NOWADAYS, women would look desirable only if they're too skinny. Smoking has become a cool thing as well as drinking alcohol. Sex has become a common activity and is even being glorified. Bad words and use of violence are easily justified. All these worldly things, this search for pleasure, have become tremendous and are inputted in the minds of people. All these as been researched are the changes Hollywood has brought into society.
These things would seem normal for the Western culture but not in our country. And it becomes a problem as it spread throughout the world.
It's been noted that the United States has already become a renowned country. She is one of the topmost first world country being recognized by others. Hollywood as one of its major industries plays a big part in establishing the country's name and it carries this reputation to other nations.
Hollywood, as it represents US, causes their culture to creep into the mindset of people in different areas in the world. As this continues, the public will soon be bound to recognize and accept the Western lifestyle and divert from their own.
If it comes to that, then US has successfully taken a silent domination.
So many changes have been made in the lifestyle of people just by watching movies they release to the public. In fact, Hollywood films are referred to as the mainstream movies which would imply that these are the dominant trend or what is regarded as conventional.
Since people have become too entranced with their films that theaters of other countries are even monopolized by Hollywood movies, it would become so easy to fall in the control or manipulation of US.
Although of course nothing has been said about US wanting to take over the whole world, it can be very well achieved even just simply through these films.
In truth, if people would notice and open their eyes, Western culture has already created roots that influence people into believing and seeing the world in the same way they do. As Hollywood continues its reign through media, the subliminal context of affecting the people's mentality could very well be observed.
Philippines is not an exemption to these effects.
It is possible that soon, even if different nations maintain and preserve their own governance, the power and control of US has already crept through their boundaries. So even if they are just in their own lands, but through media, the Americans have already began to inhibit other countries.
That through Hollywood, US has created an imprinted image never to be forgotten but instead adored by people across the globe. This way, the power of the United States will become stronger and known and their silent domination over the others might become louder, and become more influential and manipulative.
Surprisingly, the industry of Hollywood, with the only purpose of entertainment and profit, has actually become a tool in the ascendance of power and superiority of the United States. (Regine Recede)
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Sunday Essays are articles written by students of Ateneo de Davao University for their Advanced Journalism class.