MANILA ARCHBISHOP Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales faulted Hollywood for promoting a hedonistic culture. He is right, but only to a certain extent. (“Cardinal hits Hollywood hedonism,” Inquirer, 1/23/11)
It is the economic system, whereby giant corporations control the human and natural resources of the world, that creates the individualistic and consumerist culture—to protect and advance their business interests.
A consumerist mindset seeks to buy and own the most visible products in the market. Media package these products as “needs,” although most can pass on as desires. An individualistic culture makes a person concerned only with the self, unmindful of what happens to society, people and the environment. This is good for business for it encourages material accumulation and discourages the sense of collectivity and belonging to one another.
One of the biggest conglomerates, General Electric (GE), holds substantial interests in NBC Universal and Telemundo, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, several television stations in the United States and cable networks. Aside from its interest in the culture industry, GE’s business ranges from appliances and lighting to finance services, to the manufacture of military equipment (F-16 Fighter jet, Abrams tank, Apache helicopter, U2 Bomber, and numerous others).
Owners of media networks in the Philippines also have interlocking business interests in the country. Thus their economic superiority extends to politics, easily making them political kingpins or kingmakers.
Culture is the creation not only of the present, it is also the remnant of the past. For example, during the Spanish colonial period, the priests destroyed our native anitos and replaced them with religious images with white Caucasian features. Perhaps, this has something to do with the popularity of skin whitening creams and nose-lift jobs? The other point here is that, while the good bishop declares that “man was created in order to image the goodness and love of God,” it is also true that the image of God was created by man.
The most positive aspect of Archbishop Rosales’ statement is that it is a recognition of the power of arts and media in molding culture. It is hoped that the P-Noy administration hears this, and builds up a program that would promote a pro-people and pro-environment culture with a nationalist and anti-imperialist thrust.
When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.
—JULIE L. PO,
Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino,
jlp704@yahoo.com
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