Document Type
Argument Essay
Publication Date
1994
Excerpt
Popular culture has been under fire lately--literally. During the fall of 1994, two children in Ohio set fire to their homes after allegedly watching Beevis and Butthead do it on television. MTV has since moved its crude cartoon duo from its prime time slot to one airing at a later hour. Nevertheless, such incidents only feed the fire of popularity; a recent Rolling Stones poll revealed that viewers rated Beevis and Butthead their least AND most favorite MTV program. Still other programs reflect the humor of our youth and the chagrin of our mature audience. The Simpsons was attacked in the 1992 presidential campaign by George Bush. Married with Children has been criticized as the antithesis of the American family. Yet viewers remain amused, if not fascinated by extreme levels of crudity in contemporary programs. But when these programs negatively influence our impressionable youth, popular culture becomes a popular culprit. Instead of turning the television off, parents all too often point fingers at the programs their children watch. Today's culture has become a scapegoat, and the real cause remains unaddressed. The true cause of the problem lies within the home--parenting.
Recommended Citation
Metz, April, "When to Turn the Television Off (1994)" (1994). The Valpo Core Reader. 268.
http://scholar.valpo.edu/core_reader/268