The United States of America has emerged as a continuously evolving and dynamic core of culture. Excelling in the spheres of politics, technology, commerce, cuisine, literature, music and lifestyle, America has expanded its culture and touched the lives of millions of citizens all over the globe.
However, the biggest way America has spearheaded its cultural revolution and imposed its hegemony is through the films the country has produced. Movies are the biggest forms of mass media and communication, and Hollywood, situated in Los Angeles, California, is the biggest and most influential film industries in history. Hollywood has become known for presenting audiences with a diverse range of cinema and grand spectacle, be it about powerful wizards going toe to toe with each other, or a smaller scale film revolving around an aspiring student coping under his strict and orthodox teacher. The result leaves viewers entertained and having experienced “movie magic”.
Hollywood films have become a crucial part of the modern world culture, have transcended the form of storytelling, and have become a form of art and literature with massive scope, impact and influence. These films are now essentially a commodity, being marketed and exported globally, and have had an effect on the movie industries of the rest of the world. As a result, Hollywood has had a global cultural impact.
The idea of big budget Hollywood films essentially emerges from what is commonly known as a high concept film. A high concept film refers to a film whose premise can be summed up in one or two sentences when being pitched by one or more screenwriters to studio executives. A high concept film differs from a low concept film, which requires detailed explanations relating to characters, themes, storylines, arcs and character development. The origin of the term “high concept” is an area of contention. A simple example of a high concept film can be “what if a young boy went back in time and met his parents before they were married?”, forming the premise of the film Back to the Future, released in 1985. Such high concept movies are produced as big budget films and are released in the summer movie season, in the months from April to August. Other examples of high concept movies are Inception, Star Wars, The Matrix, Independence Day, Jurassic Park and E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial.
As mentioned above, Hollywood films have now become a good or a commodity, and are sold all over the world and are easily accessible to viewers worldwide. In the context of a country like India, this globalization of movies has resulted in a large fan following of franchises and film series like the Harry Potter film series along with its spin-offs, the superhero films of the Marvel and DC franchises and other series like the Star Wars, Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings.
There are a variety of reasons as to why audiences are attracted to these movies and look forward to watching them in cinemas. Knowledge of certain known and famous directors such as James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, Danny Boyle, among others; awareness of fairly accomplished actors and sometimes even music composers and cinematographers; certain technical and production values such as visual effects and cinematography are all factors that aid in audiences being attracted to Hollywood films in general.
As a result, Hollywood film studios have realized the value and implications of such fan following of film franchises overseas and have started to capitalize on that factor. Film studios and companies have started to employ certain tactics and strategies to bring in profit from overseas markets. Highly anticipated movies are generally released a week before in countries other than the United States of America. Various Marvel movies such as The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Avengers: Age of Ultron were released overseas a week early. Another example is of the latest Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which was released in India two weeks before it opened in the United States, and a week before any other overseas country. The upcoming superhero film Aquaman is also gearing up for an early release in countries like Ireland and India. Such a tactic ensures a head start for a movie to earn profits and also allows for early reviews.
Additionally, big budget Hollywood films have grown a lot in popularity in the last decade. This has resulted in films typically reserved for the summer movie season being released throughout the year. Films like Black Panther, Deadpool, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (released in the months of February and March), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Doctor Strange, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its sequel, The Last Jedi. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Venom, Justice League, Aquaman, It, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Thor: Ragnarok are examples of films which were or are to be released throughout the year, especially during the fall movie season from September to December. The above two strategies stand testimony to how Hollywood has grown in terms of popularity and influence.
It has affected the viewing tastes and patterns of its audience, resulting in audiences looking forward to Hollywood releases rather than films released in their own country and in the different local languages, therefore affecting the commercial performance of the films produced in the native country and languages. Hollywood films have further resulted in directors of other industries imitating films of a similar quality, namely in terms of making films in a certain style, imitating their production values, hiring foreign cinematographers and even composers to ensure films look and feel like a Hollywood film. Bollywood films like Tiger Zinda Hai, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do and Gold are examples of such a scenario wherein foreign individuals were in charge of roles like director of photography. In certain cases, Hollywood films have been adapted into Bollywood adaptations, such as Sarkaar, an adaptation of The Godfather; Hitch adapted as Partner; Bang Bang, which was an adaptation of Knight and Day and Mrs. Doubtfire was adapted into Chachi 420. The consumption of blockbuster Hollywood films has caused audiences desiring similar kind of films from their native industries. In the case of India, commercial films will fare well in terms of profit, but at the cost of smaller and relatively better films going by unnoticed and do not earn profits.
America has become a major hub of culture and has exported its traditions to every corner of the world. People globally have soaked in so much of American culture that they are willing to let go of their own centuries’ old traditions. It proves that America is a seductive culture and Hollywood films along with American fashion and cuisine, have truly had an impact on its consumers and have become an influential force.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 