When Stars Light Up, Does It Cloud Teens’ Vision?

Are teenagers influenced to smoke when they see characters in movies and on TV light up? Designed to entertain and educate a primary audience of teens and young adults, an exhibit at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, “Smoke, Lies & Videotape,” explores smoking’s novel history in the mass media, from the days of the early nickelodeon theaters to modern-day movies and TV. The exhibit will run until Dec. 31. SAMANTHA and BARBARA MACLAREN spoke with teens about the entertainment industry’s role in determining whether they would smoke. For information about the exhibit, call (323) 465-7900.

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CLARISSA TECSON, 18,

Bryman College, Reseda

I do not smoke but I have friends who do. I do think smoking on TV and in the movies persuades teens to smoke because it’s made to look cool. In the movies, the characters who smoke look more mature, and I think younger teenagers who don’t know any better think they will look more mature by doing the same.

If no one on TV or the big screen smoked, then whether kids were influenced wouldn’t even be an issue. And I don’t think the TV shows or movies would lose their realism because nowadays a lot of people don’t smoke.

Smoking in magazines, books and movies is all the same. I personally think teens smoke more because of peer pressure, because if a person sees most of their friends doing it, then they are going to also. But why is it necessary for movies to show smoking as glamorous and cool?

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REBECCA RENTERIA, 18,

recent graduate of Bassett High School, La Puente

Sometimes movies and TV influence how teens will behave, but not always. Sure, teens see smoking on TV and in the movies, but even without that the tobacco industry would find a way to have their ads reach teens.

I think that smoking should be banned not only from TV but altogether. I mean, what is the point of smoking? It makes people sick. How about a TV show or movie that shows what smoking really does to people?

I’m not sure if movies are like ads for products, but I do think that they support whatever they show. If they did ban smoking from the entertainment industry, it would help some but not everyone. Those who smoke are already addicted.

I like the anti-cigarette ads that make a point such as the one with two teens--a guy and a girl--and the guy approaches the girl, then she pulls out a cigarette and puts it in her mouth, then it shows her as a fish. That ad is good to have on TV because it shows people what you really look like when you smoke.

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AMBER WADE, 14,

Hoover High School, Glendale

I do not smoke and I don’t plan to. I do have friends that smoke and I don’t really know why, but the reason they smoke is because they chose to. In a way I feel that smoking in movies and on TV influences teens to smoke, but the main reason that anyone smokes is because he or she wants to and made that choice.

I think that smoking should be banned from TV, but it wouldn’t really make any difference; people who smoke would smoke even if they didn’t see it on TV. I think that movies that contain people smoking are just the same as cigarette ads, because the companies pay the movies to use their cigarettes so people will buy them.