[Reflect] Make connections: Media violence.

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“The potential lyncher is in almost all of us,” says Stephen King, “. . . and every now and then, he has to be let loose to scream and roll around in the grass” (par. 8). King seems to say that horror films perform a social function by allowing us to exercise (or possibly exorcise) our least civilized emotions. In fact, King even argued against a proposed ban on the sale of violent video games to people under the age of eighteen.

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To analyze King’s ideas about violence in the media, reflect on your own observation and personal experience with film, video games, or other media that may be considered violent. Your instructor may ask you to post your thoughts on a class discussion board or to discuss them with other students in class. Use these questions to get you started:

Question