The 11 myths of media violence / W. James Potter.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-249) and index.

Preface -- Current context -- Myth 1: Violence in the media does not affect me, but others are at high risk -- Myth 2: The media are not responsible for the negative effects of their violent messages -- Myth 3: Children are especially vulnerable to the risks of negative exposure to media violence -- Myth 4: There is too much violence in the media -- Myth 5: Violence in the media reflects violence in society - Myth 6: The media are only responding to market desires -- Myth 7: Violence is an essential element in all fiction -- Myth 8: Reducing the amount of violence in the media will solve the problem -- Myth 9: The First Amendment protects the media from restrictions on violence -- Myth 10: The rating systems and V-chip will help solve the problem -- Myth 11: There is nothing I can do to make an effect on reducing the problem -- Prognosis for improvement -- References -- Index -- About the author.

Violence sells. The media industries say they are simply businesses responding to market desires, but when they are criticized for contributing to a culture of violence, they claim First Amendment protection. If anything, media violence is more prevalent today than at any other time in the past. Yet, although scientific researchers have produced a strong body of evidence demonstrating that exposure to media violence harms society, that evidence has never been translated into practical and accessible ideas. This book clearly explains why media violence has not only been allowed but encouraged to escalate. The author 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. While dispelling misperceptions and evoking emotions, each chapter: identifies a myth, its origin, its acceptance by the public, and its growth in popularity; analyzes the faulty nature of the myth and shows how it deflects attention away from the truth; presents dilemmas that challenge readers to reconsider their assumptions; and includes a list of indispensable references. The book provides an in-depth review of how Congress, journalists, and researchers contribute to the problem and raises important questions that place the reader at the heart of the conflict. Consumer activists, teachers, and families will find it an essential resource and invaluable step toward finding solutions to this critical social issue.