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The Seven Deadly Sins of Hollywood
One need not be a religious zealot to be familiar with the Seven Deadly Sins. These sins are common in Christianity, and represent the vices that humans fall prey to. The 1997 thriller, Seven was based on these seven
cardinal sins—and illustrated them in macabre detail. I started thinking about the great machine that is Hollywood, and have made some striking observations about what fuels that powerful machine. It could be said that while the entertainment industry provides much amusement to the world, it does so by compromising some fundamental moral beliefs. The Seven Sins, listed as Wrath, Gluttony, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Lust, and Greed, sound pretty ominous when written. But explore their origins, and you might see some frightening examples within the Hollywood lifestyle.
Hollywood Sin #1: Envy
Ever since "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" went off the air in 1995, television networks like E!, MTV, and VH-1 have found at least a dozen different ways to showcase the extravagant lifestyles of Hollywood's elite. They know that ordinary consumers salivate at the chance to peek into a world that they will most likely never experience first-hand. If there were no envy to speak of, these shows would have no popularity.
Hollywood Sin #2: Wrath
Wrath as it was illustrated in hit film, Seven, was a fairly powerful example of human anger. The Hollywood scene might seem like a "benign" place for such a vengeful disposition. But one need only listen to the venom spewed in hip-hop celebrity "beefs" that seem to pop up whenever a rap artist drops a new album. Then there are the blacklists, the nasty Hollywood divorces, and lawsuits lodged by artists against shady record labels. Look closer, and you'll see that wrath is quite prevalent in the entertainment industry
Hollywood Sin #3: Sloth
Sloth is officially defined as an aversion to work; apathy—or extreme laziness. While there are a lot of hard working people in Hollywood, most would say that the hardest workers are those behind the
scenes—the ones who toil and slave to make sure that the stars have all their creature comforts close at hand. We justify the special treatment with accounts of their long, arduous hours of filming, the extensive [first class] travel, and endless appointments and meetings. There are plenty of stars who vacuum their own bedrooms and do their own laundry. But no one can deny that pampering the kings and queens of Hollywood has become an industry in and of itself.
Hollywood Sin #4: Greed
Contrary to popular belief, there is only so much money that exists in Hollywood. The problem is that so many people want a lot of it—and all the things that accompany having it. The world is filled with filmmakers (amateur and professional), all with grand cinematic ideas. Yet there exists an elite monopoly amongst the Hollywood studios producing movies. This fact alone proves that the money is often the bigger reward than the satisfaction of making a great film. But in Hollywood, the examples of greed are literally endless. Stars are constantly competing for more media attention, more elaborate homes, and the best "toys." Greed exists everywhere. But in Hollywood, it's big business.
Hollywood Sin #5: Lust
Lust, another cardinal sin is perhaps the one best recognized in entertainment. Appealing to humans' primal instincts has become the best and most effective method of peddling the wonders of Hollywood. In fact, the industry has gotten so good at it, that it's become an underlying characteristic in most all forms of entertainment.
Hollywood Sin #6: Pride
Pride is supposed to be a relatively positive emotion. But where it relates to the Seven Deadly Sins, pride gets the most screen time. Hollywood stars primp themselves for casual coffee outings; public apologies are made in mere efforts to "clean a negative media image." It could be said that pride is the catalyst for attempting to reverse the aging process with cosmetics and surgery. Some celebrities have even died during their pursuits of vanity.
Hollywood Sin #7: Gluttony
You might associate this Seven Deadly Sin with food. But food is only the tip of the iceberg where Hollywood is concerned. Not only is society plagued with food eating contests and giant cake competitions—it is
besieged with the desire for more of everything. Single celebrities with no children own homes with bathrooms and bedrooms in the double digits; yet they're very rarely at home to fully enjoy all the luxury. Famous athletes are not content with one or two personal vehicles. They must have a fleet to choose from, even though they can only drive one at a time. The examples of gluttony in Hollywood are perhaps too numerous to list
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