Issue 19
Killing Monsters
by Shawna Lee
When my son was four years old, he discovered Tintin comics. I worried about the violence, especially the guns. Was my little boy learning that guns were exciting and harmless? Unable to contain my anxiety, I shared my concern with him. He declared that he knew the stories weren't real, that guns were dangerous in real life. It is easy to become fearful and anxious about our children's entertainment choices when the news regularly reports studies touting the dangers of violent media. Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make Believe Violence (Basic Books, 2002) is a calm, reasoned counterpoint.
As a parent and educator, I appreciate the commitment to clear thinking that author Gerard Jones exhibits in this book. A journalist and parent himself, Gerard began research for this book by asking why children love what they love. He writes, "Of all the challenges children face, one of the biggest is their own powerlessness." Fantasy provides personas children can adopt to feel more powerful in the face of the anxieties inherent in growing up.
Gerard examines the meanings behind the implied violence of toy-weapon play, superhero fantasies, music, TV, movies and video games. He probes studies linking violent media and real youth violence. Ultimately, he finds no convincing evidence that children are harmed by fantasy violence.
The author encourages adults to empathize with children's fantasies and feelings and to offer help, not fear. My own experiences support his conclusions. My efforts to connect with my son (now 16) through his fantasy world have enabled us to interact in wonderful ways. I also witness the empowerment, self-confidence and healing that fantasy play of all kinds brings to the lives of students in my school environment.
Killing Monsters is a compassionate, hopeful and ultimately reassuring book. Gerard movingly describes children's powerful emotions and their need to feel and express them, to be accepted and understood. He empathizes with parents' anxieties and their need to protect children from real-world harm, and he provides examples of how parents can affirm their children's fantasies in order to forge and maintain loving, trusting and empowering relationships.
Shawna Lee is a staff member and cofounder of The Clearwater School. Among other things, she enjoys watching action movies and playing video games poorly with her son and husband. Contact her at shawna@theflees.com or www.clearwaterschool.com.
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