More Economics...
Does Hollywood promote poverty thinking because it’s fun to watch or as a social engineering tool? I’m not talking advertisements; I’m talking in the TV sitcoms. The Jeffersons and Fresh Prince of Bel Air are the last shows I remember showing people bettering themselves through working. Then there are all the shows making fun of people with money (anything with Paris Hilton or Nicole Richie). I guess that tradition goes clear back to the Beverly Hillbillies. The working poor are great (Reba) and the rich are mean or stupid (Martha Stewart). I’m getting really tired of them trying to teach my kids that it’s okay to live paycheck to paycheck. I want them to do better than that.Again, the non-economics homework talk is at Celebrating 40.
posted by Shondratasha @ 00:16
4 Comments:
Personally, I don't think Hollywood is looking at or cares about the message they are sending. They no longer have original ideas, and those that do can't get a foot in Hollywood. Hollywood is like some big corporations that care about the bottom line not their people, in this case ratings and not so much the message. A few years ago, someone tried out a 'reality' show on primetime -- everyone is the band wagon. If you have access to indie films/people, they may have produced or are willing to try to do something that you'd considered better for your kids. My thoughts.
Hollywood has an agenda which has nothing to do with bottom line. If money really mattered there would be more PG and G films since they make more money than R rated films. Just take a look at the top 100 box off hits and then ask why do they keep making R rated movies that cost more than they make?
If you can get your hands on "Freakonomics" - I'd highly recommend it as a read - it's got some great thoughts in there.
Yes, the portrayal of work ethic has changed over the years. Using the Ant and the Grasshopper allegory it is much more interesting to watch the lucky lazy grasshopper that won the lottery than the ant that worked all summer for his modest means... Unfortunately the popularization of what I call "found money versus earned money" does have an influence on outlook. Which would you rather have?
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