Jeserey Sanchez

Feb. 16, 2010

ENG 3 AP

P. 2


REHUGO Analysis -Articles: Current Events

A. "Media Violence May Cause Youth Violence" By, Hillary Rodham Clinton and "Media Violence Does Not Cause

Youth Violence" By, Karen Sternheimer

B. See Attached

C. Clinton strongly believes that Media Violence has become a real issue that has and is greatly impacting the youth today. Sheargues the fact that it has been scientifically proven that violence shown on television, the internet, movies, and video games are all contributing to increasing numbers of aggression, anxiety, and desensitization. Clinton's main argument is that through media violence is how they encourage the youth to get into such a culture that condones aggression. Sternheimer thinks otherwise. Though children attempt to imitate what they see on television, she argues that children can't distinguish what real violence is compared to what they see on television and the on internet. They merely imitate what they see that makes them appear powerful and dominant.

D. Evidence:

Article 1:

a. Ethos: In Clinton's article she starts off by using examples of how she handles such situations. She establishes her ethos where she discusses how she was already quite involved with the types of environments children were being raised in, includingthe media environment. But, then right before her first daughter was born she talks about how she took the situation more personally. Later on discusses in her article of how she relates to many young parents, main subject that always comes up is raising their children. Whether it be sharing her techniques on how she became a successful role model for her child, or the frights of losing control over their children.

b. Pathos: Clinton relates to many parents when the topic challenges of raising children comes up. They discuss how they can barely keep up, and that the thought of them falling behind will lead to their children going through the wrong path. Such as, the media environment. Having their children get sucked in the virtual world of video games and what not. They all don't seem to understand because in matter of a blink of an eye, an hour, day, week, month, year has already gone by.

2. Article 2

a. Ethos: In Sternheimer's article one of the assumptions that is frequently one of the reasons that people think that Media may be the cause of youth violence, is the assumption that "As the Media Culture has expanded, Children have become more violent." Establishes her ethos, she not only starts off by directing her main point to the audience, but adds herself in the scenario she gives. As we surround and live our lives around the media culture, it begins to be something that we get used to. And some media may be good or bad, Which is the fear most parents have for their children, because they can do just so much to keep them away from it all.

b. Logos: Sternheimer's appeals to logic by listing arrest rates for violent offenses, for like murder, rape, and aggravated assault. During the 1990's teens ages fifteen to seventeen fell steadily, just as they did for people fourteen and under. Yet, really the ones with highest rates from then and now are adults. Though fifteen to seventeen year olds out do adults in burglary and theft have continually be falling for the past twenty- five years."In fact, theft arrest rates for fifteen- to seventeen-year-olds have declined by 27 percent since 1976 and the rates for those fourteen and under have declined 41 percent, while the arrest rate for adults has increased." For teens it has decreased quite a percentage, while for adults it has increased yet, still failed to see the fact of that.

E. Rhetorical Devices:

Article 1: Clinton compares and contrasts what is being broadcast on television and what young boys see when they are playing their video games. They can turn on the television and see many things that parents wish they had the control over and have the chance to explain to their children if they were home. Be there right next them, and attempt to explain to them the meanings of what they see. But, compared to this certain video game 'Grand Theft Auto'. Has so many wrong and demeaning messages being sent out to young boys. "A game that encourages them to have sex with prostitutes and then murder them.." Clinton explains that, it'd be harder for the parent to actually explain that type of situation because you really wouldn't know where to begin. Where to start , and whats wrong with the picture.

Article 2: Sternheimer uses a lot of rhetorical questioning to get her point across. She gets her audience to realize, that Media Violence isn't a main cause or even a cause alone for children to be affected by such media that is being broadcasted all around them. "So why do we seem to think that kids are now more violent than ever?" While the percentage for teen crime decreases, adults increase. It doesn't seem to be an issue that is frequently talked about, or attempted to be solved nor fixed. Shouldn't it be that adults set the examples for the youth?, yet it seems to be vise- versa.

F. View Point

From reading both articles and look at it from both perspectives, I believe that Sternheimer has the stronger argument. Mass media does have bad messages that are broadcasted everywhere you go. Whether it be on television, on the internet, video
games, poster, billboards, its honestly something you can hide from. Best that the youth weren't to see that, especially if they expect that it was okay to do such crimes, But, at the same time Sternheimer brings up a good point that, the fighting children
watch on television, such a as 'Power Rangers" for example they don't see it and intimiate it to hurt another person, but they perceive it as a form of power or strength. When looking at it from a broader picture, there are many downsides to the mass
media and negative aspects to it, but the best a parent can do, is just sit their child down and explain to them what it all really means. As they grow older they'll know the meaning of right and wrong, and its up to them to follow or whether not to.

MLA Citation:

Article 1:

Clinton, Hilary R. "General Logon Page." Gale Error Page. 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.

Article 2:

Sternheimer, Karen. "General Logon Page." Gale Error Page. 2010. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. .