The Power of Entertainment

Hey its been awhile since I've written anything, but I've been busy recently traveling and getting ready for school. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you a little story from a recent trip to Brazil. I was in Pantanau and we stayed at this lodge. We shared a tour guide with this Danish family (mom and two sons). The oldest son was 16 and apparently they watch a lot of American movies over in Denmark. He claimed that the budget for films in Denmark are not very high, and that most movies he watches are Hollywood films. He asked us some questions about the US which were kinda funny but also displayed how Hollywood can influence perceptions not only in America but also in other countries around the world. For example, he had recently watched "American Pie: Beta House", and told us that he and his friends all want to go to college in American colleges now. because they thought that is how American colleges really are. He also asked if in the US boys all have multiple girlfriends and if its all one big orgy fest (not in those words but the same point), because in Denmark they only have one boyfriend/girlfriend at a time.

People sometimes try to downplay the significance of media portrayals, and may think that people who care about that stuff (like me) should just relax. But its little stories like these that remind me of how powerful the media and entertainment can be in shaping the perceptions of people around the world.