Entertainment for the Sake of Entertainment
By singout
@singout (1008)
United States
July 26, 2008 4:37pm CST
Have you ever noticed how movies and TV shows are being used more and more to get some sort of message across to the viewing public? I remember when those mediums were produced strictly for entertainment and the only message that ever came across was that good always triumphed over evil. Anything more than that seems to be misuse of the public trust. One example would be one (among others) of the Steven Segal movies where he actually spoke from a lecturn at the end of the movie about some environmental problem that needed to be solved (I think it was "Fire Down Below"). There are many other examples I could site but I prefer to forget them.
Now, I'm just as environmentally aware as the next person, but can't we draw the line somewhere?
What are some shows that you can remember which try to "Preach" to you instead of entertain you?
I'm sure I've raised some "hackles" in some of you, but that's alright. We can disagree and still be friends. That's what MyLot is all about.
2 people like this
2 responses
@Marcusml333 (159)
• Denmark
30 Jul 08
I think films can do both at once. Entertainment doesn't exclude a point or a special message. Don't know what I'd prefer though.
1 person likes this
@singout (1008)
• United States
30 Jul 08
Thanks for your great response Marcusml333. Why can't some films depict the time-tested moral that "good should triumph over evil?" Many do just that. But when you get into any other "pin-pointed" moral, then you begin to get into controversial issues, both political and social, with which people may or may not agree; which, in turn, leads to division. This also leads to some people feeling they got more than they wanted when leaving the theater.
@Marcusml333 (159)
• Denmark
31 Jul 08
Well, I disagree. It's important to make statements, especially political, if you want the world to change. And why not do it in a movie you created? You have to inspire people to do the right things. I mean, it's okay to make movies without worldly statements, but you can't just count movies as entertainment, even though that is their job. Afterall, there's no point in making an unentertaining movie, with an important statement - not many would watch it!
@meggan79 (436)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Not sure if this is the examples you are talking about, but at the end of Without A Trace they post a picture of a missing person. It isn't exactly preaching to you, but think it is a neat idea to get a missing persons picture out. I don't know if it still does, but the real missing persons they showed, the story would be on the morning talk show.
1 person likes this
