Influence of Film and Television on American Culture

Credit: Pixabay

The hacker group Anonymous was inspired by the film V for Venjdetta. Tourists stopped frequenting the beach after they watched Jaws. Catchphrases like, “Kiss my grits,” “Make it work” and “Live long and proper” have infiltrated our language. Mass media, or the vehicles that distribute information and entertainment content to wide audiences (Sullivan, 2009), helps to shape our decisions, beliefs and values. Messages created by a few for the consumption of large and dispersed audiences, is delivered through mediums such as television, newspapers, movies, books, film and advertisements (Sullivan, 2009). Media giants like CBS, Time Warner, News Corp and Disney hold the power to educate and entertain audiences, as well as use media to influence purchasing decisions and socialize shared experiences (Sullivan, 2009). Film and television are two mediums that have prevalent influences in people’s lives and has the power to change attitudes, feelings and perceptions.

Mitu (2011) writes “television is an absorbing and fascinating medium. That is why people’s ability to discern between facts and fiction is often blurred” (p.917). Television is a live medium and therefore becomes a source for many Americans to receive breaking news and information on top news stories. It is also the place where people have gathered to watch the Olympics, witness the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and marvel at the Apollo 11 moon landing. TV has the power to educate the public about history and various cultures, and introduce new perspectives to individuals regardless of geography, race, religion or education. “Television can teach us many things, can tell us many stories, can make us laugh…and it can take us to a number of different worlds and force us to establish our position towards them” (Mitu, 2009, p.917).

Hollywood played a major role in the social fabric of American culture by using motion pictures to police morality and social life in the early-to-mid-20^th Century (Sloan and Cortés, 2013). The principles set forth by the Motion Picture Production Code in 1930 governed the content of films produced and screened in the United States until 1968 (Sloan and Cortés, 2013). The restrictions of violence and sex, and the portrayals of how women and men should act influenced a conservative American culture even though it was not always representative of what was taking place in society. Ethnic minorities were marked with traits or customs that were deemed negative in nature and became the targets of stereotypes (Sloan and Cortés, 2013). Today, there may not be a strict code of conduct for film, but movies like Schindler’s List, Gandhi, The Joy Luck Club and Philadelphia show that motion pictures can change minds about politics, feminism and racial equality by telling compelling stories that are reflective of lived experiences.  

Sullivan (2009) writes, “Mass media can have profound cultural effects and can shape the way people perceive certain issues and ultimately behave” (p.309). Film and television are two examples of mass media that have shaped human perceptions and behavior.

References

Homer-Wambeam, L. (2014, July 12). National History Day 3^rd place winner 2014: The Hollywood Production Code. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEwpopA61ys

Mitu, B. (2011). Television’s impact on today’s people and culture. Economics, Management and Financial Markets, 6(2), 916-921. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/884341126?accountid=3783

Sloan, J., & Cortés, C. E. (2013). Multicultural America: A Multimedia Encyclopedia. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Sullivan, L. E. (2009). The SAGE Glossary of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. London:

SAGE Publications, Inc