Website:
http://www.peacetalksradio.com
Additional Credits and Funding:
The McCune Charitable Foundation of New Mexico
The Oppenheimer Brothers Foundation
The Peace Tales CD Project (www.peacetales.org)
KUNM, Albuquerque
Timely on:
May: Recent Release of Grand Theft Auto Video Game - but it's not specifically mentioned
Tones:
Engaging,
Opinionated,
Thoughtful
Description:
Almost 3 out of 4 Americans consider it a worthy goal to do something to temper the violence in our media, yet violent movies, television and video games are extremely popular. Do violent games, like the recently updated Grand Theft Auto series, along with other violent entertainment, chip away at our sensitivities about violence and impact our notions about conflict resolution?
This time on Peace Talks Radio, the video game violence debate. And it is a debate. While no one is FOR letting young kids play the most violent games, there ARE authors and academics who defend the presence of violence in the games rated for adults, and question the strength of the research studies that suggest that exposure to violent entertainment correlates with aggression and desensitization toward violence. On the other side, there are those who decry the violence, believe the negative effects research to be true and call for tighter restrictions on violent game sales and content. We hear both sides of the conversation on this program.
Also we talk with the co-creator of a video game that is specifically about nonviolence. The game uses the experience of nonviolent movements throughout history to craft its scenarios.
Guests:
Bob McCannon, a media scholar, educator and media reform activist. He's co-founder and co-president of the Action Coalition for Media Education.
Arizona State University Education Professor James Paul Gee, author of "Why Video Games Are Good for Your Soul."
Dmitri Williams, Assistant Professor in the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California.
Ivan Marovic, former Serbian student leader and consultant on the video game A Force More Powerful.
Paul Ingles, Host.
NOTE: For stations using the 54 Minute Version, use the bonus Part 3 labeled for the 54 Minute Version only. The last file before the promo.
This program is also be available in a 29 minute version here at PRX (http://www.prx.org/pieces/25539)
