Mike Males

Mike Males is a senior researcher for the Justice Policy Institute and author of Kids and Guns: How Politicians, Experts and the Press Fabricate Fear of Youth. In the following viewpoint, Males refutes the claim that popular culture—including explicit movies, music, and advertising—spurs youths to engage in dangerous behaviors. For example, he argues that while sales of rap music increased 70 percent between 1990 and 2000, youth violence and crime rates declined. According to Males, politicians, experts, and the press portray popular culture as a negative influence on youths in order to divert attention from the real factors that shape youths’ behavior, such as poverty and family dysfunction.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What effect did Joe Camel have on teen smoking rates, as stated by Males...