's equally positive encounters. Jones argues that in most cases it is beneficial and healthy for a child to be exposed to violent media. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The audience that Jones is trying to persuade seems to be very clear after initially reading the essay. Digging a little deeper, the essay was first published on the Mother Jones magazine website. In the “about” section on the Mother Jones website their mission is described as “a strong voice for social justice: Racial discrimination, women's rights, environmental justice, and the plight of immigrant farm workers are all issues that you will find them covered in the magazine." from its first year of publication to the present” (Hochschild, Mother Jones: The Magazine). By learning what the purpose of this publication is, it becomes even more apparent what audience Jones is targeting. As a very left-wing publication, Jones appears to be trying to persuade new parents with the same political views that raising their children around some violent media is okay. Gerard Jones spends the essay making his case for these parents with minimal use of logos but great use of pathos and ethics. Gerard Jones opens his essay with the use of ethos, building his credibility by describing his childhood and how violent media positively helped him maneuver through his path to adulthood. Jones explains that as he was growing up, his parents taught him the same thing that many others are taught as children, that violence is not the correct way to handle conflicts and that anger is a feeling to be excluded from matters. Jones describes his childhood in the first paragraph: “My parents, distrusting the violent world of the late 1960s, built a wall between me and the cruder elements of American pop culture” (199). Although his parents made great attempts to smother their child and turn him into a pacifist young adult, Jones discovered the wonderful world of Marvel and the Hulk. By identifying more with the Hulk, Jones imagined himself following his "awesome self" that allowed him to do whatever he wanted, without worrying about what disapproval might follow. Being an angry child who was able to channel his anger through comics helps Jones solidify his position that violent media isn't always as terrible as it's made out to be. As an adult, Jones is not only a comic book writer, but also an advocate for exposing children to violent media. Working together with Melanie Moore, a psychologist, the two study how violent stories help children develop healthily. Demonstrating the logos, Jones quotes his colleague Moore: "Fear, greed, power, anger: these are aspects of ourselves that we try not to experience in our lives but that we often want, even need, to experience vicariously through stories of others. Children need violent entertainment to explore the inevitable feelings that have been theirs..