| "Identity" is a very vague term with different | | | | this level of identity, societies must have regulated |
| meanings. What is identity? "It refers to the | | | | plans to educate and treat children from the very |
| cultural values or perspectives an individual most | | | | young ages; so that these learned values and |
| strongly relates to; such as an Asian | | | | moralities will be strengthened through ages. |
| identity"(SCP), "The distinguishing character or | | | | Cultural means can best aid and instruct children. |
| personality of an individual"(Arts Connected | | | | This process of identity formation has always |
| Organization), "It includes those qualities that | | | | been very dominant through years by |
| distinguish one person from another" (Encarta | | | | Hollywood.Hollywood as the most influential media |
| Encyclopedia), "The distinguishing character or | | | | in America, and also in other countries, has had a |
| personality of an individual" (Britannica | | | | great role in identity formation of Americans since |
| Encyclopedia). The very concise definition of | | | | childhood. American values and morale are being |
| "Identity" is realized in the question of "who Am | | | | conducted in different ways in Hollywood movies; |
| I?" It refers to one's specific and unique | | | | religious, national, political, moral and even |
| characteristics and features which differ it from | | | | economic values. There has always been a great |
| others. It represents the real "self" of the person | | | | emphasis upon religious believes-attending church |
| and the behaviors and desires due to that | | | | or celebrating religious holidays like Christmas- and |
| understood "self". Like most human characteristics | | | | national values; American has always been |
| identity is formed through a very long and deep | | | | stressing upon. Equality, liberty, love for the nation, |
| process.The personal continuity and being unique | | | | freedom of expression, human right have been |
| are the most important factors of identity | | | | demonstrated repeatedly in movies in order to |
| formation. It goes without saying that people, | | | | imply meanings and values.American cinema has |
| moreover to their personal identity that is formed | | | | also established the "rating system" in Hollywood |
| mainly in families and schools in very young ages, | | | | so that it could have the cinema under its own |
| acquire their social identity according to what | | | | control and it could present what ever was to the |
| group they belong to; membership in familial, | | | | benefit of the society. Rating was considered as a |
| ethnic, religious or even occupational groups. | | | | way to set force limitations. Hollywood movies |
| These group identities are necessary for people in | | | | were being rated when bearing sexual affairs, |
| order to define themselves in the eyes of both | | | | violence, drug abuse and crimes. Thus, they would |
| others and themselves. | | | | have restricted sexual openness in the society, |
| Erik Erikson has extensively discussed "Identity | | | | they would have abandoned violence and drug |
| Formation" under his theory of "developmental | | | | abuse presented widely to people, more |
| stages", which believes identity formation extends | | | | specifically to children for whose sake rating |
| from birth through adulthood. He states that this | | | | system has developed in the United States in |
| identity formation begins in childhood and goes | | | | 1930s by Motion Picture Association of America. |
| along to adolescence and it also gains prominence | | | | Rating system has been categorized considering |
| in adolescence. Having had physical growth, sexual | | | | age limits. American movies have been divided |
| maturation, and various occupational opportunities, | | | | into 5 categories as follows; G category- General |
| adults will start integrating their former | | | | Audiences- that all ages are admitted and is surely |
| experiences and characteristics, gained specifically | | | | pure of any immorality, PG that means some |
| through childhood, into a fixed and -perhaps- | | | | materials may not be very appropriate for |
| permanent identity. But basics of identity are | | | | children, PG-13 implies that some material may be |
| constructed in childhood and teenage years. Thus, | | | | inappropriate for children under 13, R that children |
| it can be said that the most significant period of | | | | under 17 must be accompanied by parents or |
| identity construction is childhood.The predictable | | | | adult guardian and the last one is NC-17 that no |
| obstacle through the identity formation can be | | | | one 17 or under is permitted.Another approach to |
| identity crisis caused by various reasons and | | | | teaching morality is through movies conveying |
| circumstances. According to Erikson, the crisis can | | | | moral values, expressing national and religious |
| be resolved by one's progress through previous | | | | connotations, showing the way of life; the life |
| developmental stages, orienting on basic issues of | | | | which is desirable to public and government. The |
| life such as trust, autonomy, and motives. "J. E. | | | | very good examples of these moral films made |
| Marcia illustrates four common ways in which | | | | before and after World War II are "It's a |
| adults deal with the challenge of identity formation. | | | | wonderful life" and "You can't take it with you" |
| Those who successfully resolved and passed | | | | directed by Frank Capra; former made in 1946 |
| identity crisis are referred as "identity-achieved." | | | | and latter made in 1938. Both films were great |
| Others who are trying to make commitments | | | | messengers of American identity.In "It's a |
| without questioning or investigating alternatives | | | | wonderful life" we can see "George Bailey has so |
| are named "identity-foreclosed," those who are | | | | many problems he is thinking to end them all - |
| "identity-diffused" flee from making decisions | | | | and it's Christmas! As the angels discuss George, |
| about their futures who are unable to make total | | | | we see his life in flashback. As George is about to |
| heartily commitments to careers, values, or other | | | | jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his |
| people. In contrary, those in the "moratorium" | | | | guardian angel, Clarence. Clarence then shows |
| group are struggling and experiencing an ongoing | | | | George what his town would have looked like if it |
| crisis as they try to "find themselves."(Gale | | | | hadn't been for all his good deeds over the years". |
| Encyclopedia of Psychology)Undoubtedly, societies | | | | The emphasis on Christmas, friendship, helping |
| are in search for "identity-achieved" generations. | | | | others, benignity of politicians and private |
| Hence, the young generation or even adults will | | | | organizations are all subjects that need a great |
| not be struggling with their "selves" or the society | | | | stress and emphasis to be learned.The same |
| to find out moralities and values when they are | | | | subjects also exist in "You can't take it with you" |
| mature enough to work and produce labor for | | | | in another way. |
| their society. To be able to lead generations to | | | | |