Other Books in the Current Controversies Series The Abortion Controversy The AIDS Crisis Alcoholism Drug Trafficking Energy Aliematives Ethics Europe Free Spe Gamblin Gun Controt Hunger legal Ienigration Interventionism Tag Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Police Brutality Pollion Sexual Harassment Violence Against Wome Women in the Military Youth Violence VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA David L.. Bender, Publisher Bruno Leone, Executive Editor Katie de Koster, Managing Editor Scott Barbour, Senior Editor Carol Wekesser, Book EditorMer Coury Pubic Lay 00 Nee Se Po bee Fey 4901 90 No part of tte book may Be reproduced or used in any form or by any rneanseectcal, mechanical, oF otherwise including, but no limited t, ‘otocopy, recording oF any information storage and ereval system, with fut pio rien permission from the publisher Cover Photo: Dan Habib Impact Visuals Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Violence inthe media / Carol Wekeser book editor '. em. —(Custent controversies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-56510-236-3 (pbk) ISBN 1-56510-237-1 (ih) 1. Violence ia mast media 1, Wekesser, Carol, 1963 I. Series Pos VSVS6 1995 3035 —de20 9443377 cP ac. Printedinhe US.A Contents Foreword Introduction Chapter 1: Does Media Violence Affect Society? (Chaper Preface ‘Yes: Media Violence Harms Society Media Violence Increases Violence in Society by Cart M. Cannon ‘Numero studs have shown th lence movi an on lvion trees lence mice The eertimen sy ome mth Ingo adress his problems he govermca andthe public ms work topter reduce seme i th “Media Violence Has Increase the Murdse Rate hy Suson R, Lamson ‘Mary ccs po guns asthe case of Americ shah urd ee. But ‘nv ae wee problema vlnce The pues ese he ‘reruinneet nya government etic vnc on eave ‘Violence in TY News Promotes Violence Azuinst Women ‘by Suan Douglas Tek nev fe eu specie. expecially haf een ‘oni ave lnptan te of sence spaet women rly ov fred Ts ngkt of ween pometes sence aoe No: Medlia Violence Does Not Harm Society ‘The Negative Impact of Mea Violence on Society Is Exapgerted ‘by Jon Leonand America's igh at ven crme Whi there lense So ther ao tighter that cata apres Evidence Connecting Media Volene wo Real Violence I Weak "by Brn Sano "Tove who eve mcd vine cates lence in city ite ame ‘safe fob thea: But ese de are coche and ‘hw who cite them exaggerate the conection fete a vee nd wlene tw sciey wt censorship. Media Violence May Not Harm Chien by Prick Cooke 0 1B x ”Does Music Promote Violence? => Chapter Preface Inthe late 1950s Elvis Presley introduced a new kind of music to many Amer jcans. His rock-and-roll iythms and gyrating style fascinated many teenagers ‘and worried many parents. When the singer appeared on Ea Sullivan's variety shou, Presley's hips were kept out of the range ofthe camera because his move: ‘mens were considered too suggestive. Looking hick on the Presly-Sullivan incident, many people are amused the innocence ofthe time and the situation. Today people are still concerned bout how music might affect the young and society as a whole. But the pei ‘mary worry today is the violent content of some songs, such as the Iyties of “Cop Killer” a 1992 song bythe rapper lee-T rm "bout to bas some shot off rm "bout todas some cops of. Dic, Die, De Pig Dic! ‘These lyrics angered police, politicians, and the public, who all fared thatthe ‘song would incite peopl to kill police. But Ice-T defended the song and his in tent: “W's only ame a those cops who think the badge allows them to mistet people. Ifa cop treats me like a regular human being. got all he respect for him: ‘Others who also defend violent Iyrics in rap and rock music add that such lyrics serve a purpose. Michael Small, author of a hook on rap music. Break Jt ‘Down, argues that “despite highly reported incidents of crimes committed by fans and a few rappers, the link between rap and violence is not clea... To day's roughest rhymes sometimes help to relieve tension, Rap gives kids some ‘control over the haphazard violence that surrounds them, translating into pug rnacious—but basically safe—music.” itis, however, point to cases such as that of Ronald Ray Howard, a nincteen year-old who killed a Texas tate trooper in 1992. Howard contended that he was inspired by the antipalice Iyics i the music of rapper Tupac Shakur (ho him self was sentenced in 1995 to a six-year jail term for assaulting a female fan) ‘This case and others lead some to agree with writer Nathan McCall: “There are ‘obviously some coreations between the constant, negative, violent messages that are being put out in rap and the violence that exists ut there inthe real world ‘Many rap and rock songs have violent Iysics. But whether these lyrics are powerful enough to incite real-life violence and whether they should be cen sored or regulated, is controversial. The following chapter pres that support and oppose violent Iyres in music and the right of musicians to perform such musicHeavy Metal Rock and Gangsta Rap Music Promote Violence by Barbara Hattemer and Robert Showers About the authors: Barbara Hartemer isthe president ofthe National Family Foundation, am organization that studies families and promotes ways 10 strengthen them. Robert Showers i an attonney. They are the authors of the ‘hook Don't Touch That Di from which his viewpoint is excerpled. ances sepesting repeating sexu acon dent pansion a fo tailen Danes which emphasee deen movement ae 1 Reza obscene “Music an singing have played an important ole a the larg and memo ‘ization process for centuries.” [states Bob DeMos i the video "Rising the (Challenge. The succes of Sesame Sree in combining music, word, and col ‘nfl mages to make leaming fun and cay illustrates that children do hear ‘shat they se role mead efor them. espesally when is sto mus Destructive Influence Grade schoolchildren and adolescents today are exposed to role models vastly diferent from those offered by Sesame Stee. The music. words, and ‘olrfl images of rock music videos ae inflocncing increasingly younger cil renin pogresinely detract directions, The rock video is generating the beat foe todays youth” [Bary L. Sherman and Laurence W. Eig tt. They as argue tht thereof the youth cate ‘ver the pst thiny years has been one of the most dmtic aspects of + cul tural change in American society sine the adoption of motorized travel.” and the mune video displayed om cable channel MTV has been extremely sala ntl in shaping that cutie. As rao was the “bal rum hat ent he mes 5: Poy Mahe ee me Se pie Violence in the Media sage to America’s youth inthe early days of rock music, the music videos of MTV proclim the message to toys youth cute. ‘Masic television burst into ou ving rooms in August 1981. Now “free” ea most basic able sation, i has over iy-four milion faly subcribers A ‘whole generation has been molded and influenced by i, Inco tas sparked 7 fashion treads, saved the recon i dustry from deci, and intadced the nation’s children to anew vocab- tary of profanity sex. and violence MTV is the cable channel most watched by college student. Infor: smal surveys show that tis also be coming the favorite of nine-w eleven years in grade school spate lat iniguing for pre-teens who aspire o leave chilhood behind and Become “teen-agers” Nothing inteauces them othe worst elements ofthe sown-up" world fast than hows metal fk music ‘When a listening to MTV. children listen to oek music on tao. Both chil ‘ren and teens spend an average of ate over tree hous day watching tele- ‘sion, bat they spend four to kx hours a day listening to music. That x cleven thowsand hours between the seventh and twelth grades. High volume an the se of headphones eliminate competing noises. enhancing the “impact of the music and its message.” according to Joseph Stessy Unlike pares. rock mw sic stars are always available o offer qualified acceptance to young people hungry for atention and understanding. They appear to meet ther neds and understand their chapicemotons beter than their own peat. Research ss found that istening wo heavy metal music cores sith pereasng Uscomso in family stuations a preference or fiends over family, and poor academic performance. Rock music has become one of the primary mans of group ie titction with individuals nthe youth culture. “For many. the bonding agent of ther riendship is music, mainly heavy metal” as Stuessyconcades “Although the effects ofthe Iyrics are viualy untested, teenagers have more sustained contact with heavy metal music than they have with either pornos phy oc hor films. This type of music has been accused nt only of being in- Ascent, bt obscene, Violent and satanic. Dr Paul King found it be corelated wth increased chemical depenence violence, scaling, and sex att Re Acting hedonism (pleasue-scking) and iesponsiblity ook music is sym- bic of the clash of values between parents and ther children, Described 3s "primitive" and inciting “baser pasion” it elects youth “at eds with adult saciety” according 9 Larson and Robert Kuby ‘The Harms of Rock In 1989, the American Meal Asscaton released a report that conch ‘hat music i a peat influence inthe ife ofa tee ager than television. ToneChapter 5 involved in the rock culture were more likely toe low achievers, involved in vgs. sewily active ad involved in satanic atv Saying that the ise is sion and posible emetional health ini mre eee met gace eta | Maem SS lenelnan Soaps Aeelandaie Tikely to approve of premarital sex” ree than those who did ot watch. Be- «use much ofthe material sw pornographic and violent to deliberately show ‘hilren such stds are sare. however, one hour of milder materia nfl ces atitaes, certainly four hours every day of heavy metal rock produces ‘ren more dramatic ress. ‘Munic has the power to form character” Aristo said. According wo Bob DDeMoss, an expert on the popular culture who has staid the effet of rock ‘mosic Tyres and images on cilen for many years, the early themes of reek music were "Drug abuse is okay" "Casual exis ine" and “Violence isan ae- ceptable form of behavior” Since the mi 1980s these themes have degenerated touch explicit and graphic images and words, hey almost defy desertion Extraordinary Sexism and Racism ‘The names of heavy metal bands reflect their characte, image, and message. Pree Congres’ report on rock music lists 238 of them. Thora a est 13 has mame after the mle geil 6 afer femal ental afer sperm, 8 after horton anon fer a vapil infeton [There ar ah] a ea 10 Ras ame fer aun x a, 8 ican or nd 24 refering unflatringy oaks he disabled or mex ‘The report comments that “heavy metal and rap music today contains an ee- ‘ment of hated and abuse of women ofa degre never seen before” In ation to extraordinary sexism, they contin equally oflensve racism, blasphemy, and bigotry: Regarding CBS Records president Walter Yetniko's comment “when the sue is bigotry thee is a fine line of acceptable standards which no piese ‘of music should cross”: This principe of aceepable standards applies wo much ‘more than gor. In December 1984 Life magazine labeled heavy metal rock musica "sado> ‘masochistic nighumare” The themes conveyed by images of wild expressions, Painted faces. blood pouring from mouths, Blo spurting fom hades, guns, ives, leather, chains, spikes, and ropes fall oughly ito five overlapping T Aggressive Rebellion You dost need tone people sound an that clades your pares. (Gene Violence in the Media Simmons rom Kis) ‘Rock stars openly encourage children to rebel agains hee parents: no the ‘normal reelion tat helps chil separate from his paces emexionaly ba a ‘cious and angry reflion, fll of hated and violence In the video “Were Not Gonna Take I” by Twisted! Sister, a father becomes angry at his young son for listening to rock music, ani the oy hurls him through a plate glass window. This video inspired young mn n New Mexico to murder hs ater i similar fashion ‘De King wrote tht “marketing heay meal musicians a glamour gress Ahcir message of hates mere rebellions confusing to youngsters who ae tng te decide who they shuld te and what kindof behaves appropriate for them” 2. Abus of Drags and Alco "Weve avays ten seis loos ding sound (Nicky Six of Morey Cre) 1 ok LSD every ay foe yeas. I went rogh cosine bythe Dahl. (014 abot dozen ines, sampled hei, (Ory Oxoare) Heavy metal musi ffi antisocial, drupaictve behivior Not spi ingly, nearly 60 percent of chemically dependent youngsters chose eas tal msc Because they considered it the msical expression of forces at work in {heir ves—viokence, promiscuous sex, drug use, and incressngl, stan, ‘Music for Insecure Teens x. King compared music preferences wit paricipation i violent havior for 40 adolescent patents over the years. Heavy mal music was the choice of 9 cent admited for chemical depen: ‘ency. OF those, 74 percent were in crise peec a eee 2a Large numbers of disturbed adoes- ents with ow self orth das ns ration from heavy metal Because it makes them fel powerful and in chase Providing simple answers wo complex problem. it gives therm a source of 0: thority for what they fel and 3. Graphie Violence and Suicide ‘The Bale of my bie, fac way from youre ‘Those ast fe mph sted an sie ou apt {aid outcold now we Te ot alone Bathing you beled me hep you bone. (Gils Gite Git Motley Cre) 1 pce my ne, pal oat i ie, Cooke that st ead. (Shout atthe Desi” Maley Cre)Chapter 5 No appre mtv, just ila kil gain Survive ny baal lsh. at youl he md (Hal Awake Slayer A bose cap with the eters AC-DC embroidered on it anda knapsack of heavy metal video tapes were found atone ofthe murder sites ofthe Los Ange- ‘es Nigit Stalker, who killed sixteen victims by sipping ino thei homes at ight an shooting or wabbing them vo death as they slept om our ight rower. sep in he day Yeu m your aigh rover, et a fy 4a: (CNiah Prowl” fom AC-DC's Mh 0 He) na stay of twelve hundred rok videos, the National Coalition on Televi sion Violence found 43 percent of, them violent in ature Researcher Hannelore Was speculate that rock ; music should be understood as. aa Imetapar tht “ing someone or |_ le Practicing sataism might stand for | POM Poser, while... self-destruction might tnd for depression and a sense of isolation” Meanvtile, according to Pylis Schlafly, more than “5.000 teenagers are committing suicide each year double the rate of 25 years ago" The mounting stasis on een suicide are ‘more than symbols, They indicate young people ake theve messages erally Suicide Notes ‘Two fificen-yearold girls lft suicide notes that quoted Iris from Pink loys 1979 album, The Wal They wrote. “Goodbye cruel world 'm leaving you now: John McCullun’s paren brought a suit against Ozzy Osbourne afr thet son commited suicide while listening to his song: ‘Wher to id sid at ly way out Det you know what ell st 4. Fascination with he Occult {amps byl hats evi th death of your Ga demand pt athe ‘rp yon word, a Lord Satan ight and ‘We re imtrmens fei we come straight out of el. ‘Were th epi ofthe demons, hating othe il In Noah Port, New York, a devibworshipping cult cll The Knights of the Black Circle gathered at a park and performed rituals tha killed Gary Lauwers, 17 stabbing him wile forcing him to say “I ove Satan” and later gouging ot Violence in the Media his eyes. They lft the names of thee favorite rock stars: Black Sabbath and ‘Ozzy Osoure, who sings of satanic possesion and ace bit ff doves ead uring a performance ‘The following description of satanic imvolvemet in rock videos was taken from the Congressional Recor “Thesiger, in th am coer ap inthe yin, ich arc eahingipresosble ourg mis The sui al here the ‘anc pentagram he upsides the ath ees ofthe Dest the atom game Christan and agai ad agin the treo wth Seth ‘coring wo most soup. i'll dove in fon. But accor to pices hovng am eet om many chides powingsubctue tht mites hey etal musi with drops an theo The police che eximated tht hay metal mas indicators were fn a 35 to. percent of the vestigations of emer inoling sane worship. (es posi ai) ‘5. Sexuality That Is Graphic and Explicit 11 itea beat (The Tore Never Ends" W.A'-P) "now a git named Naess ou could ay she was Sex Fe. me eins tl ly mrtg wih magne (Daring Niki” Price from ure Rain) ‘While rock music ha always been associated with Sex. ithas gone so far be yond innuendo there nowhere et ogo im graphic expines (1 Incest: “Incest is everyting i's sa 1 Be"—from the song “Sister” by Prince. (2) Oral sex “Eat Me Alive” by Sadan Pre point (G) Cross dressing/ransvesite: Alice Cooper “rose to fame by giving bis fans exhibition of anovestiim sakes, mutilating chickens and sk exc tions as noted inthe Mini Herald,” (4) Bondage and torre: Tieber own, she knows what's wsitig for es. Nothing rel, oat esr an Gack the whip. hdl tings he Bich (Ste Lies I Rogph Taber) Feud thes ts jot wha hey eck Fansy line. dominance. abn anes an cha. Bondage an pin (Dungeons of Please” Nasty Sevag) ‘There is hard-core pomography on recon albums, posters, fan magarine. and concer stages DeMoss says, “Its hard to distinguish between the to [regular and musi-related pormography] except the Tater slegally available to fs ahout forced oral sx at gnChapters chikien.” The erotic costumes of hard-core pornography magazines like car Bitches have been copied by bands like Bitch in concert and pictured i teen fan magazines esha the most brutal is W.AS.P% ea singer, Blache Lawless, who has appear on sage wearing burz-saw blade between his thighs. Duing “The “Torture Nover Stops” he ptends to beat a woman wearing only a G-string and black hood: As blood pours out rom her hood, he attacks her withthe lad: ‘St Sally. an associate professor of communications atthe University of Massachusetts, put together 165 scenes from rock videos to make Dream- worlds: DesireSevBiwer in Rock Video. I eveals the diet relationship be- ttwcen the presentation of women for male consumption in these videos and the pctlence of dat rape and sexual volece in ths county” Jutaponing & real rape scene between acta ideo, be demonstrates the end reslt of pre ‘cing women as nymphomaniacs ina mal adolescent dream world Every parent and public policy maker should see one ofthe many good videos tat have heen produced to show how extreme the performances of heavy metal hands have bovome. No amount of rescarch or writen description can have the cumulative impact of actually seeing i ‘The Hate Messages in Rap Hearing the hte messages of ty’ ap music can be equally unsetling. Just a the pice are aking satanic ock music seriou they are sade taking rap's messages of killing policemen seriously. According to Newsweek, “Police ‘rzaizatios argu the County called for boyeot of Tine Warner over 3 song called “Cop Killer: by the Warner Records rapper Ice-T" Lyrics clade Tm ot to at me sto Die Die. Die Pg De [As South Fords Sheriff Don Hunter tried 0 ders no at Nevesweok speaks of raps “ability to alienate” of “its imagery sound and Iyrcs” ting “pure confrontation." As rap music attempts o define Mack cul ture and racism, it educates us all onthe “ell” of inner-city ie—"is gangs lack of selfesteem, crime, rage, smurder”—and fills the heads of The iris, were described incd-in children with rebellion, Le aa ce atte yy hate. and more taw sc. Like $e%, itiistl and permegraphle ) -victence sell.” Kids tone i be- can they like “that lent thing” Like rebelious hey metal, rap has found is ome on MY. In found "s music equal to visual jmp cating Myths” But our cate as not yet discovered how to deal with entertainment that spews forth sheer hated. {As the Supreme Court rls in favor of hae speech young Blacks fom the Na deaf local media, "Mur. Violence in the Media Pe at feat and marl bid you, ho em fae oabar it “he ek vl te mre han arcing 1 eh te youth ue toh Yom twee hi-ourgean of ge. Pieemtd eras “res nel event 1 motte pepe toy wecotings | {nates Levy Offbeat themes and ‘Hail valence, and Sangin es om th te ‘ple to attract and maintain viewers” because they are Senin. The east way to accom SeL0 muse, They are in ‘fact more powerful.” plish that is excessive amounts of sex fd violence. "either ek er face or ke dow eres et my ways tw (Too Fas for Love” Motley Crs) a sie fom he het capita ame of vais an rast (Pree Genre) ‘A 1986 content analysis of forty hours of music videos on thee networks found that “music videos are wolnt, male-oieted an laden with set om tent” Sex was linked to violece in 80 percent ofthe videos containing Vio- lence. 1983 sty revealed that more than al ofthe videos Females were ‘either ude or wore highly seductive clthing or undergarments. Drs. CH. Hansan and R.D. Hansan report music videos tobe high in sx and Violence and portraying “rebellion against parental and lawful author. drunk ‘eness promiscuity and derogation and devaluation of women. the work ethic and family values,” presenting antisocial Behavior ina favorable light and as Aesrable and commonplace ‘A causal link between viewing music videos and negative fehavors has not been extablished inthe research erature, However, high key tht their role as socializing agent is more important than any measurable shor tem changes. (Gerbaer, Gross and Morgan, and other] rescarchers have alteady found that television “plays a disproportionate fle in the culation of social concept” communicating vales, relationships. and bli about fe and sx fy. Since MT isthe favorite channel of malities of children clea hat tock videos play a large part in the socialization process. ‘They Know and Like the Words 1m 1986, the University of Flori (Guinewile surveyed the rock msi et erences of 604 middle and high school students. The sarvey foun that 9 percent ‘of mide school stems, 17 percent of rua, and 24 percent of urban high School students were fas of heavy metal rock an pank rock mi hich 7 ‘motes homicide, stanism, and suicide. The Iyics in the study defied “any rea ‘sonable ado standard concerning the valve of uma lie and Judeo-ChristianChapter 5 and humanistic belief,” [sates Hannelore Wass]. They were described as alienated, ngatvsic iistic. and pornographic promoting eX, sado- manos rape, kiln, satanic practices and in some stances suicide” ‘Heavy etl fans listened to rock music mote han thity hours per week, and they reported knowing theltics of al” ther favorit rock songs more dan did fans of general rock musi. Almost tie as many eavy metal fans a general rock fans fl that it was proper for young chile to listen to destructive rock Imusic and tat they would notin any way be alected. That most adolscems now many or all ofthe lyric has ben reported by others as wel this ass, many heasy metal fans epoted agrecng with the words. Adolescents i his study who were not heavy metal fans reported concern forthe eects of the music on dren, often as a result of seeing their own fend affected ' follow-up sty looked st the music preferences of 120 adolescent offend in two youth detention centers. They found that $4 percent of them were ‘any metal fas, compared wo les han 20 percent nthe eae stay, AMONG. the delingsen youths the amber was three times as high “This finding sug> stv a sng relationship baween antisocial or destructive behavior and pre ‘fence for rack music with destructive themes.” Dr. Wass recommended that ‘mental health professionals "consider adolescents’ muscelated behavior and ‘entation sa useful indicator fo psychological assessment” Dr. King’s research has shown that “atthe very least Reavy metal sic pro ‘mots. appoves and supports unconventional tits toward drug abuse, ex tl actly and soience” Whether or not t directly cases aherant behavior he Believes it constitutes a public health problem “serious enough to warrant some typeof control” He recommends tat major record companies, withthe fei of physicians. et forth guidlines Yo ensue that potentially bari mat ‘als mot sold oor young people packaged as entertainment "As both research and ancedotal evidence munts to grove Dx. King’s sr tion, responsible msi companies mes adopt snore responsible policies they donot. goverment regulation is neitable. Tere i groundswell of fae among adults thatthe subcultare is already out of control an that soon we wil all be threatened. Hatred, violence, and perversion are not less inlet be ‘ase they are set to music. They are infact mone powerful, ‘The industry has resisted even the labeling of X-rated records. Chances of rock sas aking responsibiy without parca and goverment resure are reat w nothing. Therefore, parents must encorage the Federal Commica- tions Commission he more diligent in effort to enforce the decency standard tn broadcast radio and television and help them by sending in cases. Since ITV thas become readily available to chien ‘on basic cable, this standard should be extended to able he form ofa “harmfl to minors” lw. Remon ‘ng MTT ‘fom base cable and making ia separate subscription channel hat parents could realistically kep rom thei homes ss an even beter olan, Gangsta Rap Promotes Violence in the Black Community bby Nathan MeCall About the author: Nathon McCall graduated from Norfolk State Universi ix Virginia afer spending three years in prion for armed robbers He tsa re porter forthe Washingon Post and the author of the book Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America. Gangsters, guns and violence have always held fascination for Americans, and backs like me ae no diferent. 1 never forget the first time I went wi ‘ame bes nthe early 19708 see The Godiater. 1 was mesmerized by the movie's shootout, retaliatory murders and te ruthless ganzster cde. They had 4 way of resolving conflict that was appealing 1 a teen-ager tying to Work through the murky nites of manhood. The message I picked up nay if some Indy double-crosses you, he deserves odie, The Golfer was fantasy, but 0 bunch of prt boys it was a celebration of machismo. eventually got my chance 10 do the Godfather thing when an older guy in the neighborhood threatened my gt. Because that dude had offended my lady and, by exeason, disrespected me.I concluded he deserves ode Mixed Up in the Head 1 was 19, nd it dt take much to push me into reckless action. When Ian fato that man, gunned im down, It was like one peat fanan, as gh 3 the gangland slayings athe movi Aer he ealapsd, I tod over hi, proud that Pd upbeld the Gofather code. But later tht night, a Iwas inerpited and booked in police sation the fantasy faded. That's when I shed my ‘reudo-gangster persona and discovered what Healy was silly, scared ten: ager who was mixed up i he head ‘When apoiceman tld my stepfather and me dat the man 1 shot ight di. ‘came mired inthe weirdest logic: if he died, I'd be charged with murder, yet, Toul have denied to the en that Iwasa murderer om ah MC ap Api phe Ws Pst Neem 19.0198 The ‘Teningen fo Raped wih panes