Ways in Which Films Have Influenced America as a Nation, Essay Example

Films are great sources of entertainment and fun to the whole American society and the world at large. Films can be of great importance in terms of improving ideas and habits of the fans and at the same time can be detrimental through spoiling the habits and ideas (Koppes & Black 126). Some films reflect on exactly what is there while other on the same note other films focus on construction of images that we prefer to see.  As a nation, America has experience the following influences from films:

As a nation, the American people have been able to learn a lot about life and life experiences. The films that have been produced in the country have enabled many citizens to learn great lessons some of which are memorable and help to make people’s life better. Some of the successful films are full of fundamental memorable lessons which teach people how to interact well and behave well with other people. Such films have prepared most of the American people to live well with others in the society. The films have been taught people on proper ways of talking to others and meeting with other people to talk about important issues. In order words, the films have been a great contributor to the moral stability and behavior important in America s a nation (Shindler 162).

As a nation, films have contributed to high aims in the American society as a whole. For instance, some films contain stories and life experiences of some individuals who have made it in life and their associated sacrifices and noble ideas. Such films have been a great inspiration to the American society and its people in terms of setting goals, targets and focusing on attaining the goals. The movies have inspired the American society on the importance of struggle as a main factor behind success. For instance, films produced by people like Lincoln, Churchill and other producers have been a grate inspiration to the American society (German 241).

Films which are of great benefit to the American society are classified under informative and educational films. Such films have their focus on science, history, culture or politics. They are films which reflect on exactly what is happening or what is possible/reality. For instance, scientific movies have their plot based on scientific innovations and inventions which instills the idea of being creative and problem solving strategies in American society. On the other hand, films of politics and history have been a great source of inspiration in terms of best leadership practices, great empires and democracy. The films on culture have been a source of knowledge to American society concerning religion, arts, literature, music, media and other traditions of the American nation (Shindler 189).

Films that reflect what is there have also had a negative effect or influence on the American society. For instance, some films on criminals, accidents and other negative stories which are presented in an attractive way and this has  had a negative influence on the character of some American society members (Koppes & Black 129).

Films which are composed of images constructed for our preference viewing are in most cases meant for fun and fantasy. Such films are created by imaginative idea as well as images that influence viewers and their thinking. As a nation, the American society has been influenced by these films especially the youths. For instance, films on sexual scenes, violence, serial murders and other imaginary acts of cruelty has influence the people in a negative manner (German 246).

Films have also influenced the American society though addiction. Many people especially young aged youths are now spending a better part of their time behind screens watching films. This has both positive as well as negative consequences in a way that those films which informative and educative tend to help the youths. On the other hand, youths who get addicted to films full of violence, sexual scenes and other acts of cruelty tend to develop negative character overtime. Addiction to films has generally destructed many American from carrying out other responsibilities on time and family relationships have been affected. Addiction has also contributed too many youths developing obesity at young stages due to lack of exercise. In most cases, the youths who have been affected are found to spend almost the whole day indoor seated and watching films of their choice thus short of exercise (Combsa & Combs 19).

Wag the Dog

This film entails a lot of image construction and media in the world of power as well as politics. The movie is literally about the dog and why is wags its tail. In the film the tail is actually a representative of the opinion of the public while the dog itself represents the media. In other interpretations, the dog signifies the media while the tail is used to as a symbol of political campaigns. The strategy is to show a case where something of greater significance can be driven by something of less significance. The film symbolizes various political scenes in the American society including the errors of sexual scandals that were faced by Bill Clinton during his tenure in office. It also represents the error of Bush and his war in Iraq. Such films containing scandals are meant to distract the attention of the public and the media through alteration of how people made decisions based on the past. However, in reality, such things are considered as the tail tiring to wag the dog. Normally, it is the dog that wags it tail and not vice-versa. Therefore, the film tries to teach us how politics, media and image construction can alter things in a way that less significant factors appear to alter factors with greater significance (Koppes & Black 136).

Lions for Lambs

The title of this comedy film alludes to incompetent leaders fond of deploying brave troops into war. For instance, the war between the US and the Middle East is a good example of political directions exercised by leaders. Leaders are said to play politics and take advantage of powers vested in them to carry out political operations which have an influence to the whole society. The film symbolizes how President Bush applied the powers vested in the US president to deploy solders to the Middle East. The effect of such actions is seen to be on the society of both regions and not on the leaders in conflict. The whole film is full if imagery construction as well as media association (Combsa & Combs 37).

Relationship Between Image and Reality, Politics and Fiction in American Culture

Image and reality are related in a way that various films contain images which are true representatives of what is happening or what happened. It is through such images that we get to see and know the reality even if we did not witness the actions at the scene. For instance, the grape of wrath is film which demonstrates the relationship between image and reality. In the film, the audiences are shown images of how the family in Oklahoma lost their farm and became immigrants in search of work and means of livelihood in California. The images were actually representing what exactly happened in reality and not just imaginary images. Considering a text by Sumiko Higasi (American culture: the silent era), reality is connected with image where by images were used to exhibit the true culture of Americans especially the images repressing the silent error as described by the author (Rollins 82).

Image is also related to politics in a way that political leaders use imagery to represent their political views, aspirations and achievements to the public. Such actions are done to influence the public concerning their opinions and attitudes they have towards such political leaders. In the grapes of wrath, image is related to politics in away that whatever was happening in the film was as a result of bad politics at that time where families were being displaced and their property taken away (Koppes & Black 131).

Image is also related to fiction in the American culture in a way that there are various images in films which are meant to attract the viewers but are completely fiction. Such images are not real and represent what is in the mind of producers of the film and what the audience would prefer to see. For instance, some of the images shown in the grapes of wrath are merely nothing but fiction especially the motion pictures which entails how the family from cross the United States to the state of California (Rollins 85).

Works Cited

Combs, James, and Sara Combs. Film Propaganda and American Politics: An Analysis and Filmography. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1994. Print.

German, Kathleen. “Frank Capra’s Why We Fight Series and the American Audience.” Western Journal of Speech Communication 54. (1990): 237-248. Print.

Koppes, Clayton, and Gregory Black. Hollywood Goes to War: How Politics, Profits, and Propaganda Shaped World War II Movies. New York: The Free Press, 1987. Print.

Rollins, Peter. “Frank Copra’s Why We Fight Film Series and Our American Dream.” Journal of American Culture. 19. (4): 81, 6. Print.

Shindler, Colin. Hollywood Goes to War: Films and American Society 1939-1952. Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1979. Print.