Gay Cowboys – And Other Hollywood Philosophies
By Michael Bresciani (03/06/06)
What you see on the screen plays second fiddle to the message a movie puts
forth. What you see is what you get is not all you get. So, what else do
you get?
The whole country is talking about the film Brokeback Mountain and it has
created no small stir. On a Sunday morning TV editorial Charles Osgood
pointed out that Hollywood is not tying to put forth a gay liberal agenda
but rather are interested only in the bottom line – money. Although not
inferred, it sounded like capturing the minds of adults or poisoning the
minds of our youth was merely an incidental that happened on the way to
the bank.
For over thirty years I have warned that it is not just what we see on
films that can influence us. Each film has a philosophy attached to it
whether it was intended or not. Sex, violence and profanity are blaringly
obvious but subtle philosophies are not. Today the philosophies are
becoming more blatant and are far less subtle. The race for box office
cash is not all that fuels this raw open ended kind of expression in the
film industry.
The mention of any kind of control (even self control) is met with cries
of violated first amendment rights and the old freedom of expression hype.
It may seem a bit over used but remains true nevertheless that Hollywood
has never bothered to discern the difference between freedom and license.
A recent poll discovered that only one out of a thousand Americans knows
all of the rights our constitution provides for them. On average the poll
said that most people can name only one of our constitutional rights.
Contrasted with that fact, it was discovered that the same people could
name three or more of the characters in the TV animated sitcom, “The
Simpsons.” The bottom line says that movie makers know what their rights
are but the movie viewing public either doesn’t have a clue or they just
doesn’t care.
Anyone who thinks TV and Movies don’t influence our society has to be
living in another country. Yet even that is not true. Another poll
recently discovered that one of the reasons that almost every major
country in the world hates Americans is because of the film industry. All
they know about America is what they see in the movies. Immorality,
frivolous romance, rebellion, crime, gay cowboys and general mayhem is all
they see. Any country trying to keep order and develop would naturally
reject this kind of example and that is exactly what they do.
Could we get Hollywood’s attention on this, not so far but maybe we could
catch them on the way to the bank and let them know. It is estimated that
Americans will spend fifteen years on average of their entire lives
watching TV and Movies. Perhaps it is not reasonable to think John Q
television watching public is going to take any time out of their fifteen
years to grab a few Hollywood producers on their way to the bank. Maybe
they could protest a bit during the commercials which comprise about five
of the fifteen years of their TV and movie watching lives.
Actors and others in the film industry are paid huge sums of money to do
and say things most Americans don’t believe should ever be seen or
uttered. Are they showing us our mind, or is art coaxing life rather than
imitating it. I suppose when actors or thespians are offered small
fortunes to behave and talk badly they must think they are living right.
They too probably laugh all the way to the bank. Most Americans don’t act
like actors but Hollywood can afford to make them act anyway they choose.
It all seems Ok if the end (the trip to the bank) seems to justify the
means. Some Americans are a bit sick of Hollywood suggesting how to live
instead of depicting how they actually live. The Bible isn’t sick of
anything but has a lot to say about how sick human behavior can become.
Perhaps it is best said by the bible regardless of whether Hollywood is
listening or not. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the
end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
