How are computer games presented to parents and teachers? The Concerns About Video Games | Excessive Playing is one in a collection of resources available for parents and teachers at the Media Awarness site (search for games and you get more). See especially the work by Stephen Kline from the Media Analysis Lab at SFU, Video Game Culture: Leisure and Play Preferences of B.C. Teens | Study. The study comments on the disparity between the economic importance of games and the amount of research into the effects of computer games. On the whole Kline’s study and the Awareness site seems balanced – they avoid the sort of hyped criticism of “we’ve found another bad thing you didn’t know about” journalism.
What is worrisome is some of the lesson plan materials. In particular look at this leading question from the Violent Video Games and Stimulus Addiction | Handout:
What’s the message? Violent video games send the following messages:
* Problems can be resolved quickly and with little personal investment.
* The best way to solve a problem is to eliminate the source of the problem.
* Problems are basically black or white, right or wrong.
* It is acceptable to immerse oneself in the video game’s rule-driven reality without questioning the rules.
* Use instinctual, rather than thoughtful, responsible behaviors to react to problems.
* Personal imagination is not an important problem-solving skill.
By contrast the handout presents other types of games as developing initiative, complex skills and so on. This is bullshit. Is Monopoly any less a simplification of the real world that structures reality through rules in which one immerses oneself. That’s what a game is. Chess sends many of these messages. Imagine what the message of books and reading is:
* Problems can be solved by staying at home and ignoring the world.
* The best way to solve a problem is to read what someone else says and not do anything.
* Problems all go away by the last chapter.
* It’s acceptable to immerse yourself in a fiction without questioning reading.
* Don’t respond at all, just bury yourself in a book.
* Your imagination doesn’t matter, only the imagination of great writers does.
Hugh A. Fraser is an international musician of extraordinary caliber. You could call him a jazz musician, but Hugh doesn’t stop there. He is utterly infatuated with music and a more positive man, I have not met. Aside from being both an exceptional pianist and trombonist, Hugh is a prolifically vibrant composer. Hugh is also deeply involved(and has been for some quite time) with music education. He currently is Program Head of Jazz at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC and continues to perform, record, and compose with energetic vigor.
I will be listening to Hugh, along with Ross Taggart, Campbell Ryga, Ken Lister, and Dave Robbins, at the McPherson Playhouse on Saturday, October 23(2004). They will be playing the night before in Toronto at the Glen Gould Theatre.
I am not defending Hugh in this comment, but merely attempting to promote his music to you and clear up any misunderstandings. I believe this issue was already resolved, but since there are no replies in this particular forum(that either belongs to you or that you are posting in), I am commenting.
Hugh Fraser is one of the world’s greatest musicians. I fervently enjoy all of his CDs, but a personal favourite is the Hugh Fraser Quintet album entitled “Looking Up”.
Thank you for your time!
Myles Thomson
Sounds like we got the right Hugh Fraser.