Mel Gibson attacks Hollywood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TWaMNRCQ74

Peter Kopa, Prague, 25.1.2024

I am commenting here on some Newsweek reports, signed by J. Barton, 23.6.2023, concerning Mel Gibson’s denunciations of moral depravities in Hollywood. And we refer also to the above video with English subtitles, in which Mel speaks out clearly and harshly against ‘the illusion factory’ of this media conglomerate, which was a world leader.

However, it is fair to recognize that, thanks to cinema, man has an unprecedented knowledge of the world and of history, even if it is fragmented and disjointed.  I personally think, in spite of everything, that the positive films are more important than the negative ones, being the art of cinema a new category that became possible, only in the last hundred years, thanks to the technique. But cinema must be seen as a continuation of theater, with literary, poetic and musical ingredients, capable of transporting the viewer to places and experiences like no previous representative art has been able to achieve.

Mel Gibson’s dismay in Hollywood

 Gibson begins by explaining how he had “strange, paranoid suspicions about Hollywood when he arrived.” “You go away and you think, ‘No, I was wrong. It’s crazy to think like that. I’m paranoid. I was imagining those things. That couldn’t be the reason so-and-so was acting that way, could it?” “And then you find out later that you were exactly on the right track with a lot of these things,” he said. “That some of your worst nightmares were real at the time, and you think,” Gibson then makes an astonished face. He also talks at length about the expectation of being betrayed in Hollywood, using a graphic metaphor about a knife stuck in the back.

The moral tragedy of Hollywood emerged outwardly on the occasion of the Weinstein scandal, who awarded contracts to women on condition of sexually abusing them. It is understandable that a girl with an ambition to make a career in the movies surrendered to him (the Harvey Weinstein case) …..  In general, for about fifty years, it can be said that Hollywood he has been presenting in his productions an image of man based on a materialistic vision. Science tells us that the suggestive power of cinema is enormous, because a large part of the spectators do not have the preparation not to allow their moral convictions to be shaken, but unwittingly let the scenes of the movies and their behavioral patterns reprogram their very identity as a human person. It may also happens that this influence is superimposed on a previous firm foundation of moral convictions, which nevertheless then gives birth to an integrative tension, or even to a moral double life.

Concretely, Hollywood has imposed the way of dressing, the ways of thinking and speaking, the purchase of the good life through consumption and, above all, a revolution in values, dictated more by feelings than by reason. So today we see mothers of families, in summer, dressed as if they were at the beach. And they are usually good people, carrying the stroller with their baby, accompanied by their husbands.

Public reaction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc0NrMwvlNc

The public’s reaction to the problem of negative films consists in the implementation of a whole range of means of protection, rating productions according to their degree of harmfulness. This serves as a tool especially for parents and teachers. Bad influence can be categorized in many ways and from various points of view. Below, I copy what the AI tells me, which essentially says what I have already pointed out above:

Film can have multiple influences on people at different levels, as it is a powerful form of communication and artistic expression. Here are some of the levels at which film can influence people:

– Emotional: Movies can evoke a wide range of emotions, from laughter to tears. They can create empathy and emotional connectivity by depicting stories that people can identify with.

– Cognitive: Films often present complex situations that may require critical thinking to understand. Viewers can be challenged to analyze characters, plots and themes.

– Social: Film can provide a window into different cultures, perspectives and life experiences, helping to broaden understanding and foster comprehension.

– Cultural influence: Films can contribute to the formation of public opinion and the dissemination of cultural ideas and values.

– Moral: Many films present ethical and moral dilemmas, which can cause viewers to reflect on their own beliefs and values.

– Psychological: Cinematic representations can influence how we perceive the world around us. They can shape our expectations and understanding of reality.

– Aesthetic: Film is a visual and auditory art form, and can influence people’s aesthetic appreciation. Cinematography, music and production design can leave a lasting impression.

– Educational: Historical, documentary and biographical films can be valuable educational tools, providing information about events, people and time periods.

– Entertainment: Film also serves an entertainment function, offering people an escape from reality and moments of fun.

– Identity and self-concept: Films can influence the formation of personal and cultural identity, especially during childhood and adolescence, by providing role models or representations of social groups.