Is the Impact of Entertainment on Culture only Black & White?
Posted by Larry the Rolling Filmmaker at 3/12/2008 6:38 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
It is easy to dismiss movies and television as merely
entertainment because there is a lot of mindless crap to choose from. But there
is the cream of the crop and that is thought provoking and touches us
emotionally to the point that we discuss it with our peers and colleagues
around the water cooler well beyond just the next day. And then there is what
is in between which causes some expression of emotion and some discussing but
because it is in the middle of the road you will have some that loved it and
some that hated it!
But today I am not here to discuss which films and television programs fit into which category and then rank them by quality. Regardless of where the film finds itself in the hierarchy of popularity, I think we all would agree that entertainment influences our culture which in turn influences our society. As an example, that I have talked about many times, is the influence the films of and by Sidney Poitier in the 1960’s. These films had a very significant cultural impact that played a role in the civil rights movement of that same time.
Movies allow us to indirectly be involved with the story, the characters, the situations, on the screen in a very personal way without risking anything but the cost of the ticket and the beyond highway robbery concessions. Many films and television programs give us a peak and on some level experience another place, time, people, political system, point of view, a fantasy of the imagination, even other cultures and societies that can be real or make believe which can be as close as a local neighborhood like say, Little Italy in New York to distant solar systems and galaxies like in Star Trek and Star Wars!
The second aspect of this impact of entertainment can be
seen in the affect it has on the individual culture and people represented in said
movies, television and music. Again another example that I have discussed many
time before, because it is very similar to how I feel when my culture, my
people, those with a disAbility and specifically those who are paralyzed, is
when I heard people like Oprah, Denzel, Halle, and others speak of the personal
impact seeing Sidney Poitier in movies that were not stereotypical and
portrayed by a young, healthy, and handsome black actor had on them. Another
prime example was recently in an episode of Oprah’s daytime talk show as a
retrospect of “The Cosby Show” and its impact on society as a whole and within
the black community. When speaking of how at first many in both the white and
black communities didn’t believe that a black family could live like that which
was being portrayed on the show, I loved what Malcom-Jamal Warner said that
unfortunately “it is not validated until it’s on television.”
The music of the 1950’s, the films of the 1960’s and the television of the 1980’s have all gone a long way in breaking stereotypes and acceptance of black men, women & families by white culture and society. Other minority subgroups such as the Hispanic culture and the gay, lesbian and transgender culture have followed the model or example of the inclusion of authentic voices in entertainment which has provided a significant impact on American culture as a whole which has its place in influencing American society and that of individual minority communities.
The glaring exclusion in our entertainment of today when
speaking of the voices and representation of all of the above mentioned
minority subgroups is of course the largest and fastest growing minority
subgroup, those with a disAbility. A very common image and treatment those with
a disAbility in American society, which as we have established above is largely
influenced by the culture which is influenced by entertainment and in this case
specifically in movies and television toward those with a disAbility as
invisible, insignificant, unproductive, 2nd or 3rd or 4th
class citizens and this has a huge impact on the individual lives of everyone
with a disAbility and everyone in their family and of their friends. All of
this is perpetuated in the Hollywood
stereotypes, the industry wide common practice of repressing our voices and the
unauthentic representation in movies and television.
Just like in the example of the black community, this not only influences society’s opinions of those with a disAbility but also on the disabled community itself and this can have devastating and long lasting affect. Without any representation in movies or television, society as a whole continues to view us as “less than” members of society. Because the disAbled voices are repressed and the discrimination of actors with a disAbility not being able to represent ourselves there is very little validation that we are significant and worthy human beings, let alone equal members of society. This flows over into our image of ourselves and the expectations of what we should just accept from society’s opinions of us. This can be clearly seen in the reactions of people when asked or they consider becoming paralyzed or having a significant disAbility. An example of this can be found here in this blog under the title, “Dr. 90210.” Many will say they would rather be dead or that living as a paralyzed person brings an end to significant life. This is experienced by all those who suddenly find themselves with a disAbility. I know this first hand because my opinions and views of a person in a wheelchair was a hopeless and worthless life. I felt pity that that poor soul who had to live life so restricted of nearly all that makes life worth living. It was unimaginable! That was until April 1, 1995 when I became one of those people in a wheelchair and not just for a time as a broken leg might do, but for the rest of my life! No days off and no vacation days away from living as a person with a serious disAbility.
Because of my attitude and outlook was what I can do with what still works on my body, I had nurses, doctors and therapists wanting me to speak to another patient of theirs who couldn’t see past the image they had as able bodied members of society that were largely shaped by the influences from our culture and entertainment. They were depressed and often didn’t care as it seemed worthless to keep trying. This life is difficult on so many levels and not just physically but also emotionally, financially, and socially as all are affected by my life as a paraplegic. It is easy to understand why the rate of alcohol and drug abuse is much higher within the community of those who are paralyzed.
If the very little recognition of those with a disAbility in movies and television continue to also be represented entirely by able bodied people then so will the results of the publics’ image and treatment of those with a disAbility and the self image of those who know nothing else or are heavily influenced by the portrayals of those with a disAbility in today’s entertainment. Then this viscous cycle will endure and continue to corrupt the image and treatment of those with a disAbility in our society.
The only question left is, does anyone here know of an intelligent and caring producer with well established relationships inHollywood
But today I am not here to discuss which films and television programs fit into which category and then rank them by quality. Regardless of where the film finds itself in the hierarchy of popularity, I think we all would agree that entertainment influences our culture which in turn influences our society. As an example, that I have talked about many times, is the influence the films of and by Sidney Poitier in the 1960’s. These films had a very significant cultural impact that played a role in the civil rights movement of that same time.
Present & Challenge Perspectives
There are two aspects of this that I want to explore further here. The first is the cultural impact on society as a whole and then how it impacts those that are directly being represented in the films and television programs. Although many of Sidney Poitier’s films contributed I want to just single out one in particular as it is a perfect example of our first aspect and that is “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” This was in 1968 and I turned 4 years old but the film had a lasting affect and is still relevant today in the topic of race and interracial relations as can be seen in the Academy Award winner for Best film of 2005, “Crash.” Aside from a fantastic cast that starred along with Sidney Poitier in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” it showed and talked about race and the perceptions that one had over the other. Both sides, both points of view and as the parents discussed and debated and wrestled with their own perceptions it allowed the audience members to do the same. The dialogue was so open that depending onf what neighborhood you saw it there would be a lot of nodding heads with a soft applause or a thunderous praise and exclamations that were often expressed in the word, “Amen” as certain points were being made! So the audience members were now identifying with the characters on the screen which makes them engaged and personally invested in the story. As the movie moved along it challenged nearly every point that was previously expressed as general perceptions. By the conclusion of the movie, whether you agreed with how it ended or not, it made you think and it influenced your thoughts of your own race and your perceptions of the other.Movies allow us to indirectly be involved with the story, the characters, the situations, on the screen in a very personal way without risking anything but the cost of the ticket and the beyond highway robbery concessions. Many films and television programs give us a peak and on some level experience another place, time, people, political system, point of view, a fantasy of the imagination, even other cultures and societies that can be real or make believe which can be as close as a local neighborhood like say, Little Italy in New York to distant solar systems and galaxies like in Star Trek and Star Wars!
"That's Alright Mama"
While we are examining the cultural impact as a whole let’s briefly look at the big picture and again use the same racial example and start a little further back to the previous decade of the 1950’s. Entertainment media of music was changing and although it started slow it took off when the rhythm and blues music became the basis for rock and roll. Regardless of how it was applied or exploited by the record companies and radio stations the voice of the black culture was integrated into white culture. This is common knowledge and when looking forward from that time we can see how it not only continued but also expanded to movies and eventually television. Not all was integrated but those voices that were not still had their place in American culture. And today the voices of the black culture are often dominate in some areas such as music. Today the American culture is influenced by black culture, white culture, Hispanic culture, Asian culture, gay, lesbian and transgender culture and some others as all have authentic voices and represent themselves in nearly all cases.My culture, My people
The music of the 1950’s, the films of the 1960’s and the television of the 1980’s have all gone a long way in breaking stereotypes and acceptance of black men, women & families by white culture and society. Other minority subgroups such as the Hispanic culture and the gay, lesbian and transgender culture have followed the model or example of the inclusion of authentic voices in entertainment which has provided a significant impact on American culture as a whole which has its place in influencing American society and that of individual minority communities.
56 Million Americans + 600 Million More Global
The glaring exclusion in our entertainment of today when
speaking of the voices and representation of all of the above mentioned
minority subgroups is of course the largest and fastest growing minority
subgroup, those with a disAbility. A very common image and treatment those with
a disAbility in American society, which as we have established above is largely
influenced by the culture which is influenced by entertainment and in this case
specifically in movies and television toward those with a disAbility as
invisible, insignificant, unproductive, 2nd or 3rd or 4th
class citizens and this has a huge impact on the individual lives of everyone
with a disAbility and everyone in their family and of their friends. All of
this is perpetuated in the Just like in the example of the black community, this not only influences society’s opinions of those with a disAbility but also on the disabled community itself and this can have devastating and long lasting affect. Without any representation in movies or television, society as a whole continues to view us as “less than” members of society. Because the disAbled voices are repressed and the discrimination of actors with a disAbility not being able to represent ourselves there is very little validation that we are significant and worthy human beings, let alone equal members of society. This flows over into our image of ourselves and the expectations of what we should just accept from society’s opinions of us. This can be clearly seen in the reactions of people when asked or they consider becoming paralyzed or having a significant disAbility. An example of this can be found here in this blog under the title, “Dr. 90210.” Many will say they would rather be dead or that living as a paralyzed person brings an end to significant life. This is experienced by all those who suddenly find themselves with a disAbility. I know this first hand because my opinions and views of a person in a wheelchair was a hopeless and worthless life. I felt pity that that poor soul who had to live life so restricted of nearly all that makes life worth living. It was unimaginable! That was until April 1, 1995 when I became one of those people in a wheelchair and not just for a time as a broken leg might do, but for the rest of my life! No days off and no vacation days away from living as a person with a serious disAbility.
Because of my attitude and outlook was what I can do with what still works on my body, I had nurses, doctors and therapists wanting me to speak to another patient of theirs who couldn’t see past the image they had as able bodied members of society that were largely shaped by the influences from our culture and entertainment. They were depressed and often didn’t care as it seemed worthless to keep trying. This life is difficult on so many levels and not just physically but also emotionally, financially, and socially as all are affected by my life as a paraplegic. It is easy to understand why the rate of alcohol and drug abuse is much higher within the community of those who are paralyzed.
If the very little recognition of those with a disAbility in movies and television continue to also be represented entirely by able bodied people then so will the results of the publics’ image and treatment of those with a disAbility and the self image of those who know nothing else or are heavily influenced by the portrayals of those with a disAbility in today’s entertainment. Then this viscous cycle will endure and continue to corrupt the image and treatment of those with a disAbility in our society.
Believe In A Change
The only question left is, does anyone here know of an intelligent and caring producer with well established relationships in
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