How has Digital Media influenced (or changed) children of this generation? How are their lives different than ours? Include a historical (before and after the digital media) and global perspective (include discussion of the US and at least two additional countries). Include whether the change has been positive, negative, or both. Support your discussion with reliable sources.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Influence of Digital Media on Children: A Global Perspective
Introduction
The advent of digital media has significantly impacted the lives of children, transforming the way they learn, communicate, and engage with the world around them. This essay explores the historical context of children’s lives before and after the rise of digital media, followed by a global perspective on its influence, with a focus on the United States, China, and Sweden. By examining reliable sources, we will evaluate whether these changes have been positive, negative, or both.
Historical Context
Before the emergence of digital media, children’s lives were primarily shaped by traditional forms of entertainment, such as books, playgrounds, and face-to-face interactions. They relied on direct social connections and physical activities for learning and entertainment. However, with the rise of digital media, children’s lives have undergone a significant transformation.
Digital Media’s Influence on Children
Access to Information and Education: Digital media provides children with access to vast amounts of information and educational resources. Online platforms, educational apps, and interactive tools enhance learning experiences and provide opportunities for self-directed learning.
Communication and Socialization: Digital media allows children to connect and communicate with others globally. Social networking platforms, messaging apps, and video calls facilitate social interactions, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
Entertainment and Media Consumption: Digital media offers a wide range of entertainment options, including video games, streaming platforms, and online videos. These platforms provide diverse content for children’s enjoyment and can serve as educational tools if used mindfully.
Creativity and Self-Expression: Digital media tools enable children to engage in creative endeavors such as digital art, music production, and storytelling. Online platforms provide a space for self-expression and sharing their creations with a wider audience.
Challenges and Risks: Digital media presents challenges and risks for children, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and excessive screen time leading to sedentary lifestyles.
Global Perspective: United States, China, and Sweden
United States: In the United States, digital media has become deeply integrated into children’s lives. According to a survey by Common Sense Media, children aged 8-12 spend an average of four hours and 44 minutes on digital devices per day. This increased screen time has raised concerns about its impact on physical activity, mental health, and academic performance. However, digital media also offers educational opportunities and access to diverse cultural experiences.
China: China has witnessed rapid growth in digital media consumption among children due to widespread internet access and high smartphone penetration. Online gaming has become a popular form of entertainment. Chinese parents are increasingly concerned about excessive screen time’s impact on their children’s physical health and academic performance.
Sweden: Sweden is often regarded as a leader in promoting responsible digital media use among children. The country emphasizes providing children with digital literacy skills from an early age. Swedish parents and educators focus on balancing screen time with outdoor activities, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and ethical online behavior.
Evaluation: Positive or Negative Impact?
The impact of digital media on children can be seen as both positive and negative:
Positive Impact:
Enhanced access to information and educational resources
Global connectivity and cultural exchange
Opportunities for creativity and self-expression
Diverse entertainment options
Negative Impact:
Potential risks like exposure to inappropriate content and cyberbullying
Excessive screen time leading to sedentary lifestyles
Impact on physical health and academic performance
Privacy concerns
Conclusion
Digital media has significantly influenced the lives of children worldwide by providing access to information, enabling global connectivity, fostering creativity, and offering diverse entertainment options. However, it also poses risks such as exposure to inappropriate content and excessive screen time. To maximize the positive impact of digital media while mitigating its negative effects, it is crucial for parents, educators, policymakers, and technology companies to work together. This collaboration should focus on promoting digital literacy skills, ensuring age-appropriate content, setting limits on screen time, fostering healthy lifestyles, and addressing online safety concerns. By doing so, we can create an environment where children can harness the benefits of digital media while navigating its challenges responsibly.
Sources:
Common Sense Media (2019). The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens.
Livingstone, S., et al. (2019). How Can Parents Support Children’s Internet Safety? EU Kids Online.
Mascheroni, G., & Ólafsson, K. (2015). The Mobile Internet: Access, Use, Opportunities and Divides Among European Children. New Media & Society, 17(10), 1661–1679.
Ofcom (2020). Children’s Media Lives: Insights into Children’s Use of Media across Europe. Research Report.
Rideout, V., et al. (2019). The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight 2019.
