After reading 1 Corinthians 15 I am left with questions. For example, verse 33 in the new king James states “be not deceived: Evil communications corrupts good manners “. I was wondering if this is only talking about fellowship with peers, but perhaps also media such as TV/Movies…couldn't they not also have a negative influence on an individual? It seems since the late 19th century that there is a trend in the U.S. toward obtaining pleasure, self-fulfillment, and immediate gratification. When did enjoyment became the central measure of a fulfilling life in our American experience? It is as if there is a public fascination with fashion, travel, and amusement. Part of this transformation may be the result of the flooding of our everyday world with mass-produced visual images. "Motion pictures are particularly adept at conveying the tangibility of things and their desirability as possessions" (Berger, 1972). It seems the idea of instant gratification and the freedom to obtain personal happiness have been Hollywood's tradition for generations and contemporary films reinforce this view. Our present broad socialization encourages especially the youth to follow their impulses, to do whatever attracts them or feels good. So how much impact do movies truly have? do they influence our institutions? Our family, laws, politics, or religion? I can't help but thinking that youth who are still forming beliefs and opinions may especially be impacted by this medium. Some destructive examples include the over glamorization of artistic professionals that increase unrealistic expectations for the youthful viewer. Movies portray family life as either funny and simplistic or overly tragic and Alcohol use is shown with great frequency. Few characters are shown depicted as driving recklessly or exceeding the speed limit as a result of drinking. The same unrealistic portrayal exists with sexual behavior. Sexual diseases, broken hearts in relationships (which is reported as a high cause of suicides among youth), and unwanted pregnancy seem to very rarely follow the main characters sexual encounters, and yet they all to often follow unprotected rushed real life sexual intimacy. When you put a frog in a boiling pot he jumps right out. Take that same frog, put in a pot and change the temperature slowly...the frog boils to death. The temperature has been turned up and yet we don't even realize the immorality anymore... so I guess the question now becomes how can I resist...how do I fight back?
By the way, if you wan't to see a great science fiction movie that plays on this idea ...check out "They Live"(1988)
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