Media Mayhem: More Than Make Believe

Although it's nearly three times the price and only one-third as long as Does TV Kill? (VL-7/95), this program on violence in the media is a much more cogent and illuminating look at the escalation of mayhem in the media in recent years. Presenting both sides of the issue, seven teens in adult roles as a doctor, judge, police officer, advertising exec, etc., point out that homicide has increased from 7,000 in 1955 to nearly 25,000 in 1993; that by the time a child turns 20, he or she has seen some 16,000 murders on TV and 200,000 acts of violence; and that video games have become increasingly gruesome in the past few years. On the other hand, when population growth is factored into the equation, the overall crime rate seems to have actually decreased a bit; debilitating social factors such as poverty and drug abuse are clearly more powerful indicators of potential crime; and countries such as Japan--where televised cartoon violence is far more graphic than what's allowed on American TV--have a much lower crime rate. With our overwhelming preoccupation with crime, this is a timely, informed, and sure to be popular entry. Recommended for larger libraries and junior and senior high schools. (R. Pitman)