A collection of twenty-two essays that debate various issues related to the American motion picture industry, including movie violence, racism, MPAA ratings, and piracy.
Content Note
How does the film industry affect society? Movie violence may be harmful / David Thomson -- Movie violence may decrease violent crime / Gordon Dahl and Stefano DellaVigna -- The film industry may influence at-risk behavior / Hasantha Gunasekera, Simon Chapman, and Sharon Campbell -- The film industry should not be blamed for at-risk behavior / David Goldenberg -- Hollywood films Are racist / Joe R. Feagin -- Minority representation in Hollywood films Is improving / Michael E. Ross -- Hollywood films export negative aspects of American culture / Nathan Gardels and Mike Medavoy -- Hollywood films are multinational enterprises / Hans Erik Naess -- Are film ratings effective? MPAA ratings are effective MPAA. MPAA ratings are not effective / Rod Gustafson -- Violence, sex, and profanity in MPAA-rated movies is increasing / Steve Persall -- Violence, sex, and profanity in MPAA-rated movies has remained the same / Steven D. Greydanus -- Is the film industry appropriately regulated? MPAA regulation prevents federal censorship of the film -- industry / Jesse Walker -- MPAA regulation censors the film industry / Kirby Dick -- The film industry has become over-commercialized / Robin Good -- The level of commercialism in the film industry has not changed / Joanne Weintraub -- What is the future of the film industry? Piracy threatens the future of the film industry / Annlee Ellingson -- The piracy threat to the film industry has been exaggerated / Michael Geist -- The future of independent film Is uncertain / Mark Gill -- The successes of independent films can justify the financial failures / John August -- Digital movies are the future of the film industry / Steven Ascher -- DVDs will not become obsolete / Chris Taylor -- Movie theaters are adapting to changes in the film industry / Andy Serwer -- Home entertainment technologies decrease movie attendance / Laura M. Holson -- Movie attendance increases during recessions / David Germain.