Is the media/Hollywood reflecting our morals and values or shaping them?

Question

I’ve noticed over the years that the moral views of Hollywood and the media seep into our television shows and movies.

It’s not unusual to have all religious persons portrayed as ignorant and uneducated, screaming about hell and damnation, or mean spirited. I can’t think of a “regular” movie or program in which a religious person was portrayed realistically.

Also, I’ve noticed that homosexual couples have become just a normal aside to many stories. The show isn’t about a gay relationship…and homosexuality isn’t really mentioned. But there will be a gay couple, and a few things might be mentioned about parents who didn’t understand, or nuns who looked down on them. But the “good” people in the show are loving and accepting of this very normal relationship.

Everyone in the movies and on TV has sex outside of marriage, lives together, has babies out of wedlock, and has abortions. All of these things are portrayed as acceptable. The only people who do not accept these things, are portrayed as the weird religious fanatics or uptight parents.

Our young people watch these shows. Are their values and morals are being handed to them via Hollywood in a subliminal manner? They are given stereotypes where homosexuals portrayed as victims of a backwards world. Parents who do not approve of their children having sex are seen as narrow-minded, and the parents who take their kids out for lunch and birth control are the progressive, informed parents.

What do you think?

I'm not asking if you agree with the morals and values of Hollywood, only if you feel our young people are heavily influenced by movies and television.

Answer 1

Well said. I tend to agree that our views are being shaped by a Hollywood elite. That's why I don't watch television any more (save for the occasional global news program). While I do think that certain aspects of what's shown on television are accurate (teens dating, premarital sex), I don't think the issues are always dealt with properly. And on the other hand, shows which handle things in a religious manner (7th Heaven comes to mind) are typically inaccurate portrayals of real life and real families - sickly sweet if you will.

Not to mention the fact that TV hardly ever portrays Asian or Arab families. Only white and now black (fortunately) families are shown.

I say we all turn off the TV.

Answer 2

There's nothing subliminal about it. Kids are growing up outright believing that the rubbish they see on television is the norm. Movies not quite so much, since the process of watching a movie (at the theatre) is somewhat abstracted from daily life.

Don't single out young people either. Adults are almost as susceptible. I never turn a TV on unless it is to watch a DVD or video. When all else is said and done, TV is awful rubbish.

Hollywood is definitely shaping the real world. It doesn't take much investigation to see that what hollywood shows in one generation becomes the accepted norm in the next. It happens the other way round too, but nowhere near as often.

Answer 3

There's also never been a "True" Kung Fu or Karate movie either. It's always done for the fringe and extremist look. That's what's popular otherwise you have a boring documentary.

PBS has pathetic ratings for doing just that.

In fact their PResident once went on SNL to admit it: "We're boring and we're proud of it!"

SNL had to flash a notice saying HE WAS the President, and he wrote his own speech, well at least he approved it from his own staff.

I once saw real full body contact ALL FORMS fighting on TV and to tell you the truth it was BORING.

And there have been some shows that portray religious people with reality as a sub plot. As a main plot it's boring with controversy.

I think one of the best positive examples was Joan of Arcadia in which God was helping a lost teenager find her way in the world by pointing her in the direction she needed to look, but letting her make her own discoveries in an effort to see life in a new way.

Usually, however, they tackle the controversial sides of religion, such as police questioning Priest about confessional stuff, which like Psychiatrists (who are also put into the same boat in TV shows) can't reveal.

Many shows dealing with religious topics simply never go over well, because they don't have enough controversy or edge to hold even the religious audience. Stories about Jewish families, for example, get cancelled quickly because even the Jewish audience doesn't always support it.

And when they do, people call it propaganda.

As for the morality of TV and movies, it is behind the times and reflects attitudes and behavior that was talked about openly years ago but never shown on TV.

Answer 4

Now that the USA owns Britian. Should we make laws there that reflect our morals and values? Where do you think we got our morals and values from in the first place? Study history before you ask a question like this it makes you look very ignorant when you are clueless.

Answer 5

It's a little bit of both, as to whether our values are shaped by Hollywood, or reflected by it. As for what is on television, I think you need to look a little deeper for quality content, there is alot of it on there. Seventh heaven is in syndication now, that is a very good show, about a Christian minister, and his family of 7 children. I'm not Christian, but I still appreciate the writing, values, and content of the show, and there is usually a spiritual theme or moral lesson addressed in each show, and how each member of the family is affected by it, and deals with it. ( it's a little out there, in comparison to real life, but I don't perceive the characters as weird, or narrow minded, as you were asking about, just really into strong traditional values) I am only bringing up one example, there are many others out there, but I just think that you are drawing your generalizations too broadly. Nickolodeon, Nick at Night, TVland, the Disney channel, the Family channel, the Hallmark channel all offer wholesome uplifting choices for family viewing, maybe you're watching Fox too much. In any case, it is up to you as a parent to monitor your children's view habits, to pay attention to what they are watching, to use the v chip if you need to, to get them to go out side and play instead of watching tv, or read a book, or sit down and play a board game with them, instead of just letting them sit in front of the tube all afternoon. Things like that will shape them far more than anything that comes in through the media, it's up to you to set the example for the values you want your children to learn.

Answer 6

Hollywood is liberal in their agenda, strickly no values. Just look at your local video store at the type of movies that are available to rent. Family value movies are hard to find. Yes, most of our young people are influenced by Hollywood, MTV, music, magazine or tv ads, the list goes on...... Life is getting non-sacred for most of our young people in todays society.

Answer 7

We have at present discontinued our cable.We rent movies that we want to watch, but lately have been finding it difficult to find a decent show even then.We receive our news from the net.Soon I believe all Christians will have to separate themselves from TV,Radio,and even the Newspaper.Call me whatever you want to people but I am tired of the filth.My children and grand-babies do not need to have their hearts hardened by the immoral acts of the world today.I am a normal man and find these things to be a temptation that I do not need neither.Lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil,Sound familiar?Today's permissiveness becomes tomorrows standard.Wake Up People!Great Question.

Answer 8

Its kinda how hitler used his propaganda, except we use the tv, and internet. Subtle hypnosis, I mean what kid in his right mind plays video games where you chop peoples heads off. There is absolutely no way to stop the impact the media has on people (esspecially teens) The medias defense is too strong. As you can probalbly tell I didn't even read your whole question.

Answer 9

Shaping them. No one is ever quite as depraved as the people in the films until maybe ten years later on. Watch an X rated movie from 1960 and you will see what I mean. The world is hurtling to destruction is what I think.
Revelation 22:
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Answer 10

Hollywood is just imitating real life. People are really capable to see the difference between a movie and reality. You think people would do better without movies? Nazis did not get their ideas from movies, in Darfur and Afghanistan they don't get their morals from movies. And in the muslims don't watch allah movies about killing each other. You anti gay attitude comes from a book not a movie, am I right?
Be good be nice.