Preview

Godfather: Negative Influence On Modern Entertainment

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
840 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Godfather: Negative Influence On Modern Entertainment
I want to be a Nickelodeon kid!" the five year old chanted and swayed along with the hyper-colourful cavorting youngsters on the commercial. Even after the TV was off, she hopped around the room proclaiming her desire to belong to the Nickelodeon network.
We know the girl didn't realize what she was saying, but it's an excellent example of how malleable human beings are. Television is an unprecedented powerful medium, combining rapid sight and sound in a way that has a tremendous and impacted psychological effect. Companies wouldn't pay millions of dollars for a 30-second commercial during major sporting events like the Olympics if this weren't the case. Adults may not run around their living rooms chanting "I want to drive a Land cruiser!" but millions of them flock to car showrooms every year to purchase all-terrain vehicles half the price of a unit that will never touch any terrain but pavement.
Various media ranging from adverts such as these, to so-called movie ‘classics' like "The Godfather" are negative influences on today's society. Millions every day are forced to sit through programs that portray actors doing things which most would find unethical and wrong. So what's the difference between
…show more content…
We can concede it a special space as a cultural medium perhaps by calling it an art form ("Hey, it must be quality if the Academy nominated it for an award"), or by saying that it's only pretend ("They're just acting"). But to call it simply acting is to slip into a form of dualism - a denial that what bodies do (no matter what the context) has no effect on the soul of the actors or of those who watch them. We deny that viewing "pretend" sex or "pretend" violence affects us in the same way the "real" thing does. The human soul is a sensitive instrument, and the basic impact of certain visual images on it remains constant, whether the images are real or fake, whether we acknowledge it or

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    ‘As far as the filmmaking process is concerned, stars are essentially worthless -- and absolutely…

    • 1802 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Godfather is an insightful sociological study of violence, power, honor and obligation, corruption, justice and crime in America. Part I of The Godfather Trilogy centers on the Corleone crime "family" in the boroughs of New York City in the mid 1940s, dominated at first by the aging godfather/patriarch "Don" Vito Corleone. As a turn-of-the-century Silician immigrant, he is the head of one of the five Italian-American "families" that operates a crime syndicate. The 'honorable' crime "family," working outside the system due to exclusion by social prejudice, serves as a metaphor for the way business (the pursuit of the American dream) is conducted in capitalistic, profit-making corporations and governmental circles.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Aristotle wrote his Poetics of storytelling over two thousand years ago, yet they still apply today. The Godfather is an epic masterpiece that demonstrates how applying the Poetics can ensure that a film's story grabs the audience and keeps them captivated until the last frame. The best form of tragedy, Aristotle argues, has a plot that is what he calls "complex," it imitates actions arousing horror, fear and pity, and the hero's fortune changes from happiness to misery because of some tragic mistake that he or she makes. There are undoubtedly many movies that provide that hero drama. There is one movie that does use plot. “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”. This movie is an intended comedy that still uses the three key elements of the plot; reversal, suffering, and recognition. We are going to see how structure of story-telling written over two thousand years ago is being applied to the American Movie today.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Popular culture is ever changing phenomenon, and it is been changing to worse. Seeing some of the things on television or in a movie or on the internet nowadays really makes you question the intelligence of humans as species. “why we crave horror movies” by Stephen King, makes us to think and get an idea of why we love to watch horror movie. People like scary movies because they make them feel good. Even though people scream, shout or even cry during some scary movies they end up feeling better about themselves because of realizing that some people suffer more than them even if those people were imaginary.The subconsciousness mind can't tell the difference between true and imaginary experience, that's why movies can change our moods to a great extent even though we are aware that they are not real. Personally, I like horror movies, but still i will close my eyes in some horror scenes. Those scenes will freaks me out, leaving me unsettled for days, the images a record player in my mind. But still i watch just to get thrilled. The thesis in the…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In sociological theory there are many concepts discussed that are utilized in the analyses of society and culture. Some of the main concepts are Postmodernism, Historical Materialism, Structuralism, Interpretive Sociology and Poststructuralism to name a few. These theories are relevant to the research of understanding certain or specific cultural texts. These concepts provide problems and solutions associated with some of the research approaches fore-mentioned. Analysing the main dimensions will be covered by discussing the appropriate concepts separately and by individually contrasting the classical and modern theories with Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction,’ known for its rich, diverse dialogue, ironic combination of humour and violence, a nonlinear storyline told in several differing orders, and a mass amount of cinematic hints and popular culture references.…

    • 1402 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Acting and cinematography work together to create powerful meaning and impact in films. These are two aspects of filming that will almost never change regardless of the age. Acting and cinematography are what separate a good film from a great film. The Godfather is a relatively old film but is also a great example of how memorable a film can be if acting and cinematography are done extremely well. I will try to explain in detail what makes The Godfather one of the greatest movies of all time by talking about my favorite scene from the movie.…

    • 646 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Older generations began buying the rural AM stations from where they build into mainstream in hopes of bring back youth to the traditional American morals. The impact that radio was subte, due to other media outshining it with new advancements and regulations. Film became another influential factor to the culture of the decade as directors influenced the public through their movies. Director Francis Ford Coppola directed The Godfather, which had a $68 million box office success in 1972. The success was contributed to filming of drinking, gambling, and violence in more explicit methods asa rebellion to traditional morals and regulations.The movie additionally, mirrored events taking place such as the Watergate Scandal. Disaster movies were another success with the new special effects available in the 70’s. Justin Gustainis mentioned in his book, 1970s: Film and Theater that, “ although movie plots are often unrealistic [… they] generally offer a positive message-that through self belief and the right moral choices, people have the ability to save themselves” (Gustainis pg…

    • 1830 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Male Gaze

    • 5899 Words
    • 24 Pages

    Since the beginning of the recent women’s movement, American feminists have been exploring the representation of female sexuality in the arts—in literature, painting, film, and television. As we struggle towards meaningful theory, it is important to note that feminist criticism, as a new way of reading texts, emerged from the daily, ongoing concerns of women re-evaluating the culture in which they had been socialized and educated. In this sense, feminist criticism differs in basic ways from earlier critical movements which evolved out of reaction to dominant theoretical positions (i.e. out of a reaction which took place on an intellectual level). Feminism is unusual in its combination of the theoretical and (loosely speaking) the ideological (Marxist literary theory alone shares a similar dual focus, but from very different premises). The first wave of feminist critics adopted a broadly sociological approach, looking at sex roles women occupied in various imaginative works, from high art to mass entertainment. They assessed roles as “positive” or “negative” according to some externally constructed criteria describing the fully autonomous, independent woman. While this work was important in initiating feminist criticism (Kate Millett’s Sexual Politics was a ground-breaking text), feminist film critics, influenced by developments taking place in film theory at the start of the 1970s, were the first to point out its limitations. First, influenced by semiology, feminist theorists stressed the crucial role played by the artistic form as the medium for expression; second, influenced by psychoanalysis, they argued that Oedipal processes were central to the production of art works. That is, they gave increasing attention to how meaning is produced in films, rather than to…

    • 5899 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    I believe the reason that, "The Godfather", is such a great film is because it lets audiences decide whether they like the characters or not. Too many movies made about organized crime begin with some seemingly random act of violence. "The Godfather", however, lets it be known from the start to judge the characters in the film based on what type of person they are instead of the criminal activities they may engage in.…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The media creates an image of celebrities, commercial products, and influences such as politicians that the American culture can become “wrapped” up in. Americans can look at celebrities and think that they have to look or act a certain way, just like the celebrity. An example of a negative aspect would be Paris Hilton. Many teenage girls look up to Paris Hilton as an idol, however, in 2003 an adult video was leaked to the public. If Americans see this, especially teenage girls, they will think that it is okay to act this way. A different example would be Britney Spears’ out lash in 2008, which showed America what the paparazzi and the “glamorous” lifestyle of being famous can do to a person. When asked if the media has mostly a positive or negative aspect on the American culture,…

    • 1259 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Representational Acting

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Representational acting, in this sense, alludes to a relationship in which the audience is studiously overlooked and regarded as 'peeping tom' voyeurs by a performing artist who stays in-character and consumed in the emotional activity. The actor carries on as though a fourth wall was present, which keeps up a flat out self-sufficiency of the emotional fiction from the truth of the theatre.…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The media has a huge influence on people who watch and listen to it. Technology has made it possible for someone to sit at home, turn the TV on, and see whatever they want. While this can be a good thing, it can always dumb down society. People get so caught up in what is going on in the television shows that are playing that they lose track in what is real and just made up. They start to put themselves in what they are…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In 2004 alone, the U.S. advertising industry spent £7 billion on commercials targeting children -- which makes business sense, considering that kids make up a massive consumer base, using their own largely expendable income or influencing their parents' spending habits. Since the late 1970s, it has become an increasingly controversial issue, with academics identifying several negative effects advertising has on children. These findings have stirred much debate about placing restrictions on advertisers.…

    • 513 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    I’m sure it has happened plenty of times. When you finish watching a movie and afterwards feel so inspired. This is often when the movie hero was presented as someone we would like to be or has a personality that we admire. Sometimes it can be other characters that are shown to be “cool”, attractive, and popular that also inspires us to mimic their personality traits. Movies can also prompt us to try certain activities. Of course this can be seen as the beneficial side of media; the fact that there could be that one movie that has the power to influence someone to become a better person. But like almost everything, there’s a downside to it too. The fact that media can be convincing in positive ways suggests that it can equally convey negative messages as well. The way that movies or television shows portray their characters is something that definitely needs to be paid attention to. The rebellious heroes, senseless social statuses, and unhealthy activities characters engage in are all factors that will influence the audience. Therefore it is important to consider whether it is worth presenting the characters in this way. A large majority of movies are presenting their characters as bad people, yet the people that anyone would find themselves wanting to be. I believe that is wrong, thus movies and TV shows should include better role models for their audiences. Current movies portray violence without consequence, inaccurate representations of social statuses and social interaction, and encourage characters to engage in activities with more harm than good.…

    • 1804 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To understand how the cinema influence in our behavior is important taking into account the message o viewpoint of the film. Many times the movie could promote in the people rejection or approval face a particular event. The movie Crash (2004) where the racism and sexism manifested through the drama could be a great example.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays