The MediaThe media portrays car culture as a dichotomy. In one side, they are portrayed as rebellious heroes fighting for good and rights, while on the other side they can be viewed as depraved hooligans who only cause more harm than good. Films such as the Fast and the Furious franchise and Gone in 60 Seconds, show car culture in a glorious light where they drive and race to solve issues and overcome adversity. In these films, cars are often given personalities and attributes so they are properly represented. Through these car characters they are seen as more than just tools and depicted as heroes in the film.
When those involved in car culture are seen as more villainous they are often viewed as immoral hazards that fail to abide by society’s rules. They are the sources of danger and are demonized to be associated with all the wrong in the film. These films often focus on the police being heroes and documentaries that try to use scare tactics to make people afraid of them. In this media, the cars are only viewed as tools of destruction and make to seem like goalless menaces. |
Since the media’s main goal is to entertain its viewers, they show these extremes not because they are actuate, but rather because they are more interesting to watch. In real life, while there is a gap between the enthusiasts and hoons, it is not nearly as extreme as depicted in the films. True car culture falls in the middle ground here where they are not international heroes like in Fast in and the Furious or even lawless renegades as described in the Dukes of Hazard. While the media and news have always been quick to criticize car culture, films and shows glorifying it have been produced for decades. Sources: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/paul-walker/images/5012294/title/fast-furious-wallpaper |