How Hollywood Portrays Other Countries

Recent years have seen an explosion in interest in other countries and their cultures. Websites like YouTube offer millions of videos to watch that feature all sorts of different nationalities, languages, and environments.

These sites are very popular because they allow you as a viewer to feel connected to the content; every part of it comes from somewhere else. As such, people enjoy exploring these new media formats to connect with various cultures.

Hollywood has also noticed this growing popularity and has incorporated some foreign concepts into their movies to appeal more to international audiences. These include things such as using non-English language scripts or subtitles, having settings outside of North America, and even having characters that speak another native tongue.

Many times, though, these changes seem trivial and almost unnoticed. This article will talk about one example of this - how Hollywood uses stereotypes when depicting foreigners.

They often show other countries as being very dangerous

Many films feature settings where the audience is made to feel uncomfortable or even scared for watching what goes on. These are sometimes referred to as “scare-setting” movies, and they seem to be popular every year.

Many of these scare-settings occur in foreign locales. For example, there may be scenes set in an Arab country, Asia, or somewhere with lots of cultures.

These cultures may not look quite right after having been mixed together by Western culture. Therefore, people outside of that culture may find it difficult to understand them or believe their actions make sense.

This creates an uneasy feeling among viewers who have to struggle to figure out why everything seems so off. It also can create prejudices against certain groups.

These prejudices are not positive and usually contribute to acts of violence and discrimination.

They show other countries as being very wealthy

Many films seem to portray all of Europe as having lots of money, with most of it going towards buying more weapons or technology for America to use in its military campaigns.

This is not only inaccurate, but also makes people around the world feel bad about their country’s wealth. It may be hard to believe, but France doesn’t have any natural resources that make it rich.

Nor does Germany have many valuable minerals or oil deposits. China is becoming one of the wealthiest nations in the world because of business acumen and capitalism, not due to their vast supply of anything.

In fact, some experts say that without China, our economy would be much poorer than it already is.

So why do we keep learning this lie?

It could be because the writers and directors who work for big studios are too close to their own industry and want to look like they know what they’re talking about. They might even be trying to boost their own self-image by putting themselves in a good light!

But there's no need to worry about that here. You can correct these wrong ideas while at the same time giving yourself a pat on the back for educating yourself.

They show other countries as being very modern

Many films feature settings that seem to be very up-to-date or at least contemporary. This can sometimes make it feel like you are watching a movie set in the future.

In many cases, this perception is due to the setting of the film. Settings such as busy cities with lots of traffic flow, crowded streets, and technologically advanced buildings and environments have become common place for screenwriters to use.

However, while these may be authentic representations of our current time, they aren’t always accurate depictions of where society was years ago.

The reason for this is because not every country achieved modernization during the 19th century, when most movies are set. Some nations didn’t achieve independence until much later than that!

Furthermore, even if a nation did achieve modernization around then, some aspects of their culture probably wouldn’t have changed too much. For example, in India there is a tradition of social casteism which has existed for centuries, so scenes depicting all members of the community living together apart from each other would be unlikely.

They show other countries as being very backwards

In many cases, these portrayals influence how people view outsiders. If we see a movie about Japan, for example, it may create in us an image of them as having big mouths with no teeth.

If we watch a film like The Darjeeling Express, where Westerners are put into a culture that is not advanced by technology or literacy, then we may develop feelings towards those cultures as being somehow inferior.

This can be applied to any country. If we watch a movie set in Italy, they may get made fun of for their accents or their lack of sophistication.

If we live in America, there’s a chance we will feel intimidated by people who seem less “advanced” than ourselves.

They show other countries as being very religious

Many popular movies feature settings that seem to suggest that all of these other cultures are totally surrounded by religion their whole lives. This is not true at all in most cases, especially in developing nations.

In many parts of Asia, Africa, and some Latin American countries, there are still plenty of ways to find entertainment that do not focus so much on God or spirituality. People enjoy movie theatres, malls, museums, and parks.

These sites need to have refreshments and snacks for people to come here and spend time. It does not feel like you are going to get spiritually hungry while watching a movie!

The more prevalent culture seems to be Christian. This perception is heavily influenced by our media, television, films, music, and magazines. We as consumers create this environment for ourselves.

It is important to realize that we have a choice about what types of messages we expose ourselves to. These messages can influence us for good or bad.

They show other countries as being very corrupt

Recent films have focused not only on how much money America has, but also how corrupt those in power are. These stories often feature international locations to add some flavor to the plot.

In recent years, we’ve seen many movies that focus on how powerful American corporations are. A common theme is how they use their wealth to influence politicians and bureaucrats for their own good.

These companies sometimes do this by donating large sums of money to political campaigns or lobbying groups. Others make investments in businesses who will work with them, and thus need their help too.

But what if I told you that these corporations are mostly made up of OTHER COUNTRIES? That is, they are funded by foreigners!

This article will talk more about this topic and examples of it in film.

They show other countries as being very strict

Many films portray Japan as an extremely disciplined culture that prizes efficiency and perfection. This perception is false, however.

Japan has some of the most rigorous educational systems in the world, but this doesn’t mean they focus on education over engagement. On the contrary, Japanese students are known for their high levels of test-taking and rote memorization.

This isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with studying! In fact, it can be quite helpful when you want to succeed in school or career. But trying to learn something new requires more than just knowing how to check off boxes on a list. You have to be willing to put in effort to understand what you’re learning.

And while practicing brevity is important, so too is giving yourself enough time to really understanding a concept. This may take longer than using a shortcut that seems easier because you've seen it before.

They show other countries as being very peaceful

In many cases, these films portray outsiders invading or attacking “us” - the American audience.