Perspectives on Violence

Re Brian Lowry’s article on media violence studies, the Counterpunch article by Dale Kunkel it inspired, and letters in response to that last Monday: I continue to be surprised at the refusal of all commentators on this issue over the last year and a half to take a historical view that predates the ‘90s.

The fact is that before 1970, children and adolescents were subjected to just as many images of media violence--often quite violent, especially during World War II--as over the last decade. This was not only in films but also on radio (where much was left to the imagination, though enhanced by sound effects), comic books (until 1955) and television. This was also a period when guns were more readily available, with adolescent males encouraged to use them not only by ads in comic books but even by the Boy Scouts, which gave merit badges for marksmanship.

Yet no one has cited any incidents of the type of youth violence that occurred in the ‘90s from this earlier time. Kevin Koch’s comments about the issue becoming an easy subject for political opportunism are even more accurate when the matter is viewed in a larger historical perspective.

RICK MITCHELL

Los Angeles