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Researchers at UPenn are expanding the way farm animals could be used as pharmaceutical factories.
Grand Theft Childhood
By Abby Goldstein on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.
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The video game Grand Theft Auto IV hits the streets today. Controversy has surrounded the Grand Theft series since its beginning, due to its adult nature and violence. But its in-depth storylines and high production values have helped the franchise sell over 70 million copies, and the new release is expected to be the top selling game of all time. Politicians and pundits have linked every school shooting in recent memory to violent video games, and they are often accused of corrupting our nation's youth. But there is a growing body of research that shows no connection. Cheryl Olson and her husband, Lawrence Kutner, direct the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, and they're psychiatrists at Harvard Medical School. They've co-authored a new book, Grand Theft Childhood. Tuesday on Word of Mouth, New Hampshire Public Radio's Abby Goldstein talks with Cheryl Olson about her research.
Video games are also popping-up in places you might not expect, like your local public library. We'll talk with Beth Gallaway, a consultant who helps libraries set-up video game programs to attract more members of the community, no matter what their age. Her company, Information Goddess Consulting, is based in Hampton, New Hampshire.
(Photo by Adam Melancon)
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As a parent and fan of video games, I'd like to add that games like GTA IV are increasingly not geared towards a "child" audience. Not simply because the content is inappropriate, but because many of these games deal with themes that a child wouldn't fully understand. Be it the critique of pop culture and the culture and history of gaming that GTA tackles, or the full-frontal assault on objectivism and Ayn Rand offered in Bioshock, these games are no longer for kids. And, as an adult, I welcome a game that makes me think a little while having mindless fun.