The first article that I read was Is That Just Some Game? No, it’s a Cultural Artifact by Heather Chaplin. The article tells us about a man by the name of Henry Lowood and his notion to preserve games. He says that games a cultural significance and a historical significance. I believe games do have cultural and historical significance because they remind us of our younger days. Almost everyone remembers their favorite games when they were younger. I also believe that our video games will one day be historic artifacts because early Aztec tribes of mexico used to play games and today those games are there history. Mr lowood chose games that were vital to some of the existing games today. He chose space war, star raiders, zork, tetris,sim city, super Mario bros 3, civilization 1 and 2, warcraft, and sensible world soccer. I think that these were the best games to choose because the hold significance and they were very important to the Halo’s and the guitar heroes of today.

Why did he choose the 3rd super Mario?
How long did he have this theory of the significance of games?
What is his favorite video game?


The article Media and Risky behavior by Soledad Liliana Escobar-Chaves and Craig A. Anderson talks about teenagers the health risk behaviors in which they participate in. Some of these behaviors include drinking, smoking, sexual activity, violence and obesity. The article talks about overexposure to media may contribute to teenagers engaging in these unhealthy behavioral factors. Obesity is a big unhealthy factor that is affecting teenagers as well as others. I believe that Obesity is due to the media and stress. The media has corrupted young minds with the pleasure of fast food ever since a young age. I know that I remember when I was younger and they would have a new Jurassic park action figure in a kid’s meal at McDonalds I would ask my mother all day to take me to McDonalds. The article talks about the food advertiser spending 1.2 billions dollars on advertising high calorie foods. It’s no wonder why approximately 35 percent of U.S. six- to Nineteen year olds is overweight. Another thing that this article covers is smoking. Smoking is extremely prevalent among teenagers today. In the article there was a study conducted and it revealed that 78 percent of middle school students reported seeing actors using tobacco on television and movies. I believe that this is a complete plausible statement because I see people smoke in movies and on television every day. The first time I saw cocaine was in a boy’s bathroom in middle school so I would say that a lot of unhealthy behavioral factors are practiced in middle school. Escobar-Chaves talks about alcohol usage in the article. The article tells us the Results from the YRBS 2005 of a nationally representative sample of students in grades nine through twelve showed that 74 percent had had at least one drink of alcohol on more than one day during their life. I remember taking a similar survey all 4 years of high school. I know for a fact that a lot less student drink less in the 9th grade rather than the twelve. Sex is a big issue that is covered in this article. I believe that sexual activity is affected by media. I can honestly say this because when your turn on your television you will see at least some form of sex. The first time I notice this was on commercials selling the body spray tagged and commercial selling chewing gum. Violence is extremely prevalent among teens. Escobar-Chaves says that video games, television and music may be a contributing factor to violence. I complete believe this statement is true because I’ve been to club and kids would start fighting because a song would come on. Where I’m from there was a prevalence of gangs or cliques form by teenagers my age.

Why do you think that food advertiser target children?
Do you think that tobacco companies target children?
How do you think we can change some of these behavioral factors among teens?