Al-Rodhan
(2006, pp. 4-5) defines globalisation as a process "that has been
impacting communities, cultures, and economies for hundreds of years. It is a
result of the transnational and transcultural integration that have occurred
globally." This phenomenon is not totally new, but it has occurred for the
past few decades, in particular Americanisation. The American culture has
successfully spread and influenced other foreign cultures through various
platforms, mainly through its film industry. Thus, American values has
accumulated, concentrated and transformed the Malay film industry in Southeast
Asia (SEA) region, influencing Malaysia films.
Hollywood
films are being showcased worldwide and the industry has vast expanded over the
years. The high quality of its plot, cinematography and production line has
resulted in a constant demand for Hollywood films in the international market.
The Malay culture in SEA has been exposed and influenced by the sexual and
violent characteristic of Hollywood films. This has resulted in mixed reaction
among the Malay community on a moral basis that compromises the acceptance of
certain cultural practice or action that contains traits of the American
culture, derived from Hollywood films. With sex and violence, two components
that are highly associated with American films in general, Malay conservatives
showed concern and distress towards these traits that is seen as deteriorating
the Malay values, which is shaped by Islamic beliefs. The exposure of American
culture is inevitable with the creation of Internet and social media platforms
which have enabled Hollywood news and gossips to be known easily and vastly.
Various websites that is dedicated to Hollywood news like 'hollywoodlife.com',
'accesshollywood.com' and the likes of video sharing websites such as 'YouTube'
has allowed the American film industry to mark its presence more distinctly.
Transcultural integration has made American cultures being adopted and adapted
after constant exposure through numerous American films.
A
survey conducted has shown that seventy-five percent of Americans felt that
television had too much sexually explicit material (Anderson, 2007). Hooberman
(2011), a clinical psychologist, states that sex and violence are intertwined,
interrelated in some form that makes them a unit. With almost all American
films contains some scenes of nudity at some part of the movie, this creates
some sexual arousal that grabs audiences to view the film. As such, the Malay
film industry of SEA has been bold in its concept and plot. More sexual
intimate scenes are now seen in Malay films such as 'Bohsia' and 'Sepet',
compared to the films in the olden days in the 1950’s to 1980’s where sex is
viewed as a taboo topic. Thus Malay films usually constraint from having sex
scenes which are deemed immoral. The concept of including some sex scene in
films could be seen as trending. Furthermore, American films that portray
violence in sensational outline have influenced Malay film producers to make
more gangster theme movies. The rise of ‘KL Gangster', which was one of the
first Malaysian-made films to reach the collection point of 10.3 million in
local cinemas, is a prominent example (“KL Gangster,” 2013). The plot follows
the basic outline of a Hollywood Action movie that has exaggerated scenes of
violence. Critics have sparked an outcry of new Malay films that are trending
to follow their Hollywood counterpart, contrary to the subtle nature of the
Malay culture through the portrayal of violence and sex in the plot.
Various
measures have been done to ensure the public viewed filtered content of Malay
films that are controversial, such as the setting up of the Film Censorship
Board. This board of censorship is responsible for rating each Malay film that
is produced. Each movie will be strictly reviewed to ensure appropriate rating
with regards to the content of the movie, preventing unnecessary controversies.
As such, the rating of 18SG and 18SX informs viewer of some violent and sexual
elements respectively (“Film Classification,” 2012). This will create
awareness, especially to parents, on deciding the suitability and expected
content of films that their children will be exposed to. The Film Censorship
Board has been a success, whereby their rating of a Malay movie is reflective
of its content. This has force the production team to re-edit their film to
suit the guidelines made for suitable viewing. However, this has not hindered
some films to refrain from producing sex and violence themed movies. The board
of censorship is not able to impose strict restriction to Malay producers to
hinder them from producing such movies. Furthermore, the production team needs
to think of profit and publicity for each film and they need to produce films
that have high interest from the public. Eventually, sex and violence has now
developed into a common trait of Malay films in this 21st century.
The
Malay culture in SEA has certainly been affected and influenced greatly by
American media, which has now produced Malay films that mimicked and moulded
from American films. Integration of culture through film is highly influential
as the film is a form of culture that is easily received and accepted. We can
filter out the negative values with certain acts but inevitably, the liberty of
cultural adaptation has produced cultural products of mixed values.
References
Al-Rodhan,
N. (2006, June 19). Definitions of Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and
a Proposed Definition (pp. 4-5). Retrieved October 7, 2013, from
Sustainablehistory Web site:
www.sustainablehistory.com/articles/definitions-of-globalization.pdf
Anderson,
K. (2007, March 4). Sex and Violence on Television - A Christian Worldview
Perspective. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from
www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4217947/k.37E8/Sex_and_Violence_on_Television.htm
Film
Classification. (2012). Retrieved October 13, 2013, from Ministry of Home
Affairs Web Site: http://www.moha.gov.my/index.php/en/lpf-klasifikasi-filem
Hooberman,
J. (2011, May 6). Bloodlust in America: Sex and Violence are Comfortable
Bedfellows. Retrieved October 7, 2013, from
http://hypervocal.com/culture/2011/bloodlust-in-america-sex-and-violence-are-comfortable-bedfellows/
KL
Gangster. (2013). In Wikipedia online. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KL_Gangster