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Violence In Media And Music

My topic is violence in the media and music. Violence in media and music is extremely common in the world today. From video games to music videos, derogatory language, shootings, and promiscuous behavior are all just some of the images leading to violent behavior. This topic is considered controversial today because of the audience that is most engaged by these images, children. By the mere age of eighteen years old, the average American child would have viewed about 200,000 violent acts, just on T.V. alone. While the average child, ages 8-18, spend an average of 6 ½ hours daily watching T.V., listening to music, and playing video games, the effect of these images on the children are astonishing.
From rap sensation Eminem to pop star diva Britney Spears, parents are outraged by the lyrical expression and personal lifestyles of these music idols today. According to a new study by American Psychological Association, "Songs with violent lyrics increase aggression related thoughts and emotions and this effect is directly related to the violence in the lyrics." With singers with lyrics suggesting sex, drugs, and violence, making such an impact on children's lives, it is definitely a problem today.
It all started in the 1950's, when music conformed from a mainstream blues and jazz to a new shocking genre of music, rock and roll. Rock and roll was started by teenagers in the 1950's trying to rebel from the soft adult sounds of the music thus far. Rock and roll brought along a new era of music. In the 1950's, sex, drugs, and crime were hinted by songs such as "Wake up Little Susie" by Paul Simon and "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis. From then on music began to express topics disliked by the adult community.
Today, songs such as Akon's "I Wanna F#$% You" and underground music artist Immortal Techniques' "Dance With The Devil" where he tells the story of a young man who rapes and kills his own mother are accepted by children everywhere as music...