The main area of interest in the two articles is the effect of films and Television images in the early acquisition of smoking habit. From the two articles, it is evident that the habit of smoking cigarettes is easily acquired by young people when they view Hollywood films where their favorite actors are smoking. There is a high likelihood of adolescents being lured into cigarette smoking when they view smoking images portrayed in films. In a national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found out that the number of high school students engaging in smoking habit has been increasing sharply since the past one decade (Escamilla, Cradock & Kawachi 2000, p.412). On the same note, the filmic images of characters smoking cigarettes have been associated with real life acquisition of smoking (Davey & Zhao 2012, p.1552). According to the researchers, this trend is particularly rampant in middle and low income countries. Real life use of tobacco has a strong correlation with the influence of people who smoke cigarettes while acting in popular films.
From the above studies, it can be learned that exposure to smoking in films is the initial step towards acquiring smoking habits at the youthful stage. In a quantitative research study, it is possible to obtain the most accurate deductions on a research activity (Bryman 2012, p.202). In addition, it is pertinent to mention that most habits in life are learned and acquired at a tender age. During the youthful or adolescent stage, the brain is highly receptive. This explains why young people tend to accommodate and embrace most stuff within their immediate environment. In the case of smoking habit, it is clear that Hollywood films that screen smoking characters influence most young people significantly. As they attempt to identify with the admired characters, they end up exercising the film actions in real life. Eventually, they become smokers.
Although filmic images of smoking are not the only source of alluring adolescents into smoking, it is pertinent to mention that a large proportion eventually become chain smokers and acquire other undesired habits due to strong influence.
References
Bryman, A 2012, Social Research Methods, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Davey, G. & Zhao, X 2012, ‘A real man smells of tobacco smoke’-Chinese youth’s interpretation of smoking imagery in film’. Social Science & Medicine, vol. 74 pp. 1552-1559.
Escamilla, G., Cradock, A.L. & Kawachi, I 2000, ‘Women and Smoking in Hollywood Movies: A Content Analysis.’ American Journal of Public Health, Vol.90 no.30, pp. 412-414.
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