Pointing the Finger

Criminology > Public and Crime
Music Studies > Contemporary
Psychology > Social

Pointing the Finger

Discusses school shootings and the way the media is quick to blame rap singers such as Eminem, as well as other forms of media, for violence among teenagers.

1,560 words () | 12 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

Using a quote from rap singer, Eminem's multi-platinum selling CD "The Marshall Mathers LP", this paper discusses the Columbine High School shootings in which 15 students and a teacher were killed. The paper argues that instead of blaming rap singers such as Eminem and Marilyn Madison, the media should concentrate on pointing a finger at the parents and the community. It also argues against the double standard that the media continues to perpetrate that violence is only an inner-city problem.

From the Paper:

"It was widely reported that after Columbine, the parents of Eric Harris turned over their son's suicide note which contained this phrase "Do not blame others for our actions; this is the way that we wanted to go out" (Anatomy of a massacre). With that, it seems that he was saying that he and Klebold were taking responsibility for what they did, but the media didn't want to hear that. It was easier for them to state that music and other media evils "made them do it.""