Hollywood Paints Ugly Picture of America

MOVIEGUIDE(R) ^ | February, 2003 | Anonymous

[Simi Valley Tom]

A study of 1,259 teenagers from 12 countries by two Boston University communication professors found that the more access the teens had to Hollywood movies, television programs and pop music, the higher their negative attitudes toward Americans tended to be.

Most of the teenagers in the study considered Americans to be violent, prone to criminal activity and sexually immoral, but only 12 percent had actually visited the U.S.

“These results suggest that pop culture, rather than foreign policy, is the true culprit of anti-Americanism,” said Boston U. Professor Melvin DeFleur, who authored the study with Professor Margaret DeFleur.

“Our popular culture, far from endearing people to us, is actually severely hurting our standing,” declared Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Peter Schweizer, the author of REAGAN’S WAR.

-- Los Angeles Times, 01/21/03.

[Simi Valley Tom]

This study shows that it's not Bush's foreign policy, or America's foreign policy, that makes people hate America and hate Americans, it's the mass media. We need conservative Christian journalists, filmmakers, writers, executives, and producers to take over the mass media, including Hollywood. Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are okay, but they often represent only the neo-conservative position, and they don't know enough about what the Bible and Jesus Christ really say about politics and government. For example, the Bible does not teach that the State should be subject to the whims of a particular ecclesiocracy, but it does teach that the State should be an enlightened libertarian-conservative theocracy where individuals are allowed to have any theology they want, unless that theology makes them succumb to such crimes as polygamy, adultery, ritual cannibalism, pedophilia, thievery, physical intimidation, or homosexuality.

[Aliska]

The more negative statement about our culture is that these movies are making lots of money. People and especially the young don't flock to the wholesome ones. If people didn't want these movies, Hollywood wouldn't make them. The professor should be looking into why people want these movies.

The chickens are coming home to roost.

[Larry Lucido]

the more access the teens had to Hollywood movies, . . .the higher their negative attitudes toward Americans tended to be.

The more access I have to foreign movies, the more I think the rest of the world would bore me to tears.

[JoJo Gunn]

I have had the Hollyweird sewage in my thoughts since posting on one of the "Fistgate" threads, and encountering a couple of people who apparently aren't shocked at our children being under attack by the Perverted Left. I guess some have seen so many deaths and exploding heads, etc, that they don't know how to honestly feel anymore. Their morality is just a wad of phosphor dots.

[HumanaeVitae]

I'm beyond embarrassed when I think what kind of filth my country is producing, the kind of image they (Hollyweird) are painting of the rest of us in the world.

[elbucko]

The chickens are coming home to roost.

The chicken did come home to roost. His name was Willie. He and his hen trashed this country for eight years.

This country elected pure scum to the White House with Hollywood's help and now we wonder why the world thinks we are corrupt.

[elbucko]

I'm beyond embarrassed when I think what kind of filth my country is producing,...

Me too. I had hoped we would have done better. (sigh)

[Willie Green]

Hollyweird is a cesspool.
The major "news" media are even worse.

[Simi Valley Tom]

This is not really true. People flock to fun, relatively family-friendly movies like MONSTERS, INC., SPIDER-MAN (which had the Lord's Prayer in it as well as positive references to God and a moral theme), TOY STORY, THE LORD OF THE RINGS (a story originated by one of the strongest, most intelligent Christians of the 20th Century), MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, ICE AGE, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (which made significant money at IMAX theaters in the last year). Also, the number of R rated movies in the Top 25 Grossing Movies at the Box Office has decreased from 12 in 1996 to only three and four in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Unfortunately, it's the 14-16 year old teenager who wants PG-13 movies rather than PG or especially G movies. However, if you look at the top DVD and Video sales and rentals, you'll find that, in the final analysis, most people favor things like MONSTERS, INC. and TOY STORY!!!! And, classic movies like GONE WITH THE WIND, THE WIZARD OF OZ, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS still have a devoted following when they are broadcast on television. Finally, it should be noted that the leftist public education system, which is supported by the news media, the Democrats and wimpy or RINO Republicans and neo-cons and ignorant soccer moms, is warping the minds of our children and teenagers.

[Reagan Man]

>>>“These results suggest that pop culture, rather than foreign policy, is the true culprit of anti-Americanism,”

Nothing new in these results.

I agree with you, America's morals have taken some serious hits over the last forty years and liberalism has forced conservatism to the back of the bus. But things are slowing changing.

However, your remarks about Fox News and Rush Limbaugh are way off base. In fact, you show a sense of confusion on the issue. Fox News isn't a mouthpiece for the neocon faction of American politics and Rush Limbaugh is no neocon. Rush was raised in an old fashioned, paleoconservative home, by staunch disciplinarians. And Fox News shows much more spirituality in their programming and acceptance for Christian beliefs, then anyother cable or network broadcast around. Rush is a God fearing man and his rhetoric over the years shows great respect for the Christian religion and Jesus Christ.

The problem you're having is, you believe in some divine coalition, that joins libertarianism, with the desire to turn America into a Christian Theocracy. Total bunk. Ain't gonna happen.

[JoJo Gunn]

Liberalism hasn't "forced" anything. Conservatives mostly suffer from the "Kitty Genovese" syndrome. There's no one to blame but ourselves for letting the Commie Perverts do what they do.

[Reagan Man]

>>>Liberalism hasn't "forced" anything.

The facts of the last forty years are quite clear. Liberal control of the mainstream media, entertainment outlets and educational institutions, mean only one thing. Conservatives have been outnumbered, but a political process that began some 20 years ago, is underway to turn our society and culture around. Remember, patience is a virtue and the politics is a slow process.

[bvw]

The pervasive "mass media" -- movies, TV, recorded music -- just hasn't been around that long. Only 75 years ago a teenager or youngster spend 40 hours a week hanging out with family, farm, household, friends, and somethimes books. Then came the flood of mass media.

The "Centerville, moralistic" themes and contant of the fifties and early sixties -- say "Leave it to Beaver", etc. What did that give rise too? A generation of selfish druggies spitting on authority-- not for a reason, but to spit on it. Finale: Bill "B4st4rd" Clinton.

I think adults reject spoon-feeding, force-fed. Becoming an adult means throwing off that which was spoon-fed, force-fed. By intrinsic nature the mass media is inherently spoon-fed, force-fed. Thus, I have incredibly optimistic hopes for this generation! May G-d let us all survive through to then.

[F16Fighter]

One day a diametric study might be done after Hollywood is "mistaken' for an Iraqi city by one well-meaning USAF mission.

[HumanaeVitae]

There is some truth in this post. Pornography can be banned...just takes the will to do it.

[Aliska]

I'm beyond embarrassed when I think what kind of filth my country is producing, the kind of image they (Hollyweird) are painting of the rest of us in the world.

So am I. Europe started going downhill before we did and it has affected all of society. I am embarassed and ashamed of the filth we export (and import).

[Aliska]

He and his hen trashed this country for eight years.

We were off to a good start way before that, and it has been going on no matter who was in the white house.

[Aliska]

Teenagers (don't know what percentage) are drawn to the darker films such as Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Nightmare on Elm Street. In my time it was that creepy motel one.

Even I have my dark side. I loved that Mel Gibson film Lethal Weapon :-).

[CyberAnt]

There was a thread here recently about the dollars earned by movies in the last few years (I'm not sure about the timeframe of the stats). However, the stats show that the movies with nudity, vulgarity, bad language, violence and explicit sex, rated lowest with the public and earned the least dollars. While those with morals, less sexual references, less bad language, less violence rated best and earned the most money.

Hollywood is hiding - they cannot allow America to believe that George Bush's America really exists. Don't forget, the majority of people behind the scenes, writers, directors, etc. are from the drug generation; their views are distorted by the drugs they use.

Like the dems, the Hollyweirds are losing credibility and more and more conservatives are beginning to speak up in Hollywood. It may take some time, but I believe a trend is in the works.

Hopefully, we won't lose too many of our young people before the trend gets better.

[Darheel]

'Pornography can be banned...just takes the will to do it.'(Does not jibe with your screenname).

People hate America because they believe the hype and propaganda their nations and medias portray. The fact that their hatreds are based on lies and pretenders in movies makes their hatred that much easier for Americans to villify and laugh at.