The Morality Of Hollywood's Star System

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Hollywood's Star System The star system, brought forth in the silent age of film, survives in the land of Hollywood. The star is the most important part of the picture, not the picture itself. It is the culture of the movie or TV business, but is it worth it economically today? Are actors paid too much? Millions of dollars per picture is the status quo, plus a percentage of the final dollar tally. Are there profits in the movies only with a star as a main character, or can movies still earn money without a well-known name at the helm? According to a study by S. Abraham Ravid, “movies with stars in them are no more profitable than movies without stars” (Surowiecki, 2001). So where does that leave us with Al Pacino and friends? General welfare …show more content…

Beneficence can be seen today in such programs as scholarships, philanthropy, children's aid, welfare of animals, disaster relief, etc. (Beauchamp, 2016). Consequently, it is a duty to give of yourself, usually money, for the benefit of others; a form of altruism or humanitarianism, to help those with a greater need. While the beneficence argument is not against the imbalance of wealth itself that occurs, a limited argument for the star system, it is, however, blatantly against the star system when the wealth is not used in charity to others. Tony beats, steals, kills, to obtain what he wants – money – only for himself and no other, via the unethical dealing of drugs. Aristotle's theory of envy tells us “envy is pain at the good fortune of others” (as cited in D'Arms, 2017). The Roman Catholic faith details envy as one of the seven deadly sins. Brusseau goes on to discuss the virtue argument against the star system, advocating the prevention of wealth extremes (2012, p. 783). Acquiring a tremendous welath will evoke emotion from many sides, respect, happiness, greed, or “cloaked envy” (Brusseau, 2012, p.784). Virtue ethics does not propose a list of morals to follow, but to be of virtuous character; to be good, do good. Tony does

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