Hollywood’s Popularity and Influence

Everyone knows Hollywood as the magical place where movies and TV shows are created. It’s a haven for countless celebrities and hosts the iconic Hollywood sign that tourists flock from miles around take photos with. The movies that Hollywood releases each year have a role to play in shaping social values and politics, and this is in addition to the celebrities that move fashion trends forward. That being said, Hollywood movies and trends rise in popularity due to the general public. The question is, how does Hollywood’s popularity affect the general public? As Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada told Andrea, the cerulean top she chose to wear was a result of designers setting the trend, such that cerulean colored garments trickled down to the local department stores. In the very same way, Hollywood, its movies and people, shape people’s decisions in some way.

Politics

There is more to Hollywood than the entertainment value that it provides. Specifically, Hollywood helps shape political decisions. For example, Governor Nathan Deal vetoed the controversial anti-LGBT bill, one that allowed religious organizations to deny service to those that violated their religious beliefs. Why was this the case? Hollywood studios threatened to boycott the state of Georgia if they left the bill. Although economics had a role to play, Hollywood still affected the political decisions taken. There are countless other situations where Hollywood, actors or movies influenced public thought in some way. After all, the thoughts portrayed in movies are often reflective of the society in which we live. Cultures change as societies progress, but the portrayal of something in a movie can affect the way the audience views that same scenario in real life.

Fashion

Whether a movie or a celebrity inspired your latest fashion purchase, a lot of fashion trendsetters stem from Hollywood. Of course, there are still designers that shape the fashion world, but don’t be surprised to see an increase in pastel colored clothes if Kim Kardashian wears a lot of pastel looks. Fashion choices are just another example of Hollywood’s influence on the public.

 Events

The Hollywood world even affects the events you participate in. It is true that there are music artists that do not originate from Hollywood, but even then, Hollywood’s influence isn’t far behind. Even an up and coming artist will have listened and gotten inspiration from some established artists that have worked in, you guessed it, Hollywood. Sports is yet another example where although you may think Hollywood has nothing to do with it – it does. Both Pixar’s Brave and The Hunger Games encouraged kids to pick up archery lessons. If you are browsing  Ticket Sales, for example, it’s possible that what you are booking for your next weekend plans may unconsciously be picked as a result of a movie you recently saw. If you just finished binge-watching a TV series that involves wine tours, chances are, you may be inspired to visit a wine tour.

Hollywood shapes both the social and political aspects of people’s day-to-day lives. It can do so without people even realizing, though it is no surprise that movies and celebrities set trends in society, given how widespread Hollywood’s reach is. While Hollywood gives rise to trends, it is the people that allow the trends to live on. If people were not invested in what their favorite stars were doing, celebrities would not hold the influence that they do. While Hollywood is a source of a lot of popularity, it is not without the enabling of people.