Glamorization

This is one of the pages I hope gets the most visitors. If you've read the page entitled My Mission, you know my goals for this site. Let me tell you now my feelings about the goals Hollywood is accomplishing.

Awareness of different problems is great. We're less judgmental about the disabled, and we like to think we're getting past the race and language barriers in the world. The media dutifully reports on our planet's happenings. But a lot of the time, the media overexposes and glamorizes serious problems... This is what I dub "The Hollywood Effect."

Hollywood has made so many awful things seem cool. The media made a huge fuss about alcoholism earlier this century, and now we have an increasing number of underage drinkers. In the 60s and 70s, we focused on drug use and sex outside of marriage. Drugged-up, sex-crazed celebs became all the rage. In the 80s, eating disorders were big news. Suddenly, every model, actor, and actress seemed to be anorexic or bulemic. Now, we have what is being touted as the newest addiction sweeping America... Self-injury.

I don't know how many of you saw the USA movie "Secret Cutting." The ads that appeared in different magazines actually had the audacity to label SI as "The new anorexia." The movie was very useful in pointing out what not to do when dealing with a self-injurer, but the movie was very intense. "Secret Cutting" struck a nerve in me... Half of me was saying, "Oh man! That is SO overexaggerated!" while the other half was saying, "Wow! That happened to me!" I do NOT advise watching this movie if you are a self-injurer. It really could put ideas in your head. Same for "Girl, Interrupted." I love the book, and the movie was great too. Susanna Kaysen is a wonderful author. In case you haven't heard, Susanna spent time in a mental institution during the 60s. Her book is amazingly insightful and is very captivating. The movie is a good adaptation, although the filmmakers made a few obvious changes. A great cast brought the movie to life... But again, books and films like this can put ideas in people's heads! Very damaging. So again, more triggering media to avoid if you're vulnerable.

The media has to know they're encouraging reckless behavior. Come on, who saw "Dead Man on Campus"? Or "Can't Hardly Wait"? "Cruel Intentions," "54," "Heathers?" I enjoy all of those movies, but I do because I understand that they don't represent REALITY. Some people watch those films and say, "Cool! I want to go get drunk and barf all over someone! Maybe I'll end up popular and happy!" These kind of movies are Rated R for a reason. But our society as a whole is getting too permissive. "Gone With the Wind." What a controversy when Clark Gable said "the D-word!" Look at the filth that's considered "PG" nowadays. It's a pity.

Look at the musicians people today seem to like. Eminem. Lawsuit, jail for weapons charges? Tupac. People are still mourning his death and making posthumous albums... Even though he was a "gangsta thug" or whatever. Big Pun. What do you think happens when you're obese? Notorious BIG. Hmmm... I think rap is so detrimental to kids and teens. Kids get a kick out of playing songs that use "The N Word" more than the word "the." And we wonder why there is so much crime there. Look at Woodstock '99. Look at that incident involving the female joggers in Central Park. All the bank robberies and murders. Yep, "gangstas" sure are cool...

So you're probably saying, "What's the point of this page?" My point is be careful what you are influenced by. Don't let Hollywood trick you into believing harmful things are cool. Or anyone, for that matter... Look at Clinton! I finally get to vote in this year's election, and I'll be voting for Christian and Republican Bush. Entertain yourselves, but don't be corrupted. Just because someone makes a movie or a song about it doesn't mean that's how you should live your life. If cutting is "the new anorexia," what's next? Comas? I don't want to know. Be careful, all of you! Increase awareness without making trauma attractive.

When The Cut Goes In Deep originally posted on 03-05-2000 and
reposted after remodeling on 06-22-2000.
Ronnie 2000-2003 ©

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