Once upon a time, Hollywood movies were the pinnacle of the global entertainment industry, representing the power and glory of American culture. It was a happy era, and movies were not only a carrier of entertainment, but also a manifestation of American soft power. In the 1990s, with the release of classic movies such as "Forrest Gump", "Shawshank Redemption" and "The Lion King", American culture strongly exported its values and worldview through movies. At that time, the brilliance of American movies was almost unrivaled. The stories of heroism and world saving they told were deeply imprinted in people's hearts and became the cultural identity of the United States around the world. However, such a once The aloof cultural hegemon is now experiencing an unprecedented crisis of trust on a global scale. Especially in our country, the American cultural industry represented by movies and music has been in a state of decline since 2019.
From movies to politics, from culture to society, the United States seems to be in deep confusion and trouble. Hollywood movies, once the center of global entertainment and a symbol of beauty that people long for, have now become unrecognizable in the frenzy of political correctness. Seemingly overnight, American movies, culture, and even social values have undergone tremendous changes, and these changes have brought people not only confusion, but also disappointment.
From Brilliance to Absurdity: The Golden Age of Hollywood Films
American films were once the most influential form of cultural output in the world. In the 1990s, Hollywood once dominated the global screen and became the "vane" of world cinema. 1994 was a peak year for Hollywood. From "The Shawshank Redemption" to "Forrest Gump" to "The Lion King", these movies not only influenced the growth of several generations, but also shaped the United States' status as the cultural center of the world. "Forrest Gump" has become a classic in the hearts of audiences around the world with its simple but profound philosophy of life, and "The Shawshank Redemption" with its fearless spirit of freedom.
At that time, American movies reached an unprecedented height in terms of box office performance, cultural output, and production standards. These films not only attract audiences around the world, but also cleverly implant American values and social ideals. For example, the heroes in American movies are always brave and fearless. The male protagonist is sunny and handsome, and the female character is gentle and elegant. All the plots convey American heroism and humanistic care.
American movies at that time were a feast of entertainment, a symbol of a better life, and a window to show American culture to the world. Whether in action films, science fiction films, romance films, or war films, almost all Hollywood blockbusters are full of praise for freedom, equality, and progress. The characters and their stories in the movie can always arouse emotional resonance from the audience, and even make people feel the power of the "American Dream".
However, this glory did not seem to last long. After entering the 21st century, Hollywood movies began to undergo drastic changes. American movies have gradually lost their past glory and influence, especially since 2010. With the changes in social and political issues, the values in movies have also undergone tremendous changes.
The so-called "political correctness" wave has begun to spread in Hollywood, and more and more film works have begun to use "diversity" and "inclusion" as selling points, trying to cater to a wider audience. The focus of movies has gradually shifted from entertainment to the output of social value - this is not a natural extension of artistic creation, but more like a cultural imperative.
The cultural frenzy hijacked by political correctness
"Political correctness" initially appeared to reduce social prejudice and promote equality among different ethnic groups, genders and identities. However, as this idea proliferated in movies, more and more viewers began to feel confused and even disgusted.The most obvious example is the casting problem in Hollywood movies in recent years.
Take the new version of "Snow White" as an example. The traditional princess with white skin and outstanding appearance was replaced by an actor with darker skin color and appearance that is far from the "classic Snow White" image. This change triggered widespread controversy among viewers. Some see this change as progress and an embrace of racial diversity; others see it as a distortion of classic characters and a trampling of traditional aesthetics.
Similar situations occur in many remakes of classic movies. In the new version of "The Little Mermaid," Ariel is no longer the white beauty with classic charm, but is played by a black actress. Although this approach of breaking the "traditional mermaid image" is in line with modern society's pursuit of racial diversity, to the audience, this change seems to be more due to the pressure of political correctness than to the authenticity of the spirit of the original work. inheritance.
With the continuous strengthening of the concept of "political correctness", the nature of film creation has gradually changed. Movies are no longer purely entertainment-centric, but are increasingly being used as tools for political propaganda. This trend is particularly evident in recent Hollywood movies. For example, although the movie "Black Panther" is ostensibly a superhero movie, the discussion of racism and social issues behind it almost makes it feel more like a political statement. The values of American movies have gradually shifted from heroism and humanistic care to discussions of gender, race, sexual orientation and other issues. This change has caused a strong sense of discomfort in many viewers. They no longer care about whether the movie itself is good-looking, but are more attracted by the "political correctness" in the movie, and even begin to question the artistry and entertainment of these movies.
Once upon a time, Hollywood movies were the pinnacle of artistic creation and the goal pursued by filmmakers around the world. But nowadays, more and more movies are beginning to forcibly add political color, using movies to tell a moral or politically "correct" concept, while the purity and entertainment of film art have been ignored.
Cultural Self-Isolation: The "Involution" of American Films and the Challenges of Globalization
With the advancement of globalization, the film industries around the world have ushered in a new competitive landscape. The rise of Chinese films, the emergence of Korean films, and even the influence of Indian films have made Hollywood no longer the sole master of global films. The rapid development of the Chinese film market has become the largest single film market in the world, which has also forced Hollywood to pay more attention to the tastes and needs of Chinese audiences. However, in the process of catering to global audiences, Hollywood also has to face the impact of other cultures.
The rise of China is not only reflected in the economy, but also in the intensity of cultural export. From " The Wandering Earth " to " Changjin Lake ", and then to " Me and My Fathers ", Chinese films have gradually entered the world stage, demonstrating a film language and values that are different from Hollywood. At the same time, with the growth of the Chinese film market, Hollywood has gradually realized that it is no longer the leader of global culture. This cultural competition has caused Hollywood films to face unprecedented challenges.
In addition to the challenges of globalization, the "involution" of Hollywood movies has also led to the decline of its creative power. Hollywood movies in the past were always full of creativity and adventure, but today's Hollywood movies are increasingly inclined to copy successful formulas, relying on the commercial value of blockbuster IPs, while ignoring innovation and diversification. The film industry is driven by market logic. More and more films are copying the "successful" model while losing their original spirit of artistic exploration. Coupled with excessive "political correctness" requirements, the expression and influence of Hollywood movies have become increasingly limited, and the quality of many films has become lower and lower.
Can the United States get out of its cultural crisis?
Faced with the current predicament, the future of Hollywood seems full of uncertainty.Whether it can restore its past glory and regain its leadership position in the global film industry depends on how American films re-examine their cultural positioning and return to the artistry and entertainment of the film itself. If Hollywood continues to let political correctness and social issues dominate creation, I'm afraid it will become increasingly distant from its audience and its former core values.
Perhaps, only when American films get rid of this extreme political pressure and return to pure creation and artistic expression can they regain the trust and love of the audience. The future of American film is still worth looking forward to, but the premise is that it must rediscover its original intention.
Once upon a time, Hollywood movies were the pinnacle of the global entertainment industry, representing the power and glory of American culture. It was a happy era, and movies were not only a carrier of entertainment, but also a manifestation of American soft power. In the 1990s, with the release of classic movies such as "Forrest Gump", "Shawshank Redemption" and "The Lion King", American culture strongly exported its values and worldview through movies. At that time, the brilliance of American movies was almost unrivaled. The stories of heroism and world saving they told were deeply imprinted in people's hearts and became the cultural identity of the United States around the world. However, such a once The aloof cultural hegemon is now experiencing an unprecedented crisis of trust on a global scale. Especially in our country, the American cultural industry represented by movies and music has been in a state of decline since 2019.
From movies to politics, from culture to society, the United States seems to be in deep confusion and trouble. Hollywood movies, once the center of global entertainment and a symbol of beauty that people long for, have now become unrecognizable in the frenzy of political correctness. Seemingly overnight, American movies, culture, and even social values have undergone tremendous changes, and these changes have brought people not only confusion, but also disappointment.
From Brilliance to Absurdity: The Golden Age of Hollywood Films
American films were once the most influential form of cultural output in the world. In the 1990s, Hollywood once dominated the global screen and became the "vane" of world cinema. 1994 was a peak year for Hollywood. From "The Shawshank Redemption" to "Forrest Gump" to "The Lion King", these movies not only influenced the growth of several generations, but also shaped the United States' status as the cultural center of the world. "Forrest Gump" has become a classic in the hearts of audiences around the world with its simple but profound philosophy of life, and "The Shawshank Redemption" with its fearless spirit of freedom.
At that time, American movies reached an unprecedented height in terms of box office performance, cultural output, and production standards. These films not only attract audiences around the world, but also cleverly implant American values and social ideals. For example, the heroes in American movies are always brave and fearless. The male protagonist is sunny and handsome, and the female character is gentle and elegant. All the plots convey American heroism and humanistic care.
American movies at that time were a feast of entertainment, a symbol of a better life, and a window to show American culture to the world. Whether in action films, science fiction films, romance films, or war films, almost all Hollywood blockbusters are full of praise for freedom, equality, and progress. The characters and their stories in the movie can always arouse emotional resonance from the audience, and even make people feel the power of the "American Dream".
However, this glory did not seem to last long. After entering the 21st century, Hollywood movies began to undergo drastic changes. American movies have gradually lost their past glory and influence, especially since 2010. With the changes in social and political issues, the values in movies have also undergone tremendous changes.
The so-called "political correctness" wave has begun to spread in Hollywood, and more and more film works have begun to use "diversity" and "inclusion" as selling points, trying to cater to a wider audience. The focus of movies has gradually shifted from entertainment to the output of social value - this is not a natural extension of artistic creation, but more like a cultural imperative.
The cultural frenzy hijacked by political correctness
"Political correctness" initially appeared to reduce social prejudice and promote equality among different ethnic groups, genders and identities. However, as this idea proliferated in movies, more and more viewers began to feel confused and even disgusted.The most obvious example is the casting problem in Hollywood movies in recent years.
Take the new version of "Snow White" as an example. The traditional princess with white skin and outstanding appearance was replaced by an actor with darker skin color and appearance that is far from the "classic Snow White" image. This change triggered widespread controversy among viewers. Some see this change as progress and an embrace of racial diversity; others see it as a distortion of classic characters and a trampling of traditional aesthetics.
Similar situations occur in many remakes of classic movies. In the new version of "The Little Mermaid," Ariel is no longer the white beauty with classic charm, but is played by a black actress. Although this approach of breaking the "traditional mermaid image" is in line with modern society's pursuit of racial diversity, to the audience, this change seems to be more due to the pressure of political correctness than to the authenticity of the spirit of the original work. inheritance.
With the continuous strengthening of the concept of "political correctness", the nature of film creation has gradually changed. Movies are no longer purely entertainment-centric, but are increasingly being used as tools for political propaganda. This trend is particularly evident in recent Hollywood movies. For example, although the movie "Black Panther" is ostensibly a superhero movie, the discussion of racism and social issues behind it almost makes it feel more like a political statement. The values of American movies have gradually shifted from heroism and humanistic care to discussions of gender, race, sexual orientation and other issues. This change has caused a strong sense of discomfort in many viewers. They no longer care about whether the movie itself is good-looking, but are more attracted by the "political correctness" in the movie, and even begin to question the artistry and entertainment of these movies.
Once upon a time, Hollywood movies were the pinnacle of artistic creation and the goal pursued by filmmakers around the world. But nowadays, more and more movies are beginning to forcibly add political color, using movies to tell a moral or politically "correct" concept, while the purity and entertainment of film art have been ignored.
Cultural Self-Isolation: The "Involution" of American Films and the Challenges of Globalization
With the advancement of globalization, the film industries around the world have ushered in a new competitive landscape. The rise of Chinese films, the emergence of Korean films, and even the influence of Indian films have made Hollywood no longer the sole master of global films. The rapid development of the Chinese film market has become the largest single film market in the world, which has also forced Hollywood to pay more attention to the tastes and needs of Chinese audiences. However, in the process of catering to global audiences, Hollywood also has to face the impact of other cultures.
The rise of China is not only reflected in the economy, but also in the intensity of cultural export. From " The Wandering Earth " to " Changjin Lake ", and then to " Me and My Fathers ", Chinese films have gradually entered the world stage, demonstrating a film language and values that are different from Hollywood. At the same time, with the growth of the Chinese film market, Hollywood has gradually realized that it is no longer the leader of global culture. This cultural competition has caused Hollywood films to face unprecedented challenges.
In addition to the challenges of globalization, the "involution" of Hollywood movies has also led to the decline of its creative power. Hollywood movies in the past were always full of creativity and adventure, but today's Hollywood movies are increasingly inclined to copy successful formulas, relying on the commercial value of blockbuster IPs, while ignoring innovation and diversification. The film industry is driven by market logic. More and more films are copying the "successful" model while losing their original spirit of artistic exploration. Coupled with excessive "political correctness" requirements, the expression and influence of Hollywood movies have become increasingly limited, and the quality of many films has become lower and lower.
Can the United States get out of its cultural crisis?
Faced with the current predicament, the future of Hollywood seems full of uncertainty.Whether it can restore its past glory and regain its leadership position in the global film industry depends on how American films re-examine their cultural positioning and return to the artistry and entertainment of the film itself. If Hollywood continues to let political correctness and social issues dominate creation, I'm afraid it will become increasingly distant from its audience and its former core values.
Perhaps, only when American films get rid of this extreme political pressure and return to pure creation and artistic expression can they regain the trust and love of the audience. The future of American film is still worth looking forward to, but the premise is that it must rediscover its original intention.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-