Mean World or Feared World

       We constantly hear about the issue of violence, violence is everywhere and one issue everyone is always concerned about is the effect of this constant exposure of violence in the media on children. Studies show that children who are exposed to excessive violence are more likely to act violently but studies also show that violence in the media is increasing but violence and crime are decreasing. George Gerbner spent his entire life addressing this exact issue. One major issue he brings up is that we have always been exposed to violence, this is nothing new to us. We can't even compare someone who isn't exposed to violence to someone who is because everyone has been exposedto violence in someway. Another issue Gerbner brings up is that fact that an increase in exposure to violence in the media does not result in an increase of crime but rather an increase of fear of our surroundings. Gerbner's studies show that people who experience violence more are more likely to be afraid and to think that crime rates are greater than they actually are. These people are also more likely to report that they believe crime is increasing when the reality of the fact is that crime has actually been declining. A third issue Gerbner brings up is the stereotypes constantly portrayed in medias especially when it comes to violence and race. African American are always showed as either really successful, rich, powerful people or violent criminals. Latinos are also discriminated against by being shown as immigrants who cause nothing but trouble and act out in violent ways, not the productive members of society that they generally are. These stereotypes are wrong on so many level especially when you take into account the fact that most violent crimes are committed by Caucasians. Clearly there are so many other things to consider when discussing the issue of violence.