After reading some articles in the blogs of other students dedicated to similar issues of Media and their influence on viewers, I would like to recommend some of them, which I have found especially interesting and useful.
The first article published in the blog How Television Viewing Affects Children attracts attention to the incident happened in Virginia Tech University where in April 16, 2007 a student shot 36 people. Media is blamed for being one of the causes of the massacre. Its is claimed that media portrayals of violence can teach children to be cruel, insensible, use force and weapon in dealing with problems.
Another article “Caution: Children at Play. The Truth about Violent Youth and Violence in Video Games (by Duke Ferris)”, dedicated to the issue of violence in Media, has been found in the blog Media and Violence. Here the author cites the ideas of the ordinary computer games player, Duke Ferris, who argues that many of the perverse effects of video games are only myths created by Media. However, the video to one of the most popular game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, posted below the article illustrates the reverse. As it is clearly shown in this video some games extensively promote ‘gangster’s life style’, which is cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, violation of law, gambling, killing. Moreover, games can be quite realistic; one may feel as being on a place of the hero, can learn how to fight, shoot.
The issue of women portrayal in advertisements is raised on the pages of the Sex in Ads blog. Especially interesting are the commercials by Unilever Company, which directly show how some advertisements portray females as sexual objects, whose only task is to please males. This can not only create a wrong image in men’s eyes of how a woman should behave, but characters in such videos may become an example of a an ideal woman who looks like a Barbie doll, thin, tall, with lots of cosmetics, wearing sexy outfit. As a result, many women may become dissatisfied with their bodies, start using all possible methods to reach the ‘ideal’.
On the pages of the blog Media’s Secret Weapon you can find some articles about the effects of extreme thinness on women’s physical and mental health with some shocking pictures and videos of excessively skinny fashion models and celebrities. One of the articles that I have found especially interesting is “Poor Barbie”, which talks about the correlation between extreme weight loss and women’s inability to have children. It has been proven that the lack of fat in women’s body causes hormone imbalance which can lead to barrenness. Unfortunately, this problem receives not enough attention in Media.
Similar issues of the promotion of very skinny body shapes in fashion industry are raised in the blog “Mass Media and Eating Disorders”. If you want to see some illustrations of EXTREMELY thin, skeletal models and celebrities, go to the article “Self-Regulation in the Fashion Industry: the “Skinny Models” Bill”. Here you can also read about how the world of high fashion and modeling is trying to fight with glamorizing thinness.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The American Psychological Association-Current Event 2
In February 2004 the Council of the American Psychological Association passed the Task Force on Advertising and Children and recommendations, which are aimed to reduce the harmful influence of advertising on children, in particular, on small children under the age of eight (“Protecting Children from Advertising”).
Members of the Association are especially concentrated on the effects of commercials on children of this age group, because researchers have found that small children “lack the cognitive ability to recognize advertising's persuasive intent” (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). According to some studies published in the task force report, often it is enough for a child to see advertisement only once to have a desire for the product and start asking for it. As a result, some products and ideas promoted by advertisers have a strong negative influence on children. As an illustration, one research, cited in the task force report, found that promoting unhealthy food, such as fast-food, and candies, is one of the main causes of increasing childhood obesity.
In its Task Force the American Psychological Association stresses the necessity for legislative authorities to “restrict advertising targeted to children 8 years old and younger” (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). Among the main recommendations, on which the task force report is mostly based, is the suggestion to conduct more detailed studies about the effects of commercials on young children.
The American Psychological Association works in collaboration with other organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Kaiser Family Foundation, that promote similar ideas and fight with perverse messages in media (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). The representatives of the Association’s Public Policy office periodically meet with members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission in order to discuss the issue of the negative influence of commercials on children and try to find possible solutions of the problem.
Members of the Association are especially concentrated on the effects of commercials on children of this age group, because researchers have found that small children “lack the cognitive ability to recognize advertising's persuasive intent” (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). According to some studies published in the task force report, often it is enough for a child to see advertisement only once to have a desire for the product and start asking for it. As a result, some products and ideas promoted by advertisers have a strong negative influence on children. As an illustration, one research, cited in the task force report, found that promoting unhealthy food, such as fast-food, and candies, is one of the main causes of increasing childhood obesity.
In its Task Force the American Psychological Association stresses the necessity for legislative authorities to “restrict advertising targeted to children 8 years old and younger” (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). Among the main recommendations, on which the task force report is mostly based, is the suggestion to conduct more detailed studies about the effects of commercials on young children.
The American Psychological Association works in collaboration with other organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Kaiser Family Foundation, that promote similar ideas and fight with perverse messages in media (“Protecting Children from Advertising”). The representatives of the Association’s Public Policy office periodically meet with members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission in order to discuss the issue of the negative influence of commercials on children and try to find possible solutions of the problem.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Girls' Body Image
As it is claimed in the article “The Effects of Advertising on Teenage Girls” by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, some advertisements negatively influence teenage girls’ perception of an ideal body, beauty and sexuality. Commercials that portray thin women may impel girls to become the same skinny by losing weight with all possible methods, even life threatening. This can create a great health risk, lead to further illnesses, sterility, and sometimes death.
Ideas promoted by some advertisements suggest that a girl should be as thin and sexy as women in commercials in order to be beautiful, fashionable, successful (“The Effects of Advertising…”). As a result, many teenagers use extremely dangerous methods to grow thin, such as strict diets, binging and purging, excessive exercising and other; though most of these girls have normal and even perfect body shape and do not need to lose weight. Researchers have found that girls’ aspiration to reach this ideal “can lead to lowered self-esteem, mental health issues, and eating disorders” (“The Effects of Advertising…”).
Ideas promoted by some advertisements suggest that a girl should be as thin and sexy as women in commercials in order to be beautiful, fashionable, successful (“The Effects of Advertising…”). As a result, many teenagers use extremely dangerous methods to grow thin, such as strict diets, binging and purging, excessive exercising and other; though most of these girls have normal and even perfect body shape and do not need to lose weight. Researchers have found that girls’ aspiration to reach this ideal “can lead to lowered self-esteem, mental health issues, and eating disorders” (“The Effects of Advertising…”).
Saturday, December 15, 2007
There are several good articles related to the topic of advertising and its negative influence on children in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. One of the articles, which you, dear guest, can find really interesting, is called “Children, Adolescents, and Advertising”. It reveals such negative effects of commercials targeted on children as promotion of obesity, poor nutrition, and cigarette and alcohol consumption.
The article provides some statistical data about the average number of advertisements children see in various kinds of media. It also reveals the most common products promoted to children and some marketing techniques used by advertisers to be more influential. Finally, it talks about the pernicious influence of commercials on children’s health and life style.
Several solutions are suggested in order to struggle with ‘selling to children’, and all the negative consequences of this. American advertising should receive greater control by government institutions. Some types of commercials, such as cigarette and alcohol advertisements, should be banned, others, such as those promoting unhealthy food, should be restricted. Lastly, children and adolescents should be educated of how to be critical about advertising and media as a whole.
The article provides some statistical data about the average number of advertisements children see in various kinds of media. It also reveals the most common products promoted to children and some marketing techniques used by advertisers to be more influential. Finally, it talks about the pernicious influence of commercials on children’s health and life style.
Several solutions are suggested in order to struggle with ‘selling to children’, and all the negative consequences of this. American advertising should receive greater control by government institutions. Some types of commercials, such as cigarette and alcohol advertisements, should be banned, others, such as those promoting unhealthy food, should be restricted. Lastly, children and adolescents should be educated of how to be critical about advertising and media as a whole.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Portrayals of Violence and Aggression in Ads
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) conducted a seminar on 21 November 2007 that focused on the issue of violence in advertising. The decision to hold this conference had been taken as a response to the rising public concern and significant increase in complaints to the organization in this area during the past year. In the seminar the ASA’s senior executives and delegates discussed the issues of “protecting children from harmful or offensive ads, images of knives and guns in ads and commercials for violent video games and horror films” (ASA). The results of the discussion were later sent to the ASA’s decision making Council, with the aim to improve further examination and judgments of complaints about violent portrays in commercials.
What influence may images of violence, aggression, rape have on viewers’, and especially on children’s behavior, thoughts, attitudes, norms, mental health?
Several scientific studies have been conducted with the aim to find and evaluate possible harmful consequences of violence in the media. Three main harmful effects have been found are “increased antisocial or aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (becoming more accepting of violence in real life and less caring about other people’s feelings), or increased fear of becoming a victim of violence” (The Kaiser Family Foundation). Children, especially very young (under the age of 7) can hardly distinguish between reality and fantasy, particularly in the media images. “They tend to perceive fantasy and cartoon violence as realistic” (The Kaiser Family Foundation). As a result, children are most of all vulnerable to the exposure to violent portrays.
Why society is so much anxious about the issue of violent, aggressive images in commercials? Do we see such images often in the mass media? Does the portraying of violent and anti-social behavior in media have any significant influence on people and especially on children?
In our daily lives we see a high number of images of violence in various kinds of mass media, such as in the news, television programs, movies, computer games, advertisements. As it has been found by the National Television Violence Study, nearly 2 out of 3 television programs portray violence, which is approximately 6 violent acts per hour (The Kaiser Family Foundation).
Surprisingly, children are exposed to violence in media even more than adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “violence was found to be more prevalent in children’s programming (69%) than in other types of programming (57%). In a typical hour of programming, children’s shows featured more than twice as many violent incidents (14) than other types of programming (6).
In our daily lives we see a high number of images of violence in various kinds of mass media, such as in the news, television programs, movies, computer games, advertisements. As it has been found by the National Television Violence Study, nearly 2 out of 3 television programs portray violence, which is approximately 6 violent acts per hour (The Kaiser Family Foundation).
Surprisingly, children are exposed to violence in media even more than adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “violence was found to be more prevalent in children’s programming (69%) than in other types of programming (57%). In a typical hour of programming, children’s shows featured more than twice as many violent incidents (14) than other types of programming (6).
What influence may images of violence, aggression, rape have on viewers’, and especially on children’s behavior, thoughts, attitudes, norms, mental health?
Several scientific studies have been conducted with the aim to find and evaluate possible harmful consequences of violence in the media. Three main harmful effects have been found are “increased antisocial or aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (becoming more accepting of violence in real life and less caring about other people’s feelings), or increased fear of becoming a victim of violence” (The Kaiser Family Foundation). Children, especially very young (under the age of 7) can hardly distinguish between reality and fantasy, particularly in the media images. “They tend to perceive fantasy and cartoon violence as realistic” (The Kaiser Family Foundation). As a result, children are most of all vulnerable to the exposure to violent portrays.
Current Event 1
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) conducted a seminar on 21 November 2007 that focused on the issue of violence in advertising. The decision to hold this conference had been taken as a response to the rising public concern and significant increase in complaints to the organization in this area during the past year. In the seminar the ASA’s senior executives and delegates discussed the issues of “protecting children from harmful or offensive ads, images of knives and guns in ads and commercials for violent video games and horror films” (ASA). The results of the discussion were later sent to the ASA’s decision making Council, with the aim to improve further examination and judgments of complaints about violent portrays in commercials.
Why society is so much anxious about the issue of violent, aggressive images in commercials? Do we see such images often in the mass media? Does the portraying of violent and anti-social behavior in media have any significant influence on people and especially on children?
In our daily lives we see a high number of images of violence in various kinds of mass media, such as in the news, television programs, movies, computer games, advertisements. As it has been found by the National Television Violence Study, nearly 2 out of 3 television programs portray violence, which is approximately 6 violent acts per hour (“TV Violence”).
Surprisingly, children are exposed to violence in media even more than adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “violence was found to be more prevalent in children’s programming (69%) than in other types of programming (57%). In a typical hour of programming, children’s shows featured more than twice as many violent incidents (14) than other types of programming (6) (“TV Violence”).
What influence may images of violence, aggression, rape have on viewers’, and especially on children’s behavior, thoughts, attitudes, norms, mental health?
Several scientific studies have been conducted with the aim to find and evaluate possible harmful consequences of violence in the media (“TV Violence”). Three main harmful effects have been found are “increased antisocial or aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (becoming more accepting of violence in real life and less caring about other people’s feelings), or increased fear of becoming a victim of violence” (“TV Violence”). Children, especially very young (under the age of 7) can hardly distinguish between reality and fantasy, particularly in the media images. “They tend to perceive fantasy and cartoon violence as realistic” (“TV Violence”). As a result, children are most of all vulnerable to the exposure to violent portrays.
Why society is so much anxious about the issue of violent, aggressive images in commercials? Do we see such images often in the mass media? Does the portraying of violent and anti-social behavior in media have any significant influence on people and especially on children?
In our daily lives we see a high number of images of violence in various kinds of mass media, such as in the news, television programs, movies, computer games, advertisements. As it has been found by the National Television Violence Study, nearly 2 out of 3 television programs portray violence, which is approximately 6 violent acts per hour (“TV Violence”).
Surprisingly, children are exposed to violence in media even more than adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “violence was found to be more prevalent in children’s programming (69%) than in other types of programming (57%). In a typical hour of programming, children’s shows featured more than twice as many violent incidents (14) than other types of programming (6) (“TV Violence”).
What influence may images of violence, aggression, rape have on viewers’, and especially on children’s behavior, thoughts, attitudes, norms, mental health?
Several scientific studies have been conducted with the aim to find and evaluate possible harmful consequences of violence in the media (“TV Violence”). Three main harmful effects have been found are “increased antisocial or aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence (becoming more accepting of violence in real life and less caring about other people’s feelings), or increased fear of becoming a victim of violence” (“TV Violence”). Children, especially very young (under the age of 7) can hardly distinguish between reality and fantasy, particularly in the media images. “They tend to perceive fantasy and cartoon violence as realistic” (“TV Violence”). As a result, children are most of all vulnerable to the exposure to violent portrays.
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