The final assignment for this course will be a project that you design based on your interests and goals as a scholar. It should draw on the course concepts that we cover in class, should provide clear exploration and criticism of an aspect of media, and encourage its audience to shift their perspective and develop media literacy. For an academic research paper, I will expect a 7-9 page paper (excluding reference page, and incorporating at least 5 academic references).
My topic is:
Video Game Violence and Media Effects: Examine how video games portray violence and how it may affect youth, then suggest strategies for parents and gamers to foster media literacy.
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
Title: Exploring Video Game Violence and Media Effects: Fostering Media Literacy for Parents and Gamers
Introduction:
Video games have become an integral part of popular culture, captivating millions of players worldwide. However, concerns regarding the portrayal of violence in video games and its potential effects on youth have sparked intense debates. This research paper aims to examine the portrayal of violence in video games, explore the potential effects on youth, and propose strategies for parents and gamers to foster media literacy. By critically analyzing the topic through the lens of media studies, this paper aims to encourage a shift in perspective and promote a more nuanced understanding of video game violence.
Thesis Statement:
Video game violence has been a subject of intense scrutiny, and while research suggests potential effects on youth, fostering media literacy through parental involvement and responsible gaming practices can mitigate these concerns.
Examination of Video Game Violence:
A. Overview of video game violence and its prevalence in popular titles.
B. Analysis of the portrayal of violence in video games, including the graphical representation, narrative context, and player agency.
C. Exploration of the connection between violent video game content and aggressive behavior in youth based on empirical research.
Potential Effects of Video Game Violence on Youth:
A. Review of empirical evidence investigating the potential short-term and long-term effects of video game violence on youth.
B. Discussion of the desensitization hypothesis and its implications for real-world aggression.
C. Examination of potential cognitive and emotional effects related to empathy, moral reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
Fostering Media Literacy for Parents:
A. Discussion of the importance of media literacy in understanding video game violence and its effects.
B. Strategies for parents to engage with their children’s gaming experiences, including open communication, setting boundaries, and active involvement.
C. Encouraging critical thinking skills by discussing and analyzing video game content with children.
Responsible Gaming Practices for Gamers:
A. Promoting self-awareness among gamers regarding their emotional and behavioral responses to video game violence.
B. Encouraging responsible game selection by considering age ratings, content warnings, and genre suitability.
C. Advocating for balanced gameplay experiences that include a variety of genres and non-violent alternatives.
Conclusion:
By examining video game violence, its potential effects on youth, and proposing strategies for fostering media literacy, this research paper seeks to encourage a shift in perspective. It is crucial for parents to actively engage with their children’s gaming experiences and for gamers to adopt responsible gaming practices. Through these efforts, individuals can develop critical thinking skills, enhance media literacy, and navigate the world of video games more responsibly.
