Essay Example on Understanding Hollywood Movies: A Reflection of American Culture

Introduction

The link between culture and movies is a problematic dynamic. Hollywood movies have an impact on the mass culture that consumes them and are also an essential element of the culture. Also, they are a replication of practical approaches, concerns and philosophies. The analysis of culture and Hollywood movies also brings in the aspect of certain ideologies being prevalent in a particular era. It further denotes the diversity of American culture, just like the populations and its continuous transformation from one period to another. In the film “The Farewell”, it presents the way culture determines how physicians can accommodate the diversity of patient perspectives and their culture concerning diagnosis, prognosis and family dynamics. In a country such as America, individual communication is cherished. Thus, physicians need to continue to rigorously investigate their function in telling the truth and the way those conversational distinctions shift with every patient and family. The film further provides an opportunity to comprehend the differences in culture among countries and how they approach various issues such as death. The dissimilarities between Chinese and American culture are evident. The cultural belief of maintaining familial harmony has been manifested in “The Farewell’ and further depicted that it differs between the Western and Asian cultures. Furthermore, the preservation of the family unit is dominant, and personal sacrifice further viewed as a necessary feature. The research seeks to explore the culture represented in the film and how it has shaped the whole concept of Hollywood movies.

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STEP TWO: Evaluative annotations

Fu, Yuwei. "An Analysis of Ideological Intention of Using Chinese Elements in Hollywood Films Based on Multi-strategy." (2019).

The article seeks to explore the conceptual objective of utilizing Chinese elements in Hollywood films that have been in existence since the 1990s. Fu has highlighted the way Chinese elements have become common factors in Hollywood films, and one of them, in this case, is their culture. The article further notes that belief is a relevant outlook for reflecting and evaluating Hollywood films to demonstrate Chinese cultural purposes. Fu also notes the target of Hollywood films to show Chinese cultural practices which further represents the global recognition of the Chinese culture. Thus, the article’s argument shows that the use of Chinese culture in Hollywood movies is a way to provide viewers with safe spaces. They can then utilize them to exercise moral dilemmas which are fundamental for identifying one’s biases and also honoring the stories of other people. Furthermore, Fu has noted that the comprehensive national strength of China is increasing and this has paved the way for the Chinese elements to progressively occupy an exceptional position in the cultural value platform of the world. Therefore, I will utilize Fu’s evaluation to explore the way the integration of Chinese culture in Hollywood movies shapes viewers beliefs about cultural differences globally. Besides, it will demonstrate the way culture greatly informs how one approaches issues such as end-of-life care.

Langford, Barry. Post-Classical Hollywood. Edinburgh University Press, 2011.

The book has conducted an exploration of post-classical Hollywood and analyzed the style, film industry and philosophy since 1945. It has been noted that there have been numerous changes in the American film in the form of crises and challenges. However, the changes adopted new types of elements, such as cultural representation. There have also been changes in the dominant frameworks and conventions as well as the governing attitudes through which Hollywood films are created and consumed in the contemporary world. Langford analyzes the way these evolving contexts have assisted in shaping the form, style and setting of Hollywood films. It has been noted that there is an incorporation of social, cultural and political dimensions in Hollywood films. “The Farewell” has given a presentation of Chinese cultural beliefs concerning honesty to a terminally ill patient and the view of death. Also, the book has demonstrated the way post-classical Hollywood offers a new perspective on some of the most recent events in life. The source boosted by research by presenting changes that have occurred in the social, political and cultural domain and how they have shaped the production of Hollywood films.

Qiu, Yue. "Study on Global Cultural Hybridity in International Film Media based on the Film" Godzilla 2· The King of Monsters"." 1st International Symposium on Innovation and Education, Law and Social Sciences (IELSS 2019). Atlantis Press, 2019.

The article examines the way Hollywood movies and cultures have intertwined in the process of globalization. Qiu integrates the aspects of tourism, trade, immigration and investment as being a part of cross-cultural communication. They have all been presented in Hollywood movies in different ways, and they seem to cause cultural fusion and further expand an individual’s comprehension of cultural hybridity. The article also shows the way culture is employed to create an “imaginative community” for the audience to generate links. Qiu further notes that Hollywood producers introduce products with a variety of cultural elements to the community. In this way, they ensure that viewers appreciate, feel and further gain more through cultural fusion spectacle. “The Farewell”, for instance denotes that in the Chinese culture, telling someone they are dying is viewed as unreasonably harsh. Hence, the article will assist me in comprehending the way the presentation of this cultural belief among the Chinese impacts viewers and mostly concerning death which they consider an adverse life event. Also, Qiu has noted the presence of diverse cultures in Hollywood films which are a way of integration despite the collisions and illogicalities that may exist between them in the end.

STEP THREE: Other Sources

Understanding Media And Culture: An Introduction To Mass Communication. University Of Minnesota Libraries Publishing, 2016.

The source seeks to examine the way movies influence culture. It has been noted that the mainstream films created in the late 1940s and 1950s were a reflection of the dogmatism that was prevailing in the socio-political arenas at that time. Hollywood films have been identified to be a replication of certain regularly held beliefs and attitudes regarding what it entails to be American. However, they also demonstrate modern trends, events and issues that act as records of the ears where they were generated. The source supports my research topic of the way culture affects Hollywood movies as it explores the concepts since the production of movies began up to contemporary times.

Mbe, Vikas Shah. "The Role Of Film In Society". Thought Economics, 2011, https://thoughteconomics.com/the-role-of-film-in-society/

The article has explored the function of film in society and identified that it seeks to connect with human culture. It has been observed that cinema is a powerful vehicle for education, leisure, culture and even propaganda, among others. Also, it has been noted that the interaction of different forms of culture in films can have a positive impact on the mental health of individuals. It is due to the visual stimulation and emotions displayed that derives a certain feeling in someone as well. The article has assisted my research due to the comprehension that culture is quite vital in films and seeks to raise emotions in people as well.

Ibbi, Andrew Ali. "Hollywood, the American image and the global film industry." CINEJ Cinema Journal 3.1 (2013): 93-106. https://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/viewFile/81/261

The article has explored the impact of Hollywood movies on different cultures in the world and thus, demonstrated the association between the two as well. The film industries and cultures analyzed are Indian, Chinese and Nigerian due to their popularity in the world and continents. It has been noted that the integration of different cultures is easily done so by displaying them in films as it is done in Hollywood. Furthermore, Hollywood uses its platform as a way of showing cultural exchange. The article has boosted by research as it has analyzed other film industries across the world and connected the way their culture is displayed there as well. It has further promoted the comprehension of cultural imperialism and its display in Hollywood movies.

Dupont, Nathalie, and Joël Augros. "Cinema and Marketing: When Cultural Demands Meet Industrial Practices." InMedia. The French Journal of Media Studies 3 (2013). https://journals.openedition.org/inmedia/625

The article has assessed the way the film making industry has been affected by culture hence being enforced to regulate its marketing tactics. The beginning of the modern consumer society altered the way movies was to be produced. Culture has played a significant role in ensuring that films produced are a reflection of the beliefs and practices of the viewers. Cinema industry has become a complex cultural industry, and marketers need to ensure that they are delivering the right product and services. Making movies that people can relate to, for instance, is one of the ways that it can be purchased by a large number of people. It will also be easy for marketers to convince the audience. The article has supported my research by demonstrating the importance of considering people’s culture in film production and how easy it becomes to sell it as well.

STEP FOUR: Research Claims

The aspect of cultural differences has been demonstrated in the film. Some viewers and mostly from the West might probably view the decision not to tell the grandmother of her sickness as a violation of her right to be aware. However, most families prefer to obfuscate the truth and especially when it is about the death of a person. In Chinese culture, they view telling someone that they are dying as being unpleasant. They also view death as something negative in life. As such, there is a clear depiction of the differences in cultural beliefs which has been clearly expressed in the film.

There is a struggle to find identity demonstrated in the film and which may be attributed to cultural expectations. Billi struggled with her identity as an American when she went back to China. As an autonomous American woman, Billi must reunite with the trauma of being separated from everything and every person she knew and loved when she was a child. The pursuit of identity can be viewed as a crisis and is quite common among immigrants such as Billi. It occurs due to the feeling of being tormented as a result of the absence of cultural identity when growing up in America. Therefore, there is a need to reconnect with her Chinese culture when she arrives from America. The relevance of a person’s culture has been openly shown in this case.

Emotions affect the way people can react to a situation based on their cultural beliefs. Death is uncontrollable by people. In the film, Billi is at a point in her life where she fears that in case Nai dies, it will signify the termination of her remaining roots in China. The family further seeks to obtain control of the situation by faking the wedding and keeping the cancer issue a secret. As such, all this adherence to cultural beliefs has an overwhelming impact on Billi who strongly thought Nai Nai should have been told the truth about her condition.