The media has an effect on our decisions, we tend to do stuff that is portrayed in movies and TV shows. For example if a person watches Fast and Furious he might imitate what the racers in the movie do and will speed. So when a movie shows lots of violence and drug use, it might make some people think that using drugs is cool and might use them. I separate movies with drug content into two different categories: Drug trafficking movies and movies of people who smoke marijuana (usually are comedies).
Some examples of drug trafficking movies are Blow and Maria Full of Grace. Blow is about an American who starts out selling marijuana to reach his idea of the “American dream” but gets sent to jail where he meets a Colombian insider who connects him with Pablo Escobar and starts dealing cocaine. This movie portrays the glamorous lives that drug lords have; however, it doesn’t last forever. Maria Full of Grace is a movie about a girl that decides to smuggle cocaine into the United States by swallowing it and using her stomach as a carrier. The movie goes through all of what she has to do to not get caught, but at the end her friend who was also smuggling cocaine died when the cocaine spilled in her stomach.
Some examples of comedies are Knocked Up and Pineapple Express. Knocked up is about a pothead who impregnates a woman at a party while they were both drunk, she looks for him and tries to include him in most of the decisions about the baby. She finds out he smokes marijuana and has no job, the whole nine months are a hilarious adventure. Pineapple express is about a pothead who witnessed a murder and his drug supplier; they both go on an adventure when they are chased in order for them to not talk about the murder. These movies are hilarious, but may give people the idea that smoking marijuana is fun.
There are many more movies that contain drug content and sadly some of them might give viewers the wrong idea about using or selling drugs.
I agree with you that movies do portray drugs too lightly. There is never enough of the punishment that drug dealers receive shown and that people might think drug dealers have it easy. But we must keep in mind that movies are just that, movies. That is why most of the movies that contain drugs are usually rated r. Adults are supposed to know right from wrong. Do you think that all movies containing drugs in any way be seen only by adults?
ReplyDeleteWell movies in my opinion are meant to be entertaining. And one form of entertainment is living life on the edge and taking risks that people would normally stray away from due to the danger involved. So the examples of the movies given above are just different perspectives of life. Drugs in America are so common now that most people can relate to what they see on the big screen. As a result, the usage of drugs is no longer seen as an issue that needs to be dealt with, but as a way to have more fun and enjoy life, whether it be to make a quick buck or simply experience constant euphoria. I agree that the media has definitely been the culprit to this happening, but the truth of the matter is that as long as people see entertainment in drugs, people will continue to do as they please and never see any justification to abstain from living drug free.
ReplyDelete@sg9233 Yes i agree that they are just movies but that doesn't mean that people won't want to imitate them. According to your question, let's be realistic no matter how much precautions are taken so that teenagers don't watch inappropriate movies, it won't happen.
ReplyDelete@Jonathan i agree with you that as long as people find entertainment on drugs they will still use them, and that's where movies play an essential role, if people see funny movies about potheads then they might think smoking makes life more entertaining.