Hollywood vs. America

WhydoesourpopularcultureseemsoconsistentlyhostiletothevaluesthatmostAmericansholddear?Whydoestheentertainmentindustryattackreligion,glorifybrutality,underminethefamily,andderidepatriotism?Inthisexplosivebook,oneofthenation'sbestknownfilmcriticsexamineshowHollywoodhasbrokenfaithwithitspublic,creatingmovies,television,andpopularmusicthatexacerbateeveryserioussocialproblemweface,fromteenagepregnanciestoviolenceinthestreets.MichaelMedvedpowerfullyarguesthattheentertainmentbusinessfollowsitsowndarkobsessions,ratherthangivingthepublicwhatitwants:Infact,theaudienceforfeaturefilmsandnetworktelevisionhasdemonstrateditsprofounddisillusionmentinrecentyears,withdisastrousconsequencesformanyentertainmentcompanies.Meanwhile,overwhelmingnumbersofourfellowcitizenscomplainaboutthewretchedqualityofourpopularculture--describingtheofferingsofthemassmediaastheworstever.MedvedassertsthatHollywoodignores--andassaults--thevaluesofordinaryAmericanfamilies,pursuingaself-destructiveandalienatedideologicalagendathatisharmfultothenationatlargeandtotheindustry'sowninterests.Inhard-hittingchapterson"TheAttackonReligion,""TheAddictiontoViolence,""PromotingPromiscuity,""TheInfatuationwithFoulLanguage,""KidsKnowBest,""MotivationsforMadness,"andothersubjects,Medvedoutlinestheunderlyingthemesthatturnupagainandagaininourpopularculture.Healsooffersconclusiveevidenceofthefrighteningreal-worldimpactofthesemessagesonoursocietyandourchildren.Finally,MedvedshowswhereandhowHollywoodtookadisastrouswrongturntowarditscurrentcrisis,andheoutlinespromisingeffortsbothinandoutsidetheindustrytorestoreameasureofsanityandrestrainttoourmediaofmassentertainment.Suretoelicitstrongresponse,whetherittakestheformofcheersofsupportorhowlsofenrageddissent,"Hollywoodvs.America"confrontshead-ononeofthemostsignificantissuesofourtimes.