Hollywood Film and Cultural Studies - Essay Example

Hollywood film and cultural studies Films are products of arts and just as is the case with any other art often strive to provide both a representation and a critique of the society. Film developers investigate specific cultural features in the society thus present and criticize such in either fictional or factual plots. In doing this, film developers employ various archetypes in either proving or dispelling existing cultural myths in a society (David 65). Philadelphia is one such film. Produced in 1993, the film addresses various contentious cultural mythologies concerning homosexuality, HIV/AIDS and homophobia. Artistic creation of films requires effective utilization of various archetypes in representing the prevailing cultural myths as the analysis of the film Philadelphia below portrays. Archetype refers to a set of behaviors, statements and even prototypes that other behaviors and statements emulate. Cultural mythologies are prevailing behaviors and ways of life in a particular society. Culture defines the major factors and beliefs that influence the lives of a people in a community. As such, the prevailing archetypes influence the development and manifestations of cultural practices in a society. The setting of the film Philadelphia is Philadelphia, USA. The developers of the film thus strive to represent various cultural mythologies in the society through the creative use of the characters and the themes in the film. As explained earlier, the film criticizes the attitude of the society towards the various concepts they do not understand key among which include HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. The film Philadelphia presents numerous false perceptions about the American society as it addresses the above issues. Key among such is the evident homophobia in the film. The growth of the LGBT movement portrays a country that has progressively designated space for the development and growth of people of various sexual orientations. In the film, Andrew Beckett who si the key character is gay. Beckett lives a sad life since he cannot tell any of his many friends about his sexual orientation. At one instance, he nearly told them but he heard the make homophobic jokes. However, the film has some truth on its coverage and presentation of the homophobia. The history of the country portrays a country in which gays and lesbian faced intense discrimination and rejection. The acceptance of the LGBT has therefore occurred progressively owing to the works of various leaders and such civil rights activist movements as the LGBT. In 1993, information about HIV/ AIDS and homosexuality were scanty a feature that validated the intense discrimination of gays as the film portrays. Another false perception on the American society as captured by the film is the number of gays and lesbians in the country. Sexuality is both a physical and psychological concept since both help determine the sexuality of an individual. The number of gays, lesbians and transgender among many others is higher in the United States than the film presents. The same applies to the statistics on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. As a global pandemic HIV, claimed hundreds of lives in the United States especially in the early 1990s. This compelling the government to carry out extensive sensitization campaigns in order to inform the people on the nature of the disease and the ways of its prevalence. The film on the other hand concentrates on the ignorance of the characters as they detest and ridicule Andre Beckett who contracts the diseases after sleeping with a gay prostitute. The United States is the world’s largest economy with one of the highest literacy levels. However, the film adopts a unique viewpoint in criticizing the society as it portrays a pretentious society. The film portrays Americans as pretentious individuals who easily detest their friends especially when they possess unfamiliar traits. Additionally, the film portrays the high level of ignorance and discrimination in the society (Mason 55). Andrew Beckett, the key character in the film undergoes intense discrimination and seclusion from his most trusted friends simply because they do not understand his predicament. Beckett is gay but cannot live happily and freely since his friends would detest him just as they do once they learn of this. Such is an ironical portrayal of the American society. One of the prevailing myths about the country is the high level of liberties that the citizens enjoy. The intense campaigns by the LGBT movement helped create space to accommodate people with such unique sexualities. While such is the case, the film presents a unique society one in which people discriminate against gays and lesbians. Beckett for example is a senior associate in one of the largest law firms in the city. He enjoys immense influence on his friends and therefore believes that he has a few trusted friends. Despite such, he does not live happily and freely. He cannot explains his sexual orientation to any of his friends. He sleeps with prostitutes at pornographic orgies. This occurs because of the prevailing misconceptions about gays, a feature that makes it difficult for gays to express themselves freely like any other American. In doing this, the film portrays the pretentious nature of Americans as they can support the actions of such civil movements as the LGBT but still discriminate against gays. As explained earlier, the mainstream media strive to portray the United States as a free country one in which citizens enjoy various liberties key among which is the freedom of sexual orientation (Maasik, Sonia and Solomon 43). However, the film Philadelphia does not see the society as such. The film portrays a vindictive society that makes it difficult for people to enjoy the various liberties. In fact, the nature of the society sustains some of the vicious cycles that enhance the manifestation of dangerous diseases thus making the society unsafe. Andrew Beckett contracts HIV after sleeping with a gay man. This portrays the danger that gays and lesbians face owing to the society’s vindictive and homophobic nature. Gays lack effective information and resources to enable them practice safe sex. This endangers their lives thus validating Beckett’s predicament. The film adopts yet another ironical criticism of the society through the portrayal of the level of ignorance about HIV/AIDS in the country. The United States has one of the highest literacy levels in the world. Furthermore, Andrew Beckett and his friends such as Joe Miller are leading lawyers. Such are people with both the best education and adequate exposure. They should therefore understand such prevailing social issues as HIV/AIDS. Despite such, Joe Miller and his other colleagues exhibit the highest level of ignorance on HIV/AIDS as he discriminates against Andre Beckett and eve refuses to shake his hand claiming that he feared he would contract the disease. The film portrays a society filled by selfish individuals. Every character in the film interacts with Andrew Beckett from a constricted point of view as each considers the damage that an association with Beckett would cause their reputation. The fear compels friends to turn against each other. In a portrayal of his ignorance and selfishness, Joe Miller goes to a hospital to seek a professional opinion on his fears. Another instance of discrimination and public humiliation occurs to Andrew Beckett while at the library. The librarian announces to Beckett that he had located a book on HIV/AIDS, the rest of the people in the library stare at Beckett with fear before moving away from him. The film presents the fear and ignorance of the people about HIV as a major hindrance to the realization of an ideal society. In a portrayal of selfishness, Charles Wheeler, another Andrew Beckett’s close friend views the prevailing lawsuit from his economic benefit point of view. This constitutes one factual representation of the prevailing cultural myths about the American people. Americans are enterprising and will always strive to achieve financial benefit from every engagement. The film portrays Americans’ enterprising attitude through Charles Wheeler who fears that the proceeding court case would ruin his reputation thereby destroying his business. Towards the end of the film, when Andrew Beckett collapses while listening to Wheeler’s testimony, the judge votes in favor of Beckett thus awarding him more than four million dollars in damages. Court cases are among the most effective ways for Americans to make money. The inclusion of the court process is therefore systematic with the director’s objectives as he strives to portray ways in which Americans use justice to enrich themselves. Conclusion In retrospect, Philadelphia is a masterpiece in its own category. The film provides avid instances of utilization of specific archetypes in portraying numerous cultural mythologies. The director of the film for example tackles some of the most contentious issues in the society including HIV/AIDS, gays, homophobia and enterprises among many others. In doing this, the film represents the manifestation of the features in the society. However, directors enjoy the freedom to express their opinions about the social and cultural features they address in their creations. In doing this, the director of the film Philadelphia presents various cultural myths about the various features it represents. Besides the archetypes, the director uses such literary devises as irony to enhance the structure of the film thus enhancing his communication. Works cited David, Denby. High-School Confidential: Notes on teen movies. New York: OUP, 2000. Print. Maasik, Sonia, Sonia Maasik, and J F. Solomon. Signs of Life in the U.s.a: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. Print. Mason, Jeffrey D. Melodrama and the Myth of America. Bloomington, Ind: Indiana University Press, 1993. Internet resource. Read More