Investigating what the media says to the intended audience about images and stories:
• Implied values and attitudes transmitted by the media
• Accessibility – understanding it as well as being able to obtain/access it
• Gender of the intended audience – is it directed mainly to young females, males, no specific gender?
• Is this a “respected” media or something that offers a chance to “defy” authority?
The content we are looking for will focus on children, not parents and teachers.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Implied Values and Attitudes
What does the media have to say about the values and attitudes of children that come about from handheld video games such as (in my time the Gameboy) or more recently the Nintendo DS, iPod or iPads?
Thanks for your response. In the media it sure seems that way. My own children don't have those violent games, other than hunting games, so I cannot speak as to how it affects them. I can only go from what the media is saying and what I learn from my research. I am beginning to think that these games are not as bad as the media makes them look. I came across this comic I though you might appreciate. You can copy and paste the link to your browser. http://kotaku.com/brilliant-comic-slams-how-the-media-treats-video-games-1343541477
thanx for sharing the link Dez. That's true, the violence is in all media. Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life. Chicken or egg, which came first? U need the chicken to make that egg...but u need that egg to make the chicken. Art is the egg, the Artist's experiences or things he or she sees in the form of their art medium and the Artist's experiences and what he or she sees is the chicken. There's good in showing the good things in life through art and also showing the bad things. Seeing the good things is reassuring...seeing the bad things is a reminder that there are still lots of problems, like Shakespear said, "All the world is a stage and we are players"...each of us "players" have choices, to do good or do bad. We were given these two choices. I recently heard David Arquette talking on the Howard Stern show and David was drunk...but he was making some sense, he was saying "we are playing the wrong game"....so many people are obsessed with this Grand Theft Auto 5 game where u can choose to do bad things...he was saying we need to play a new game, where we are kind to each other.
If we think of the media(art) we take in, look at it as food? there's good,healthy,wholesome food...and then their is junk,unhealthy food...if we eat,..or take in that really bad food...it makes us sick
so just like the unhealthy media,junk...if we consume alot of that we will be unhealthy and get sick.
Im not sure im really answering the question... what does the media think about the values of children that they get from using these games? im not sure what the media thinks about their values...maybe they think kids are just materialistic and all have ADD, that they are so used to fast paced non stop entertainment they now need (addicted) to this kind of stimulus in order to get any information. I do youtube videos...and over the years, ive noticed, to really grab the audiences attention, my videos have to be fast,as entertaining as possible, especially the first 10 seconds to really grab their attention, cause people get bored very very fast...and have low attention spans nowadays.
Well, I haven't had a lot of experience with children and video games except for the fact that my mom runs a day home for children. When the children get home from school I see them run to their DS's or iPods and sit on the couch. Yes, I am sure their finger dexterity is improving but what does that really teach them? I think that the media creates a more negative connotation surrounding video games and many people feel as though video games create violence and encourage 'dangerous' ideas. I think I would have to agree. This question reminds me of the link I posted above in another question. The media seems to be saying that video games definitely influence children's attitudes and values. If you think from a common sense standpoint, how can something that you like to do and something that you spend the majority of your free time doing not influence you? In the least, I am sure that the language is learned if not the actions that encompass the game. I think the media also portrays the idea that video games such as this lead to obesity and an attitude of laziness. Handheld video games seem like an easy "blame" for much of the worlds problems. However, at the same time, the media must not portray video games as completely negative because look at the profits that are made from them. Ultimately, the attitudes and values of children who use handheld video games are likely going to be the values and attitudes that their parents portray. If handheld video games are not overused or abused the media's message remains positive for the most part. Children's attitudes and values are influenced by their surroundings so it is important to always have the proper role models for children, especially where media and video games are concerned.
I like how you state that children's attitudes and values will likely follow those of their parents, not of those portrayed in the media or video games. My concern would be for those children who don't have access to a parent or guardian. I wonder if they also spend much of their time playing video games, and if so, are they influenced by them differently because of the lack of adult role models in their lives.
I have often thought that media promotes the self-serving message that we need or deserve to be entertained. That serves media well and helps children (and adults) escape any sense of boredom but at a cost. I have been reflecting on this. Games are far more engaged than more passive activities like television. Is that a positive? Or, does it promote a deeper level of engagement with what the media is promoting?
I realize I am biased. I grew up without TV and my own house has no cable or satellite. My daughters find lots to do, even without any hand held games. They do, however, still have mobile phones and iPods and use these constantly as social devices.
Thank you Judi for your response. I read this response just as I was coming to a realization. Are 'toys' going to be the thing of the past in the future? The reason I ask this, is because of the simple fact that my son had a friend over who brought his Skylander Wii game, but it also came with a physical console and characters. This was the first time I seen this type of video game. I expected my son to later come to me and ask me to get the same game. I was excited in a way because it had physical characters or 'toys' that came along with the game. After his friend left, my son came to me and asked me if he could get the Skylanders game...on his iPod. Really? Why does he not want to play with toys like we used to? Why does it have to be in a video game format? I am struggling with this concept but it is his reality. So would you consider playing with toys a more passive activity than interacting with a video game? For me, I would say no, but I haven't been playing many video games lately.
As a first year Kindergarten teacher, I am blown away with the fine motor issues which come from the young students. I am recently working with an occupational therapist at school and there are so many issues coming out in these last few years from kids just sitting at home and playing on their video games, I pads, ect! The kids are no longer developing those skills because parents no longer focus on the issue. I think the media portrays a huge stigma on kids now a day for which they are drawn to "exercise" or enjoy play at home with our having to even having to go outSide and have that social or physical nature anymore. The media chooses to focus on all of the key features which would draw kids in on their interests. It definitely affects their attitudes and values as well as new interests or fads. There is the positive factor which they have worked on to add in features which will help kids in education with aps that draw them in and help them learn. For example I have a little boy with autism this year and he has no interest in learning letters but he is drawn to the iPad and there is an ap. which he can learn how to practice his letters using his fingers. There is also a few aps which help him learn how to communicate. I guess it is up to the parent and teacher to control the kids and to make sure there is a balance between the way media is portrayed and the way you can work with it to benefit your child.
Thank you Amy Rebecca for your thoughtful response. It certainly is a growing debate over how our youth will be affected by spending more and more time on media devices. You are already seeing some of the effects of this. I just posted above in response to Judi that my 8-year-old son came to me to ask if he could have the Skylanders game on his iPod. I was surprised because I was expecting him to ask for the actual Skylanders 'toys'. Now that I have read your post, I feel even more concerned about children's dexterity abilities in the future. I agree children will not develop in the same way they would have when playing with physical toys. It’s even more concerning knowing that the children are using handheld devices at a younger age all the time. Thanks again for adding your personal experience.
I am the mother of an 11 year old girl who started "gaming" with a DS at 5 and has now moved to an iPod. I feel that the availability of these games as a source of entertainment can certainly negatively impact a child's attitudes and values. Unfortunately, we are raising children that feel entitled to the right to be entertained rather than children that can create their own fun. They feel that someone or something should be making them happy and keeping them from being bored with little or no effort on their part. However, that's where the job of a parent comes in. We are responsible for our children's values and attitudes and it is up to us to teach them that the games are okay, but that there is more to a healthy, fun childhood. We can't just tell them how we used to play outside or how we didn't have electronic games, we have to model for them by shutting the computer down and leaving our phones on the counter or in our purse. It is simply a matter of leading by example and if we allow our youth to be led by media and electronics then yes they will most likely be negatively influenced. It's not the fault of the games, the developers, or even the advertisers if our children are not taught the difference between real life entertainment and electronic (often fantasy) games.
Thank you for your reply Joanne. You have a very good argument. I feel the same about not blaming the media. That is their job and it is up to us as adults to set good examples. When I sit on the computer so does my children. When I go outside, they follow me. Thanks for bringing these points up.
I think the implied values and attitudes transmitted by the media are that girls should be playing pink, fluffy baking games and boys should be playing shoot’em up war games. The more I search video games on the Internet, the more I realized the media portrays games for girls and games for boys with specific criteria in their promotions. Girl games consist of candy, flowers, pink and purple dress-up dolls, and high-pitched voices. Boy games involve, guns, bombs, destruction, fights, racing and low voices. The media is implying, or assuming, that girls value pink fluffy games, and boys value fighting and racing. What does this say to the child who doesn’t know his or her own identity or gender? How does society respond to the boy who wants to play Strawberry Shortcake, or to the girl who loves to play Robocop? Reality is, the norms of society are changing and stereotypes are becoming more and more unacceptable. If our youth are not exposed to these issues and taught how to think critically, stereotypical values and attitudes may stay with them into adulthood – only to pass on these lingering stereotypes to their children and students.
On a more positive note, many of the top Canadian video games for 2013 are based on sports and non-stereotypical characteristics. It was difficult for me to find a video game listed on the Canadian Video Game Awards website presenting an extreme stereotypical view of characters or settings. The only real ‘girly’ game I found was Strawberry Shortcake – Card Maker Dress Up. In their defense, Strawberry Shortcake was pink and cheery from day one. Other than this, I looked into several games I assumed would be geared towards male gamers, but much to my surprise, included more ‘girly’ colors and characters. For example, The Timebuilders: Pyramids Rising 2 showcases both male and female characters as equal (on the cover). The female character is not dressed in a provocative way and the male is not portrayed as the larger warrior. Clicking on Shank 2, I expected to find a built up man on the cover. Well, I did, and there is also a woman who presents a womanly figure, but if you look close enough you will see her arms are very muscular and her hands quite large. I could go on, however, I will conclude that it seems video games in Canada are stepping away from stereotypes while moving forward in their values and attitudes. To me, this can only benefit the targeted audience, our youth.
At this point, there is no stopping the growth of children using technology at home and in the schools, and I think education is the key to helping children grow into critically thinking members of society. But, we must keep in mind that “technology can only enhance learning if students are taught to think critically about online content [including video games] and to evaluate their own behaviour against a set of shared social values” (MediaSmarts, 2012, p.6).
Reference: http://www.canadianvideogameawards.com/en2013-nomineesfrcandidats-de-2013/ Reference: MediaSmarts. (2012). Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/publication-report/full/YCWWIII-Teachers-Perspectives.pdf
I believe many children are attached to these games just as my generation is attached to their cell phones. These children are not learning to associate with other young people but just running to these devices as if it is a life line to them. Also believe that in certain circumstances parents are becoming lazy and just giving their children these devices and games so that they do not have to interact with them for a period of time. Although giving children elecrtonic devices is not necessarily a bad thing as long as there are rules in place so that children do become independent and keep their imagination growing playing toys and being phsyically active. Having a time frame where children can play these games and interact with other children around instills the right values and attitudes children need to flourish for this generation.
I really don't think it matters what the media thinks about the children and their video games,whatever kind they play. I think family, friends and peers matter more to the child. If their family is happy with the way the child is developing and expressing themselves with the morals they have taught them I would think this matters more than what the media has to say.
Thought i would comment...seems to me, these game developers are grooming kids to become soldiers, not all games are violent, but most seem to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response. In the media it sure seems that way. My own children don't have those violent games, other than hunting games, so I cannot speak as to how it affects them. I can only go from what the media is saying and what I learn from my research. I am beginning to think that these games are not as bad as the media makes them look. I came across this comic I though you might appreciate. You can copy and paste the link to your browser. http://kotaku.com/brilliant-comic-slams-how-the-media-treats-video-games-1343541477
Deletethanx for sharing the link Dez. That's true, the violence is in all media. Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life. Chicken or egg, which came first? U need the chicken to make that egg...but u need that egg to make the chicken. Art is the egg, the Artist's experiences or things he or she sees in the form of their art medium and the Artist's experiences and what he or she sees is the chicken. There's good in showing the good things in life through art and also showing the bad things. Seeing the good things is reassuring...seeing the bad things is a reminder that there are still lots of problems, like Shakespear said, "All the world is a stage and we are players"...each of us "players" have choices, to do good or do bad. We were given these two choices. I recently heard David Arquette talking on the Howard Stern show and David was drunk...but he was making some sense, he was saying "we are playing the wrong game"....so many people are obsessed with this Grand Theft Auto 5 game where u can choose to do bad things...he was saying we need to play a new game, where we are kind to each other.
DeleteWow. Thanks Johny. Yes, making wise decisions is the basis for all of this. :)
Deletei wanted to add:
DeleteIf we think of the media(art) we take in, look at it as food? there's good,healthy,wholesome food...and then their is junk,unhealthy food...if we eat,..or take in that really bad food...it makes us sick
so just like the unhealthy media,junk...if we consume alot of that we will be unhealthy and get sick.
Im not sure im really answering the question... what does the media think about the values of children that they get from using these games? im not sure what the media thinks about their values...maybe they think kids are just materialistic and all have ADD, that they are so used to fast paced non stop entertainment they now need (addicted) to this kind of stimulus in order to get any information. I do youtube videos...and over the years, ive noticed, to really grab the audiences attention, my videos have to be fast,as entertaining as possible, especially the first 10 seconds to really grab their attention, cause people get bored very very fast...and have low attention spans nowadays.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell, I haven't had a lot of experience with children and video games except for the fact that my mom runs a day home for children. When the children get home from school I see them run to their DS's or iPods and sit on the couch. Yes, I am sure their finger dexterity is improving but what does that really teach them?
ReplyDeleteI think that the media creates a more negative connotation surrounding video games and many people feel as though video games create violence and encourage 'dangerous' ideas. I think I would have to agree. This question reminds me of the link I posted above in another question. The media seems to be saying that video games definitely influence children's attitudes and values. If you think from a common sense standpoint, how can something that you like to do and something that you spend the majority of your free time doing not influence you? In the least, I am sure that the language is learned if not the actions that encompass the game.
I think the media also portrays the idea that video games such as this lead to obesity and an attitude of laziness. Handheld video games seem like an easy "blame" for much of the worlds problems. However, at the same time, the media must not portray video games as completely negative because look at the profits that are made from them.
Ultimately, the attitudes and values of children who use handheld video games are likely going to be the values and attitudes that their parents portray. If handheld video games are not overused or abused the media's message remains positive for the most part. Children's attitudes and values are influenced by their surroundings so it is important to always have the proper role models for children, especially where media and video games are concerned.
I like how you state that children's attitudes and values will likely follow those of their parents, not of those portrayed in the media or video games. My concern would be for those children who don't have access to a parent or guardian. I wonder if they also spend much of their time playing video games, and if so, are they influenced by them differently because of the lack of adult role models in their lives.
DeleteI have often thought that media promotes the self-serving message that we need or deserve to be entertained. That serves media well and helps children (and adults) escape any sense of boredom but at a cost. I have been reflecting on this. Games are far more engaged than more passive activities like television. Is that a positive? Or, does it promote a deeper level of engagement with what the media is promoting?
ReplyDeleteI realize I am biased. I grew up without TV and my own house has no cable or satellite. My daughters find lots to do, even without any hand held games. They do, however, still have mobile phones and iPods and use these constantly as social devices.
Is there much difference anymore?
Thank you Judi for your response. I read this response just as I was coming to a realization. Are 'toys' going to be the thing of the past in the future? The reason I ask this, is because of the simple fact that my son had a friend over who brought his Skylander Wii game, but it also came with a physical console and characters. This was the first time I seen this type of video game. I expected my son to later come to me and ask me to get the same game. I was excited in a way because it had physical characters or 'toys' that came along with the game. After his friend left, my son came to me and asked me if he could get the Skylanders game...on his iPod. Really? Why does he not want to play with toys like we used to? Why does it have to be in a video game format? I am struggling with this concept but it is his reality. So would you consider playing with toys a more passive activity than interacting with a video game? For me, I would say no, but I haven't been playing many video games lately.
DeleteAmy Rebecca says:
ReplyDeleteAs a first year Kindergarten teacher, I am blown away with the fine motor issues which come from the young students. I am recently working with an occupational therapist at school and there are so many issues coming out in these last few years from kids just sitting at home and playing on their video games, I pads, ect! The kids are no longer developing those skills because parents no longer focus on the issue. I think the media portrays a huge stigma on kids now a day for which they are drawn to "exercise" or enjoy play at home with our having to even having to go outSide and have that social or physical nature anymore. The media chooses to focus on all of the key features which would draw kids in on their interests. It definitely affects their attitudes and values as well as new interests or fads. There is the positive factor which they have worked on to add in features which will help kids in education with aps that draw them in and help them learn. For example I have a little boy with autism this year and he has no interest in learning letters but he is drawn to the iPad and there is an ap. which he can learn how to practice his letters using his fingers. There is also a few aps which help him learn how to communicate. I guess it is up to the parent and teacher to control the kids and to make sure there is a balance between the way media is portrayed and the way you can work with it to benefit your child.
Thank you Amy Rebecca for your thoughtful response. It certainly is a growing debate over how our youth will be affected by spending more and more time on media devices. You are already seeing some of the effects of this. I just posted above in response to Judi that my 8-year-old son came to me to ask if he could have the Skylanders game on his iPod. I was surprised because I was expecting him to ask for the actual Skylanders 'toys'. Now that I have read your post, I feel even more concerned about children's dexterity abilities in the future. I agree children will not develop in the same way they would have when playing with physical toys. It’s even more concerning knowing that the children are using handheld devices at a younger age all the time. Thanks again for adding your personal experience.
DeleteI am the mother of an 11 year old girl who started "gaming" with a DS at 5 and has now moved to an iPod. I feel that the availability of these games as a source of entertainment can certainly negatively impact a child's attitudes and values. Unfortunately, we are raising children that feel entitled to the right to be entertained rather than children that can create their own fun. They feel that someone or something should be making them happy and keeping them from being bored with little or no effort on their part. However, that's where the job of a parent comes in. We are responsible for our children's values and attitudes and it is up to us to teach them that the games are okay, but that there is more to a healthy, fun childhood. We can't just tell them how we used to play outside or how we didn't have electronic games, we have to model for them by shutting the computer down and leaving our phones on the counter or in our purse. It is simply a matter of leading by example and if we allow our youth to be led by media and electronics then yes they will most likely be negatively influenced. It's not the fault of the games, the developers, or even the advertisers if our children are not taught the difference between real life entertainment and electronic (often fantasy) games.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reply Joanne. You have a very good argument. I feel the same about not blaming the media. That is their job and it is up to us as adults to set good examples. When I sit on the computer so does my children. When I go outside, they follow me. Thanks for bringing these points up.
DeleteI think the implied values and attitudes transmitted by the media are that girls should be playing pink, fluffy baking games and boys should be playing shoot’em up war games. The more I search video games on the Internet, the more I realized the media portrays games for girls and games for boys with specific criteria in their promotions. Girl games consist of candy, flowers, pink and purple dress-up dolls, and high-pitched voices. Boy games involve, guns, bombs, destruction, fights, racing and low voices. The media is implying, or assuming, that girls value pink fluffy games, and boys value fighting and racing. What does this say to the child who doesn’t know his or her own identity or gender? How does society respond to the boy who wants to play Strawberry Shortcake, or to the girl who loves to play Robocop? Reality is, the norms of society are changing and stereotypes are becoming more and more unacceptable. If our youth are not exposed to these issues and taught how to think critically, stereotypical values and attitudes may stay with them into adulthood – only to pass on these lingering stereotypes to their children and students.
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note, many of the top Canadian video games for 2013 are based on sports and non-stereotypical characteristics. It was difficult for me to find a video game listed on the Canadian Video Game Awards website presenting an extreme stereotypical view of characters or settings. The only real ‘girly’ game I found was Strawberry Shortcake – Card Maker Dress Up. In their defense, Strawberry Shortcake was pink and cheery from day one. Other than this, I looked into several games I assumed would be geared towards male gamers, but much to my surprise, included more ‘girly’ colors and characters. For example, The Timebuilders: Pyramids Rising 2 showcases both male and female characters as equal (on the cover). The female character is not dressed in a provocative way and the male is not portrayed as the larger warrior. Clicking on Shank 2, I expected to find a built up man on the cover. Well, I did, and there is also a woman who presents a womanly figure, but if you look close enough you will see her arms are very muscular and her hands quite large. I could go on, however, I will conclude that it seems video games in Canada are stepping away from stereotypes while moving forward in their values and attitudes. To me, this can only benefit the targeted audience, our youth.
At this point, there is no stopping the growth of children using technology at home and in the schools, and I think education is the key to helping children grow into critically thinking members of society. But, we must keep in mind that “technology can only enhance learning if students are taught to think critically about online content [including video games] and to evaluate their own behaviour against a set of shared social values” (MediaSmarts, 2012, p.6).
Reference: http://www.canadianvideogameawards.com/en2013-nomineesfrcandidats-de-2013/
Reference: MediaSmarts. (2012). Young Canadians in the Wired Word: Phase 111. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/publication-report/full/YCWWIII-Teachers-Perspectives.pdf
I believe many children are attached to these games just as my generation is attached to their cell phones. These children are not learning to associate with other young people but just running to these devices as if it is a life line to them. Also believe that in certain circumstances parents are becoming lazy and just giving their children these devices and games so that they do not have to interact with them for a period of time. Although giving children elecrtonic devices is not necessarily a bad thing as long as there are rules in place so that children do become independent and keep their imagination growing playing toys and being phsyically active. Having a time frame where children can play these games and interact with other children around instills the right values and attitudes children need to flourish for this generation.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think it matters what the media thinks about the children and their video games,whatever kind they play. I think family, friends and peers matter more to the child. If their family is happy with the way the child is developing and expressing themselves with the morals they have taught them I would think this matters more than what the media has to say.
ReplyDelete