Encyclopedia of Media Violence: One-Volume Set

by Matthew S. Eastin (Editor)

Overview

Does violence on a movie, TV, or computer screen or in a song lyric beget violence in the streets? What about aggression and violence in televised sporting events? What are the known effects of violence in the media on the developing mind of a young child? Do rating systems and warning labels help in the effort to keep overtly violent materials out of the hands of children—or do they act as magnets? Where does violence in the media cross a line from legitimate entertainment and plot development to gratuitousness and even pornography? How do we define media violence, and just how much is there? What methodologies do behavioral scientists use to assess content and draw conclusions about effects, and how do we separate valid inferences from entrenched myths and assumptions? How should findings from research studies be translated into public policy? Students are able to explore these questions and more in the Encyclopedia of Media Violence. Entries examine theory, research, and debates as they relate to media violence in a manner that is accessible and jargon-free to help readers better understand questions from varied perspectives. From "Aggression" and "Animated Cartoons" to "V-chips" and "War Toys," this work provides balanced, comprehensive coverage of this hot-button issue.  

Features&Benefits:  

• 134 signed entries are available both in print and electronically.
• Entries conclude with Cross-References and Suggestions for Further Readings to guide users to related entries and resources for further research.
• Although organized in A-to-Z fashion, a thematic Reader’s Guide in the front matter groups related entries by topic to make it easier for users to locate related entries of interest. In the electronic version, the Reader′s Guide combines with the Cross-References and a detailed Index to facilitate search-and-browse.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506307787
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	10/01/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	456
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Matthew S. Eastin (PhD, Michigan State University) is an associate professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on media behavior. From this perspective, he investigates message development, information processing, and the social and psychological factors associated with the use and effects of newer technology. In particular, Eastin has focused much of his research on video game engagement, including violence. Eastin has published approximately 70 research manuscripts. The Encyclopedia of Media Violence will be his third edited book.

Editorial Reviews

"The Encyclopedia of Media Violence will be a tremendous resource to support specialized initial research for students new to the topic and courses with aligned content in communication studies, psychology, child development, sociology and other related fields. The strength of this book is in its readable articles that summarize scientific studies and that are written by experts in their fields covering everything from influence on advertising to policies on use of weapons in violent media content to goals and effects of media rating systems.”

Reference Reviews - Jodi Kearns

"Violence in the media, a perennial research topic among undergraduate students, takes center stage in this one-volume encyclopedia. ... Contributors do an excellent job of treating a highly multidisciplinary topic, with entries culled from various disciplines, including communications, sociology, psychology, and media studies. Although this encyclopedia provides a solid foundation from which to explore emerging media, its focus is on violence in traditional media, such as music, television, and video games, in the US. Librarians will appreciate entries on such popular topics as cyber bullying, violent content in video games, and media violence-related legislation. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-level undergraduates."

CHOICE - C. Springfield

"A comprehensive overview of media mayhem in a variety of forms, editor Eastin's compilation presents informative studies of theory, empirical data, and opinion on a contemporary public issue....This interesting and well-written reference is recommended for academic libraries, especially those supporting media or mass-communication programs."

Booklist - Mary Ellen Snodgrass

05/01/2014
With this volume, editor Eastin (advertising and public relations, Univ. of Texas at Austin; coeditor, Handbook of Research on Digital Media and Advertising) aims to give readers a broad understanding of the subject of violence in media. The resource differentiates itself by discussing every topic in relation to each medium as well as more broadly in relation to psychology, sociology, and communication. The 135 entries, listed alphabetically, range from 1,000 to 3,000 words in length and are grounded either in a theoretical perspective or in core literature from the media studies field. Each includes cross-references and suggested readings. Contributors come primarily from universities across the United States. A reader's guide groups entries into seven general topic categories: "General Aggression," "Media Content," "Media Effects," "Media Policy," "Research Process," "Society and Media," and "Theories of Media Influence." The volume concludes with a resource guide and index. While a plethora of other titles examine specific issues in relation media (e.g., Encyclopedia of Gender in Media), this is the only one that focuses solely on media violence. The entries, which are up to date and refer to current issues in online and mobile environments, do a good job of covering numerous types of media as well as of tying into broader disciplinary and theoretical discussions. VERDICT This resource provides strong and current coverage of a topic of perennial interest. Its concise style is suited to those with some background knowledge of the subject, but it is a worthwhile addition to undergraduate reference collections.—Samantha Schmehl Hines, Mansfield Lib., Univ. of Montana

Library Journal