New Study: Movies May Pose Health Hazard To Teens
Robert Paul Reyes
May 16, 2006
Watching Hollywood movies may be detrimental to your health, especially for teenagers, a study by Australian researchers suggests.
According to an Associated Press story:
"University of Sydney scientists analyzed 87 of the most popular films of the past 20 years, counting 53 sex scenes in almost a third of the movies, yet found only one suggestion of using a condom.
They found 8 per cent of the blockbusters included scenes involving cannabis, 7 per cent contained episodes of non-injecting illicit drug use, 32 per cent depicted alcohol intoxication and 68 per cent had actors smoking tobacco."
Pop culture may pose a health hazard, if you are a nincompoop who imitates the dangerous stunts and outlandish behavior of movie heroes.
Popular flicks are not meant to educate, they are intended to entertain and to make money. If a leading man pulls out a condom every time he is about to make love, it destroys the romantic atmosphere. We go to movies to escape the harsh realities of life, we don't need to be reminded about the consequences of not practicing safe sex. I don't pay $9 to watch a Public Service Announcement, I shell out the big bucks for escapist entertainment. I go to the cinema for fantastic special effects, romance and suspense, not to be lectured about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and promiscuous sex.
When The Terminator cavalierly dispatches a bad guy, I expect a silly quip -- not a lecture about the dangers of taking up a career in crime.
Recreational drug use is a fact of life, millions smoke weed without any adverse consequences. Do these do-gooders expect film makers to insert a subliminal image of a "this is your brain on drugs egg frying", whenever a character lights up a joint? I'm old enough to have seen the "Reefer Madness" propaganda films in high school, and believe me they did nothing to discourage my peers from taking drugs.
It is not the responsibility of filmmakers to be our moral guardians, if kids are crackheads it's not because they saw too many Hollywood movies, they just never received a moral education from their parents.
A wise parent will explain to his child that if he imitates the promiscuous behavior of a James Bond, he may end up with an STD, a baby or two, and the threat of violence from a jealous lover.
A parent who teaches his child right from wrong, shouldn't worry if his kids are big fans of mindless Hollywood movies.
According to an Associated Press story:
"University of Sydney scientists analyzed 87 of the most popular films of the past 20 years, counting 53 sex scenes in almost a third of the movies, yet found only one suggestion of using a condom.
They found 8 per cent of the blockbusters included scenes involving cannabis, 7 per cent contained episodes of non-injecting illicit drug use, 32 per cent depicted alcohol intoxication and 68 per cent had actors smoking tobacco."
Pop culture may pose a health hazard, if you are a nincompoop who imitates the dangerous stunts and outlandish behavior of movie heroes.
Popular flicks are not meant to educate, they are intended to entertain and to make money. If a leading man pulls out a condom every time he is about to make love, it destroys the romantic atmosphere. We go to movies to escape the harsh realities of life, we don't need to be reminded about the consequences of not practicing safe sex. I don't pay $9 to watch a Public Service Announcement, I shell out the big bucks for escapist entertainment. I go to the cinema for fantastic special effects, romance and suspense, not to be lectured about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and promiscuous sex.
When The Terminator cavalierly dispatches a bad guy, I expect a silly quip -- not a lecture about the dangers of taking up a career in crime.
Recreational drug use is a fact of life, millions smoke weed without any adverse consequences. Do these do-gooders expect film makers to insert a subliminal image of a "this is your brain on drugs egg frying", whenever a character lights up a joint? I'm old enough to have seen the "Reefer Madness" propaganda films in high school, and believe me they did nothing to discourage my peers from taking drugs.
It is not the responsibility of filmmakers to be our moral guardians, if kids are crackheads it's not because they saw too many Hollywood movies, they just never received a moral education from their parents.
A wise parent will explain to his child that if he imitates the promiscuous behavior of a James Bond, he may end up with an STD, a baby or two, and the threat of violence from a jealous lover.
A parent who teaches his child right from wrong, shouldn't worry if his kids are big fans of mindless Hollywood movies.
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