|
|
|
|
|
Media and Social Responsibility
Student Reference Material
| |
- Goldstein, Jeffrey H. (editor). Why We Watch: The Attractions of Violent Entertainment, Oxford University Press, 1998.
The book traces public blood lust from the days of Roman gladiators to medieval jousts that crossed the line between war and games to the modern-day fascination with violence in sports, entertainment, and the news. Theories on social behavior are examined, including the purported cathartic release of watching violence and its possible link to increased aggression. Contributors dissect the appeal of violence in a wide range of entertainment venues, from sports and children's toys and games to movies and even religion. This well-researched book offers insightful analysis and extensive references.
- Dudley, William (Editor). Media Violence: Opposing Viewpoints (Opposing Viewpoints Series), Greenhaven Press, 1999.
The Opposing Viewpoints series provides essays on popular topics that give differing opinions on the subject. Usually each "pro" essay will have a "con" essay. Each book also includes a list of discussion questions, a bibliography of other relevant sources and a list of organizations with contact information.
- Baker, Martin and Petley, Julian (Editors). Ill Effects: The Media/Violence Debate, Routledge Press, 1997.
Ill Effects is a radical re-examination of the whole media effects debate, questioning not only whether the media is capable of directly influencing people's views and actions, but also if the idea of "effects" is the most useful way of conceptualizing the relationship between the media and audiences. Ill Effects looks at why the media are routinely blamed for horrific events such as the teenage suicide allegedly caused by the influence of rock music as well as for perceived trends such as the alleged "death of the family". The authors discuss the current state of research into media effects, the remarkable power of "common-sense" notions of media effects and the way in which the effects issue has become embroiled in debates about freedom of expression and censorship.
- Price, Monroe E. (Editor). The V-Chip Debate : Content Filtering from Television to the Internet, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998.
This collection of articles looks at the V-Chip adoption debate and the development of television ratings in the United States and Canada and a discussion of the self-regulation of the media industry. The book's appendix includes extensive resources of relevant legislation and industry guidelines.
- Baxter, John. Mythmaker: The Life and Work of George Lucas, Spike Publishing, 1999.
George Lucas is one of the most innovative and commercially successful players on the movie scene today. Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, together with the three "Indiana Jones" films -- all six of which he conceived, produced, and co-wrote -- comprise the most popular group of films ever made. Lucas masterminded a revolutionary shift in the control of funding and profits of Hollywood films away from the studios into the hands of the filmmakers themselves. His state-of-the-art film exhibition techniques (such as THX sound systems) have transformed the cinematic experience and his Industrial Light & Magic is the finest special effects studio in the world. Yet he has remained an enigma and a recluse--until this lively and informative biography.
|
| |
|
