It's Not The Media: The Truth About Pop Culture's Influence On Children [Hardcover]

Karen Sternheimer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2003

Are school shootings the result of violent video games? Do sex-laden movies lead to promiscuity? Can Goth music create alienation? Repeatedly we are told the answer to these and similar questions is a resounding yes. But is this the right answer? It's Not the Media considers why media culture is a perennial target of both fascination and concern, and why we are so often encouraged to believe it is the root of many social problems. A look beyond the attention-grabbing headlines and political stumping reveals that fearing media feels right because media represents what we fear. And changes in media culture are easier to see than the complex economic, social, and political changes we have experienced over the past few decades. Digging deeper into the historical and societal trends of the past century and drawing from the most current social science research on the effects of media on children, Sternheimer presents a compelling argument that fear of social change, and what it means to be a kid in a today's media-saturated climate, lies at the heart of our media-bashing culture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Sternheimer teaches in the sociology department at the University of Southern California. Her commentary has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers. She also serves as a research consultant for the Center for Media Literacy. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813341388
• ISBN-13: 978-0813341385
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take the conversation outside of the psych lab, May 11, 2005

By 

M. Chmiel (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It's Not The Media: The Truth About Pop Culture's Influence On Children (Hardcover)

Insightful and well written. The author puts media into a social and historical context. This topic is typically discussed in sound bites on the evening news and in blaring headlines looking to exploit concerned parents. The concern is exploited by pscyhologists using sloppy experimental design in order to win favor of granting agencies. This book encourages parents to stop being afraid of kids, think critically about what their children are watching and doing, and have a reality check: childhood is not the sanitized version of innocence we think it is, but it is a fantastic time to learn and grow. Parents need to be willing to learn and grow as well. It is a great read and a refreshing perspective.

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful purchase!, May 18, 2011

By 

L. A. Renner - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It's Not The Media: The Truth About Pop Culture's Influence On Children (Hardcover)

I only needed to read a portion of this book, so it was great to find a copy in good quality at an inexpensive price. Book arrived on time and as described.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, December 30, 2008

By 

Zenlily (Tacoma, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It's Not The Media: The Truth About Pop Culture's Influence On Children (Hardcover)

I really wanted to find a strong argument to balance the constant accusations of the evils of media. Unfortunately, this book doesn't do it. It's not well supported (very little documentation), its arguments are repetative, and the writing is stilted.