After seeing Elona's post, I was forced to comment. There is just something about this topic that brings about a lot of opinions in me. Here is what I had to say:
People in class, myself included, dismissed the notion of violent television being linked to violence in society because these studies often confuse correlation with causation. No one can definitively state one way or another if watching violent programs makes one violent. If it were as simple as that, everyone would be violent. We are all exposed to violence during our lifetimes – be it fictionalized or real – starting at a young age, and as was pointed out in class, violent crime rates are down. I think, like most people who believe in these studies, you are looking for an easy answer to a difficult question.
As far as the content of the programs you watched being "evil," I also disagree. Heroes fighting bad guys is nothing new. Children's tales such as Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel – and I could go on – depict good triumphing over evil often through violent means. Many of these have been made into movies by Disney; should Disney films not be watched by children?
Also, I have watched a lot of superhero cartoons, and I have never seen the hero kill the villain. When it comes to heroes like Batman and Superman, they never kill the bad guy because that would, well, kill off the bad guy, thus ending any chance of a return. Writers do not like killing off villains in serialized shows because that would lead to less rogues to draw from.
As far as Looney Tunes goes, I'll worry about them when drive-by anvilings become a societal problem.
As for your opinion on Eminem, I also disagree. You think he needs to "stop playing stupid, because he knows he is looked upto [sic] by younger kids." Eminem's music SHOULD NOT be listened to by children. If it is, that falls on the parents, not the artist. Eminem does not make music for seven year olds. Eminem has never tried to market his music to seven year olds. He should not have to censor his art simply because a child might happen upon it or want to listen to it. Parents instill values, not hip hop artists. Should painters who paint explicit portraits stop doing so because a child might see it? Of course not. The same holds true for recording artists.
I also think you are way off base in saying that Eminem needs to "be a man and own up to his mistakes." What mistakes? Corrupting the youth? You know who else was charged with corrupting the youth? Socrates. Why is Eminem to be held accountable for the actions of others?
Eminem is hardly the only recording artist who has touched on violent subject matter. Do you remember The Dickie Chicks' murder-filled revenge-story song, "Goodbye Earl"? Should The Dickie Chicks be reprimanded for creating such a song? What about Phil Collins? Ever heard "In the Air Tonight"? Should Phil Collins be censored?
More than just recording artists have delved into violence. What about Truman Capote? He made his name by exploiting a real-life violent crime. Should people not be allowed to read In Cold Blood? How about William Shakespeare? How many of his plays dealt with violence? Should people not be exposed to Shakespeare?
If you think that young people should not be watching violent programs like Looney Tunes or listening to Eminem, that's fine, but there is a simple solution: turn them off. Simply say, "No, you can't watch/listen to that. You're too young." Eminem makes music for older listeners. It is him having a one-way conversation with adults. Why is that not OK? Why can he not speak to a more mature listener? Do adults not have different conversations when children are not around than they do when they are? Eminem's songs are no different.
At the end of the day, the responsibility for instilling proper morals and values falls on parents, not Eminem or Looney Tunes.
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