Moral Panic-Fran

Review of chapter:

Why TV is good for children:Raising 21st century children

Life in the 21st century is one in which our lives are becoming increasingly surrounded by the pervasive impacts of many different forms of digital media. Easier access and increasing portability of the internet allows digital media to become a significant part of many peoples’ lives. More people in different parts of the world are able to hear the same news at the same time. Whilst their diverse reactions to news stories will always be a reflection of their own personal values and morals there is a possibility for “media panics” to spread and affect more people than in the past. Educators must take a realistic and proactive approach to impart the skills necessary to equip students with knowledge and clear insight -skills which are needed to confront and work through over-reaction, or moral panics, to certain issues. As Karen Brooks notes, “ Kids these days are much savvier about the visual and technological culture around them than we ever were, engaging and processing it with an ease that astonishes.” (2008. p6) So to educate them we must be clear thinking and up to date in our understanding of the digital media world.

As continual convergence occurs between different forms of media, Film and Television still play a significant role in the formation of youth identity even though it can be seen, by some, as old media. This longevity made possible by enduring popularity, has resulted in both these forms of media to be victims and perpetrators of a number of moral panics over the years resulting in a variety of positive and negative impacts. Moral panics cannot be lumped into the one basket.

So....what is a ‘moral panic’?

According to Stanley Cohen, who invented the term, moral panic is " a kind of media generated hysteria".  As depicted by Catharine Lumby and Duncan Fine, Lumby (2006 p56), the term was used to describe young people being out of control in a series of clashes in the UK, in the 1960's, between the mods and the rockers. Lumby describes how the event was exaggerated in an alarmist and negative way by media coverage, (television, radio and newspapers) which resulted in the public, putting pressure on politicians to act.

Although Stanley Cohen has put a name to the term, moral panics have existed in society for many generations. This brings to mind the moral panic which resulted in the widespread witch hunts throughout Europe from 1846 onwards. George Burr discusses the reality of being put to death by the law of the land if the Judge had good reason to suspect you were a witch. There was a tight link between the moral panic the people of the land created for themselves and the creation of laws of which often resulted in the death of those thought to be witches.

This panic about witches has been passed down in various diluted forms throughout the ages. With the release in Australia in 2001 of the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone, journalist, James Joyce, wrote that “An unlikely fan of the film’s magical hero was revealed yesterday, with high profile Baptist minister the reverend Tim Costello saying that the Harry Potter books and movie would lead to greater theological thinking. At least one Australian school has banned the Harry Potter books because of fears they are promoting witchcraft and the supernatural….I think children are quite able to distinguish between that which is destructive and evil, which witchcraft often is and which is imaginative and playful.” (2001, p1) Now, in 2010, it is six Harry Potter films later and the Harry Potter concept has become a multi-billion dollar industry which has culminated in the creation of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at The Universal Orlando Resort complex in Florida, by Warner brothers and Universal Studios, and the initial moral panic which displayed a negative inference of Harry Potters’ wizardry talents leading youth astray seems to have dissipated.

Moral panics have been around for a long time and will continue to exist as part of the fabric of cultures for many generations to come. It is critical for educators to empower students and keep the lines of communication open and as Karen Brooks states, “You’ll learn how not to react too quickly or too harshly when the latest scandal over a fad, toy or film or music clip breaks..discover how to talk to your kids about the culture that consumes them, that defines them.” (2008. p10)

Lumby’s article (2008) is very interesting from a number of perspectives. Lumby sees television as being good for children and discusses the moral panics developed over television contributing to childhood obesity and television being “ a kind of parent substitute” (2008 p70). The arguments are well researched and balanced. Watching television doesn't cause childhood obesity and allowing your child to watch television is not a sign of bad parenting. Yet Lumby's article brings to mind other issues that which don't present such a positive outlook for the viewing of television by children. For example, the effects on children when innapproriate television and film advertisements appear during or just before or after childrens’ television shows or films. I myself have been with my children in a theatre when the adds came on for an M rated film which contained a lot of explicit and aggressive swearing and sexist jokes about women. Television news bulletins with adult issues displayed, which can occur during children’s shows which are just before the news can also cause significant negative impact on children.

Lumby's article is also an example of the need to keep things in perspective and acknowledge that sometimes moral panics can achieve significant positive outcomes. An example is the recent Bonds Bralette issue which I saw being discussed on 29th September, 2010 on Channel 9’s Today Show. The discussion was about a new Bonds bra being marketed for six year olds. A minor moral panic was given heightened power when the presenter, Lisa Wilkinson, discussed the issue with two high profile English guests. One, Suzannah Constantine, responded with “It’s child abuse, that’s what it is.” A few hours later Bonds released a media statement stating that: “Bonds has decided to withdraw all bra like products in girls sizes 6 and 8 from the market effective immediately. Bond takes its brand and product range extremely seriously and is particularly conscious of the sensitivities of developing and marketing products for children…” The media statement was in the form of an email sent to a small organisation called Collective Shout who had been lobbying for this result.

Whilst Collective Shout is claiming the outcome is due to their lobbying efforts, it is more likely a case of the combination of the airing of the issue on the Today Show and the dramatic reaction of Constantine with the work Collective Shout has put in.

References
Brooks, Karen. (2008) Introduction:The ToxicTtruth about our Tots, Tweens and Teens. Consuming innocence:popular culture and our children. UQP. QLD.

Buckingham, David. (2000) After the death of childhood:Growing up in the age of electronic media. Polity Press. UK.

Burr, George. ed., The Witch Persecutions
in Translations and Reprints from the Original Sources of European History, 6 vols.
(Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania History Department, 1898-1912) vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 10-13
Joyce, James. (2001) It’s Pottermania. The Newcastle Herald. p3.

Lumby, Catharine and Fine, Duncan. (2006) Why TV is good for kids:raising 21st century children. MacMillan. Sydney. NSW