Hung 1

Wei-Ting Hung
Kristen Bennett
Writing 009
November 27th, 2015

Media: How the Government Should Limit Criminal and Violent Entertainment Television Programs

Media is in our daily lives everywhere and at every moment. The public has the right to
know what happens all around the world with media being a main input for their resources. In
fact, media uses multiple ways to get information anywhere at any time. To get peoples
attention, reporters go to secretive areas and analyze criminal details. These actions lead to the
creation of reality TV shows. It also causes the growing issue of right of privacy, which makes
the point of view that both seclusion and free expression are important (Dorr, 51). Either the
public or legislatures should be allowed to limit criminal and violent entertainment television
programs.
Popular culture and media images affect the mind of young peoples actions. A huge
group of teenagers follow and imitate celebrities portrayed on television. On the 20th of July,
2012 in Colorado U.S.A., Belles News reported that a teenager named James Holmes dressed as
Batman, walked into the cinema and killed more than 12 people by shooting them randomly. For
instance, criminal news and details of the modus operandi, explains how the murder happened,
and increases juvenile delinquency. These criminal issues not only cause problems to society,
but also make young people lose their ability to judge rights and wrongs (Suess, 38). This
horrific attack in the theater was linked to his fantasy about the newly released movie Batman
which portrays a similar killer known as the Joker (Wade). Three years after, another white
American named John Russell Houser committed the same action by opening fire during the

Hung 2
film Train wreck, killing two people and injuring nine others (Karimi, CNN). These reports show
how significant the medias influence on teenagers can be, and at the same time, these reports
can cause more teenagers to imitate their means of being popular.
TV shows including harmful language can cause violence in the public. Plenty of entertainment
shows consist of mean words that offend others. A host of political, celebrity shows may use
harmful words to discuss others. Also, hosts often make fun of the stereotypes, color, gender or
sexuality of political or celebrities. Some people may reflect stereotypes on themselves which
causes depression. Because of this depression and stress from the media, the amount of people
committing suicide or becoming killers is dramatically increasing (Macias, 180). For instance,
the world famous Australian movie star Heath Andrew Ledger died in 2008 because of the
overacted character The Joker in the movie The Dark Knight. The report on CNN concludes,
in part, "Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of
oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine,". As a result,
Heath Ledger took drugs to try not think about the personalities that The Joker had which
effected him in real social life. Plenty of entertainment shows discussed that the character of the
Joker should be acted by a black man and criticized his abnormal psychology. Commentary
programs such as MTV and channel V judged what elements of fashion have been influenced by
the Joker. The federal investigation acclaimed that Heath Ledgers performance as the Joker in
the movie might be the main reason that caused his vital death (Coyle).
Criminal television programs make people feel unsafe in their society. According to
scientific research, criminal news or scary fiction on the media made more than 66% of the
public feel depressed. People may spend more money on security and show anxiety or
nervousness. When other people around feel unsafe, the surroundings around humans change and
react differently (Celieit, 48). For example, after the attack at the theater, people become
anxious to walk on the street. In Taiwan, more than 70% of the people who live in the capital

Hung 3
city, Taipei, installed monitors, barred windows and hired securities for their safety. Because the
news often reports and exaggerates the crimes people commit, society feels safer if they have
more security equipment in their houses. Taiwan has been rated as the highest user of home
monitors in the world. On the contrary, Canadas houses and buildings have less than 10% of
residences who applied barred windows. According to the International Television Viewerships
research, Canadas news has lower viewing rates ,37 thousand viewers per day, but Taiwan has 4
million viewers per day.
Some people, however, like to know what happens around the world. Media gives the
public the opportunity to easily update on new things and forms an easy way for people to
communicate. Sharing knowledge or new exploration can be useful for everyone by the help of
media. Knowing the criminals can also let people be aware of their surroundings, and how to
take actions protecting themselves. People might also argue that violent entertainment programs
can relieve peoples anxiety and daily stresses.
Criminal or violent entertainment shows cause large amounts of negative stress to society.
Over addiction to criminal programs or violent games can welter individuals abilities to
determine differences between the real world and fantasy. Criminal images can affect the mind of
young peoples actions, suicides and can cause social anxiety. Not only does the government
have to rethink about what should be put on programs for the public but also parents have to
choose suitable programs for their children. After all, programs can be entertaining without
criminal or violent images too.

Hung 4
Works Cited
OBrien, Susie, and Imre Szeman. Popular Culture: A Users Guide. 3rd ed. Toronto: Nelson
Education Ltd, 2014. Print.
Celieit, Milda. "Media and Society: The Prerequisites for Influence on Lithuanian Foreign
Policy." Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review (2009): 48-79. Web.
Swails, Brent. Ledger's death caused by accidental overdose. CNN. February 6, 2008. Web.
Dorr, Dieter and Weaver, Russell L. Media Convergence / Medienkonvergenz: The Right to
Privacy in the Light of Media Walter de Gruyter. May 2012.Web.
Karimi, Faith. "Lafayette theater shooter switched license plates, had wigs waiting in
hotel". CNN. July 25, 2015. Web.
Knoema. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor February 18, 2015.Web.
Macias, Michelle M., Elana Mansoor, and Katherine E. Murray. "Media Violence." Journal of
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 30.2 (2009): 180. Web.
Suess, Daniel et al. "Media use and the Relationships of Children and Teenagers with their Peer
Groups: A Study of Finnish, Spanish and Swiss Cases." European Journal of
Communication 13.4 (1998): 521-38. Web.
Wade, Diane A. "James Holmes appears in court being accused of killing 12 people in Aurora
cinema shooting". July 23, 2012. Belle News. Web.