American current occurrence (Research Paper Sample)

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How movies have affected American Culture
Movies/films have immensely shaped, changed or even influenced American Culture. In particular, Hollywood movies of the 1920s helped people ease their pain and suffering after working long hard hours. In the same way, these movies gave Americans the view of their own history. The movies reflected the major achievements as well as setbacks that the U.S. and her people experienced way back during independence and several years after attaining self-rule (Boudreaux 4). For example, the country has achieved tremendous progress in technology, agriculture, innovation, health, transport and communication. Incidentally, the country arguably has some the most sophisticated weapons thanks to the technological advancements that started during agrarian and industrial revolution. Americans have also realized the need to foster racial integration owing to the major setbacks it has faced in the past, including racial discrimination, slavery and civil war.
Accordingly, the movies have helped in enhancing the spirit of togetherness amongst Americans of different social, economic, political and cultural backgrounds. The culture changed drastically since many people wanted to keep up with their neighbors. Families looked and even acted perfect because they wanted to be like the famous personalities they watched in movies as well as on TVs in their homes (Boudreaux 4). In addition, the movies made the entire world a little smaller because Americans could learn the different cultures of other races, ethnic and religious groups through the movies. Meanwhile, movies have also influenced fashion and manners of people. The movies that Americans watched on TV influenced their sense of fashion.
Similarly, movies/films influence opinions of the people on a number of issues affecting ordinary citizens and the country at large. For example, the American movies made during World War II sought to boost up the sense of patriotism and the spirit of self-sacrifice for the sake of the country. The federal government pumped its money into such movies because they realized the power and influence of movies to sway people’s opinion (Boudreaux 4). Movies continue to shape various aspects of culture in the U.S. today. For example, movies have influenced people’s views and understanding of love, money and relationship. The movie, Wall Street, illustrates the darker and hostile side of money. The movie winds up by encouraging Americans to opt for banking. Moreover, movies influence the American culture by focusing on various issues and concerns of Americans. Characters in these American movies take on issues such as social reform, emotional turmoil, and political views.
The Help (a movie) displays the viewpoints of different characters on the subject of social reform. It is important to note that most movies tend to influence or seek people’s opinions and views on critical issues/problems affecting society. American culture is a typical case in point of an important aspect that movies tend to reflect no matter how real or extraneous (Boudreaux 4). Movies have also changed Americans’ perception as well as attitudes with regard to consuming information. Unlike books, movies provide a visual picture of characters. As a result, the current generations prefer movies to books because they package a whole story into an edited material of less than two hours. Movies also ensure action as well as movement, a feature that have changed the culture of the country from younger generation’s point of view.
Several movie adaptations of various plays and novels have not only changed the society but also greatly affected American culture (Boudreaux 4). For example, movie adaptation of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Stowe (1852) inflamed the subject of slavery to the extent that the government and ordinary people could not overlook it. Many people realized that it was time America started the Great War to end slavery in the country. Movie version of A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft (1752) was a passionate manifesto and an incredible work that paved way for modern feminism. This film was among the major assertions in the history of America that pushed for women rights (Boudreaux 4). It also started the ball rolling on all major breakthroughs that followed particularly on the path of attaining gender parity. D. Griffith bases the movie Birth of a Nation (1915) on the novel The Clansman by Thomas Dixon. This movie was another influential in shaping American culture because it underscored the need to end racism and encourage racial integration among different ethnic groups and races in the country. African Americans and other minority groups were the greatest victims of racial discrimination and bias in public service, factories, politics and social engagements. Films fuse with numerous aspects of social and cultural identity in America through religious beliefs, gender, race, and sexuality. Social class and economic divisions separate American films through innovation.
Meanwhile, country music appeals to particularly to America’s working class population. Opera, country, or folk often have close linkages with their geographic identities. The evolution of music in the United States is critical to understanding the relations between culture, race, class, and genre. Different cultures in America created music using varying methods. Although the evolution of American music began in the 17th century, the Civil War caused the music to become more complex (Boudreaux 4). African American music gained popularity in the 19th century, especially following remarkable growth of blues genres and ragtime music. A group of publishers and songwriters (Tin Pan Alley) dominated the music scene at this time, traversing rural areas and visiting music stores located in different parts of the country to market the music.
Music broadcasts through radio provided a new dimension to the music industry in the 1920s, facilitating more aggressive/intense competition. Caribbean music such as Argentinean tango, Trinidadian calypso, and Dominican meringue gained popularity in the 20th century in America. This resulted to integration of various cultural aspects of Caribbean music into American culture (McCloud 1439). Music in the 1960s reflected the unrest and hard times for many Americans since the Vietnam Wars, Civil War and the Civil Rights Movements characterized the period. Advertising was another important aspe...