Violent Media Is Good for Kids by Gerard Jones - Article Example

By relating his own experiences as a child, and then of others Gerard Jones has observed and been involved with, he tries to show just how violence does not automatically beget violence. He does concede that violent media has encouraged some individuals to spread violence in real life, however, he states that oftentimes such media, like violent stories and video games, actually help the children in getting to terms with their emotions as well as helping them establish an identity of their own.

The article, which is a very good and flowing piece of prose, presents the case well and utilizes ethos, pathos, and logos in a bid to persuade the reader that violent media is actually good for the children. Right at the onset, the author states his argument. The choice of title for the article is a testament to that. Now, what he does next tells a very personal story, thereby showing the reader that what he is asserting in his article is based on personal knowledge and experience as well. Furthermore, through reading the article, it is clear that Jones is involved in writing stories for comic books, therefore, though his personal anecdote may make his reader connect with him more, however, this fact may make his article somewhat suspect.

After all, he is someone involved in the media he has chosen to defend, therefore, it is only but natural that the readers suspect that his article would have a bias in the favor of such media. However, on the other side, it is arguable that because he was involved in the media himself, it gives him insight that others, perhaps, lack into what exactly the influence is on children. The article, aimed at parents mostly, uses quite a bit of anecdotal evidence to drive the point home. There is little to no objective data given, merely subjective data, as well as emotional appeals, are present.

There is no doubt that when one reads about the people (or children) Jones has written about in the article, one feels connected to them, somewhat. After all, most of us have felt uncertainty in our childhood and can remember it only too well, so when Jones talks about it in his article, it makes a very strong emotional appeal in favor of his thesis. However, through the article he does reveal that he is also a parent of a young boy, therefore, what he says is not just as a writer of comics, but also as a parent.

This helps his credibility with regard to the validity of his arguments, which he is essentially making to parents, anyway. His credibility gives ethos to his argument. Jones has used simple diction and has written the article in an informal way. This has actually helped his article quite a bit. By setting an informal tone, it does not seem like a heavy read, on the contrary, it feels as if a parent (Jones, that is) is simply sharing his experience with other parents in an informal setting. Parents are wont to exchange anecdotes with each other regarding child-rearing and what to do regarding the upbringing of their children, and the tone of the article suggests that this is exactly what Jones is doing.

The subjective tone of the article, in its turn, also gives pathos to the argument Jones is presenting. There was, however, one flaw that was inevitable, as Jones chose to write an informal and anecdotal article. There was no specific data given that proved his assertions. While what Jones says makes sense on an emotional level, that is true, however, he did not present any material evidence to support his claims. He merely states that exposure to violence is good, and then relates a few stories to drive that point home, however, there is no specific and clear data that holds up his contention.

The logos, therefore, is not well established in this article.