Guest Blog: The “Hollywood Mindset” and its Effect on Today’s Society
Please enjoy this guest blog post by Taylor Starcher!
Technology is one of man’s greatest innovations, something that continues to improve and become increasingly beneficial every single day. Although the saying, ‘with power comes great responsibility’ is strikingly true in the world of media where humans can access virtually anything from mobile devices, computers, and televisions. Hollywood has portrayed the ideas of success, wealth, and the perfect image in today’s society, painting a portrait of an unrealistic lifestyle that causes issues among people’s mindsets.
A strong example of generational celebrities would be the Kardashian family as a whole. Not only have they succeeded in making the family name famous but generated a significant amount of wealth. From their television show, ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ to each member’s social media accounts, they are one of the most known families in the world. These Hollywood stars might be extremely well known, but does that make them appropriate role models? The present culture strives from influential people that are able to drive social or political movements, gain supporters, and have the power to in a sense, “change the world.” The Kardashians, just being one example, do all of these things with the millions of people following and watching their every move on a day to day basis.
Let us embrace the pop culture in America but remember the importance of things or people rather than fame and fortune. Celebrities will always have their fame and fortune to make them influential people among pop culture, but society needs to recognize morally correct decisions, regardless of one’s specific religion. Although media is pertinent to connection points today, in both personal and business aspects, the “old-school” styles of face-to-face interaction or enjoyment of family values are important to uphold outside of Hollywood’s ideas of a lifestyle.
Today’s pop culture is surrounded by sex, drugs, scandals, gossip, and not to mention, impractical realities focused on fame. Most reality television shows are so misconstrued and morally out of line that they make them ridiculous and not anyone’s reality but the people on the show. Even then, people are either acting or not truly showing the extent of their real life. Everything is for show and to portray a sense of this perfect life. This causes people, especially the younger generations, to have false ideas of what their life should look like or what they should strive to achieve.
Within the Christian faith, pop culture can be a tough subject matter to know what is right or wrong. Although, too often Christians find problems within every aspect of pop culture, making it nearly impossible to be around it. This is not an easy aspect to cut out because of how relevant it is in everyday life. The key is balancing media by understanding how it personally affects an individual’s lifestyle choices and their mindset toward healthy decisions. Christians should be slower to judge everything and quicker to find the good in pop culture in which to surround themselves. Pop culture can simply be an adding factor to understanding others’ ideas and then Christians can take that to love others in whatever place they are at.
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:2).
Hollywood has brought us award-winning films, important performances that have impacted people’s personal lives, and ideas that have benefitted our culture. The negative factors of Hollywood lifestyles can outweigh the positives, but it is important to focus on the reality of situations and not let fame or fortune define one’s life. Pop culture will always be around; it is just necessary to not let it control and influence unhealthy lifestyle choices. If Christians keep their eyes focused on God and how their life can be benefitting His kingdom, their choices within what media they take in will be more constructive and beneficial. Using technological advances and media in the world positively can make us have better communication, freedom of expression, and a stronger community.
