The influence of Hollywood on society Essay Example

at home”. (Cain, p1, 1999) Hence, while Hollywood is the instigator of this unsavory tendency among teenage boys, skillful parenting can keep a check on their children.

The concerns raised by the country’s leaders are not without merit. For example, several studies have shown a positive correlation between violent programs (including movies, television, and digital media) and violent behavior among children. Furthermore, “children under the age of 18 were the victims in nearly 20 percent of the violent crimes committed by criminals now in state prison, and that more than half of the juvenile victims were 12 or younger” (Smith,, 2001, p.321). Children who come from a dysfunctional family environment or have been abused physically or sexually are particularly prone to be affected. The gravity of the situation can be learnt from the fact that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has spent close to $300,000 for further research.

The later part of the 20th century had seen a disturbing development. The greatest threat to the health of American adolescent boys in recent decades is violence induced injuries and death. And popular culture, in the form of action movies and gangster music videos, has largely contributed to this development. During the 1990’s, nearly 70% of all teenage deaths are a result of violence – accidents, manslaughter, homicides, etc. In 1994 in particular 357,000 teenagers were assaulted badly enough so as to require emergency medical treatment. A further 3569 of them eventually succumbed to their injuries. Adding to the alarm, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crimes during the year was recorded at 150,000 that included 6000 rapes and 85,300 aggravated assaults. The years following

1994 had seen similar statistics. (Rich, Woods, et. al. 1998, p.671)

Video games have been shown to have a malefic effect on race relations and male-female relationships. Teenage boys’ approaches to conflict resolution are also vulnerable to the impact of such depictions in music videos. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, among other medical organizations, have taken this seriously. So much so that health care professionals are informing their patients that media exposure in general and video games in particular are risk factors for general well-being. (Rich, Woods, et. al. 1998, p.672) If the sheer volume of violence and anti-social messages in these genres of entertainment are not bad enough then manner in which it is portrayed undermines interpersonal relationships and hence regarded as critical factors in children’s health and risk behaviors. In trying to address this issue, the counselors, school authorities, and the public representatives must also take into account “the potent messages and role models in video games and other mass media.” (Rich, Woods, et. al. 1998, p.671)

Studies indicate that up to 75% of concept music videos, which have a certain theme, contain sexually suggestive material. More than half of them also contain violent acts committed against women. Women were generally portrayed in a derogatory manner. The use of alcohol and tobacco were projected as glamorous and fashionable. All of this is bound to lead teenage boys to dire consequences. (Pediatrics, p.1219) Hence, keeping the critical nature of the situation with Hollywood, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had proposed descriptive labeling of movies released and parental advisory labels. The AAP is also apprehensive about the negative behavioral messages that

are now commonplace in public television broadcasts. The Federal Communications Act of 1934 states that the radio and television stations are responsible to create broadcast content keeping in mind the best interests of the public. Unless this clause is taken in spirit and not just in letter the status quo will remain. (Pediatrics, p.1219)

Works Cited:

1. Cain, Andrew. “Clinton Targets Video Violence: Calls for Study of Industry Ethics in Marketing to Children.” The Washington Times 2 June 1999: 1.
2. Goldberg, Jonah. “Violent Fantasy: It’s Not the Hollywood Gore That’s the Problem.” National Review 23 Oct..
3. Noah, Timothy. “Valley of the Duds; Inside Hollywood’s Bad Movie Machine.” Washington Monthly Oct. 1985: 12+..
4. Smith, Karen H., and Mary Ann Stutts. “Factors That Influence Adolescents to Smoke.” Journal of Consumer Affairs 33.2 (2001): 321..
5. “Impact of music lyrics and music videos on children and youth (RE9144)., (American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Communications).”, Pediatrics 98.n6 (Dec 1996): 1219(3).
6. Rich, Michael, Elizabeth R. Woods, Elizabeth Goodman, Jean Emans, and Robert H. DuRant., “Aggressors of victims: gender and race in music video violence.” Pediatrics 101.n4 (April 1998): 669(6).