Blame The Media!

I'm sure all of you, at one time or another, have heard someone talk about how the media is corrupting the younger generation. Likely, your parents carefully selected what tv shows, movies and music were acceptable to watch and which were forbidden. If your childhood years were anything like mine, The Simpsons were probably top of the list of shows not allowed to watch, and if the movie wasn't disney or rated G (occasionally PG), it was off limits. As for music...if the artist wasn't a follower of Christ, and said the words Jesus, God, Saved, or Forgiven at least once a verse it shouldn't be on the stereo (I don't know how my sisters got away with listening to Backstreet Boys and N'Sync). Ok...so I am exageratting a little bit, but you can likely relate right? The idea was, the media was trash and if anything "suggestive" got into your head, then it would imediately be followed through, with actions and speech. I actually remember a really lame song that my parents had on cassette tape (remember those things?) called "Input, Output". It was these kids singing in robotic voises (before T-Pain!) about how what goes in our mind comes out, through our words and actions and stuff. In fact, as I write this I have the silly, annoying tune echoing through my brain. But is it really true? Should we really be blaming the media for corrupting us, and our children?

To be perfectly honest, I think blaming the media is a horrible cop out. It's like people who blame God for 9/11, or blaming the ref for losing the game for your team. Yes, perhaps they have something to do with it, but it's not fully their fault. I think the biggest problem with them kids today, is that parents no longer communicate to their kids aobut what they are watching/listening to. In my humble opinion, I believe that if parents would sit with their kids, and watch stuff with them, and then engage them with honest, thought provoking questions about the show or movie, then kids could almost watch anything and not have it affect them in a negative way. I'm not saying that a 4 year old should watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre or anything, obviously it's within reason, but I think that if parents would actually communicate to kids, then things would change dramatically.

I love to go to Plugged In's website. Plugged in is the "media/entertainment critics" for Focus on The Family. Now, I don't go to the website to actually take their advice. Quite frankly, I go there AFTER I watch the movie to see how bad the movie was in their eyse. I often find myself laughing at how negative everything is, and how bad they make small, insignificant things seem. But they strike this fear that the media is to blame for corrupting us. It's not the media's fault. We need open discussion, dialogue, and deal with the issues head on instead of just sticking our heads in the sand. For example, instead of saying that the movie Bruce Almighty is sacriligeous, blasphemous and forbidden...watch it and ask questions. With an open mind, it is a brilliant depiction of why God can't possibly answer "YES" to all of our prayers, and how if we ran the world, things would be a disaster.

To be honest, I think family dynamic has much more to do with the corruption than the media. Kids see their parents constantly fight, their father drink 5 beers a day, everyone swearing, threatening, looking at dirty magazines...and then when they see it on TV, or hear lyrics in songs that match what they see at home, then they assume that it is normal and accepted. On the other hand, a family is loving, occasionaly argues, but always makes up. Swears happen, but not constantly, and onyl at appropriate times, and when alcohol is consumed, it is in a safe limit. These kids will watch the same shows, hear the same music, and yet it contradicts what they see at home, and so they ignore it. The like what they see at home. They love the warmth, the love and the safety. On top of that the parents talk to the kids about how, Media portrays violence as acceptable, and how that violence really isn't the answer to problems. Nor is drugs, alcohol, sex..whatever. Open dialogue, in a loving family and the media's impact is much more minimal. Yes, there are bad things in the media. There are shows that are just disgusting, and pointless. However, there are great shows on TV that kids never get to watch because of a "questionable character" or an "unchristian lifestyle". I think of the shows Modern Family and Glee. They aren't perfect, there are issues with both of them, but both shows depict real life, in a real way. Modern Family shows a very loving family, despite the fact that they are kind of dysfunctional. And Glee follows high school glee club members, who have to face adversity on a daily basis. Yes, it has teen pregnancy, homosexuality and an affair...but it never comes out and condones these things. In fact, in one controversial episode, 3 "couples" are about to go all the way, but only one goes through with it. The one who goes through with it, feels dirty and used. No, it's not a perfect depiction of celibacy, but it does at least push kids into thinking that sex is something sacred, and shouldn't be handled lightly.

So parents...talk with your kids about what they are watching. No, don't let them watch EVERYTHING, but do be a bit open minded. Watch with the kids. Talk with them after, and tell them what is different about the media portrayal and real life. Even those of us who aren't parents...we can still have open discussion and talk about what we watch and listen to. We don't have to be scared about everything. Watching a violent movie isn't going to make you go out an murder people. Trust me, I watched 300 on opening day, and while I was full of adrenaline and testosterone after...I didn't try to kick some guy into a deep well, and shout "THIS IS SPARTA!". A lack of dialogue, and a failure to comminicate, in my mind, are much more to blame than the media. But that is only my perspective...what do you guys think? Is the media to blame?