Response: Media Violence in Cartoons

You can find the original post here: http://ekhoy.blogspot.com/2011/03/media-violence-in-cartoons-yesterday-my.html

Hi Elona –

I feel this is a very interesting post for many reasons, but the one I’d like to focus on is an issue you brought to light in a roundabout way.

Where are the parents?

Like Josh, I don’t believe Eminem needs to censor his lyrics – and if he is being looked up to by a bunch of 8 year olds, he isn’t at fault. His music all clearly comes with warning labels, people who sell it are instructed to ask for photo ID for purchase to prove the person is old enough to buy it (although I don’t believe enough of them do), but even if the album makes it home, are parents so uninvolved that they aren’t aware that it is there? My parents knew what music I bought and we talked about stuff they found concerning (I remember when I was in grade 7 I wanted the Alanis Morrisette album so bad, and my parents wouldn’t let me get it until we talked about its content, and they wanted to listen to it all first before they decided if I was allowed to keep it). And my parents were really liberal and gave my brother and I a lot of space to figure ourselves out.

I spent 4 years working in the electronics department of a Zellers store, and the thing I found most concerning were the parents that didn’t seem care. I had a kid come in (I’m guessing maybe 7 years old) and he picked up the Marshall Mathers LP and brought it to my desk to check out. I informed him that he needed to be 16 to buy it, and he would need to come back with a parent to purchase it. He came back with his Mom and I explained the content of the album to her (violence, sex and all), and she just said “Well, whatever – he wants it.” This is one of MANY cases of parents not heeding the warning about content.

Eminem's album is meant for people who are old enough to get the nuance of the lyrics – those people are not 9 year olds. You are right – they are more trusting at that age and are more likely to take things at face value. They don’t get that it is a story and not fact. And as you get older, you make a choice! You either listen to it and get the nuance, the story, and what he is really talking about, or you don’t enjoy it and you listen to something else.

Media is not the babysitter, and parents should be involved in helping children make appropriate choices about what they watch and listen to. Just because little Timmy wants it, doesn’t mean it is the right time for him to have it. And if you think he is going to hear it or get it somewhere else, then the parents should talk about it. The same goes for cartoon violence – if you as the parent (or in this case cousin) find the content concerning, then talk to your cousin about it. Have him explain to you what he saw and how it makes him feel, and then talk about make believe, and violence and hitting and why it may happen in a cartoon but why we don’t do that in real life. Kids are smart enough to understand it, but we as the adults have take the time to help them put it all into context.

Cheers,
Leah