The most
obvious effect is the aggression and violence we see, which desensitises
us. We become so used to seeing violence
and aggression that we begin to see it as a normal part of life. In a desensitised state, people no longer
care to help other people who are caught up in violence. People feel nothing to hurt or kill another
person. Empathy becomes apathy. We begin to believe that taking another life
or hurting someone is alright. It is
done in the movies, afterall.
A much less obvious effect is how these movies
mould our minds to see certain people in a certain light. By making the ‘bad guys’ a specific race or
religion, we begin to see that whole race or religion as evil. Movies
have always been used to demonise a specific group of people (dependent on the
time and the particular agenda) the establishment want us to hate.
Another less obvious effect is how relationships
in movies affect our handling of relationships, and what we deem as normal and
right. We learn to do as the actors and
actresses do. If they don’t show signs
of commitment, we eventually learn that it is alright not to be committed
within a relationship, for example.
Viewing these dramas and movies often create an entirely new
value/belief system, not necessarily a moral one.
Movies and dramas also make us think that we must
be rich, slim and beautiful to mean anything in this world, because the heroes
are always rich, slim and attractive.
This sends us the message that if we do not fit this criteria, we are
worthless, as well as those around us who do not fit it.
They also serve as a form of escape from the
pressures of life. Time that could
have been better spent doing something creative, learning a new skill, or
learning something that could make us more self-responsible. Instead, the stress is not managed or released,
but compounded, until a health issue,
relationship issue, etc, demands our attention.
In which case, it is often too late.
What did people do before the televisions were
introduced into our society? They
talked, played games, or read. They
enjoyed each other’s company. Television
and movies have created a belief that we, as a society, need to be
entertained. That we are unable to
entertain ourselves. We have become
addicted to sensationalism. Everything
else is boring.
Movies are so full of sexual content, that we
are led to believe that sex is a public thing, instead of a private, sacred act
between two people who share an emotional, spiritual and physical
connection. We have been robbed of our
natural sexuality. Many movies promote sex with children, or the
raping of women, or men, by making us think such acts are normal. As these acts are accepted, more perverted
acts are slowly introduced, in this normalising effect.
Movies and television rob us of our time to
think, self-reflect and work on challenges which we face, in a constructive
manner , which promote emotional growth.
Self-reflection helps us to
transcend fear-based beliefs about ourselves, and work towards healthier
self-love.
We are led to believe that life is hard, people
are mean and dishonest, and this is all normal.
That we must fit in, or be condemned by society. If one
thinks that everyone is dishonest, then one would tend to accept dishonesty,
rather than seeking people who exhibit characteristics such as honesty.
Due to the fact that we see these actors or
actresses as heroes or heroine, they become our role models. They signify everything that is ‘cool’, and
we strive to be as they are. How they
dress, eat or drink becomes an example to us.
Just as a parent influences his or her child by means of his or her
example.
Whether we consciously know it or not, we
are bombarded with ideas, which are in actual fact what become beliefs, and
because we are put into an alpha (hypnotic) state, we blindly accept what is
downloaded into our minds, whether these ideas are moral or not. The only way to view television or movies
without our belief system being influenced, is to know how our beliefs are
influenced, and to watch critically, and pick up on these things.
Once you have stopped watching television
and movies for a few years, and you watch again, you notice the effect it has
on your mind. Anxiety, stress and
depression, which was not noticed before, after viewing something, can clearly
be seen. Studies have shown that people
who watch tv regularly, suffer from mild to severe depression.
Take back your mind, work at reaching your
full potential, growing emotionally, creatively and intellectually, and find fulfillment
where emptiness once existed. Stop
watching the box and the big screen.
