Influence of Visual Media American culture and values have been influenced in many ways by visual entertainment media. Televisions, smart phones, computers, and gaming systems, are a part of almost everyone’s daily life. Although many people will deny it, many of people’s actions and beliefs are linked to what they are exposed to in their daily life. From fashion sense, to political views, to the cars we drive, our minds have been led that way with the help of entertainment media. Each time any form of entertainment media is accessed, American values are influenced. Through television, the younger generations of the world are being taught that it is acceptable to lie, cheat, steal, use vulgar language and behave inappropriately in public. Many people look up to the President of the United States, but how is one to explain their wrongdoings? President Clinton had an affair, but the media portrayed it as if it were no big deal. President Obama refused to produce his original birth certificate for Americans to see and again this was acceptable. Both of these leaders, that many Americans look up to, have shown that it is okay to lie, cheat and withhold information. As Americans, we see it as “if they can do it, so can we”. Another poor form of entertainment media is video games. Most of these games are full of violence, drugs and vulgar language. For example, in the game Grand Theft Auto, you are on a mission to steal cars, fight with others, and run from the police while on a mission which usually involves searching from drugs. These are the types of video games the children of America are playing today. In return, we have children that believe it is ok to act this way in real life. The social influences of entertainment media tend to be more negative than positive. Most television shows and movies of this decade glorify violence and can be sexually explicit. Even shows broadcast on basic cable channels use vulgar language, have some type of nudity and condone violence. The news sources also promote stories that will draw in the largest crowd instead of focusing on what is “news”. One headlining story recently was of music artist Miley Cyrus performing at an awards show and they linked it to her new music video in which she performs nude. This was not news, and only a stunt to draw in more viewers to their news program. With the large impact that entertainment media has on the world, it is a wonder why there is not a push for more positive media. What would American culture be like if society was only exposed to positive situations? If our leaders led by example, if television shows and movies cut out violence, sexually explicit scenes and vulgar language it would only be a matter of time before American’s behavior would follow suit.