Part II

Task 1 Read Part II of the article and comment on the underlined parts.

Part of any decent hero worship is the attempt to emulate or imitate those we adore. The effects of this can be something as harmless as wearing a T-shirt or developing some new vocabulary. But along with replacing substance for image (COPYING SOMEOME'S STYLE IN CLOTHES OR THEIR WORDS INSTEAD OF DOING EQUALLY IMPORTANT THINGS), some experts feel that celebrity affects us in other negative ways. Film critic Michael Medved's controversial book, Hollywood vs. America, claims that the entertainment industry is waging war against (FIGHTING AGAINST/ATTACKING TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES) traditional family values, and that we are affected by our favorite celebrities.

Michael: Just look at the way that people imitate things that they see from their icons. They imitate the lines that they hear Bart Simpson delivering (THEY USE THE SAME LANGUAGE AS BART SIMPSON DOES IN A MOVIE/QUOTE BART SIMPSON). Occasionally people, teenagers all over the country would try to dress up like Madonna. I think the real power of Hollywood for many of us is redefining normal (SETTING UP NEW STANDARDS OF WHAT IS NORMAL\CHANGING THE STANDARDS OF WHAT IS NORMAL). And they have done that in a number of very destructive ways. One of the things I know many parents are concerned about is the language. We are now getting the message across in all feature films virtually and increasingly in television shows that it is normal, even for little children, to use foul language (USE BAD LANGUAGE, TO SWEAR).

Scott: What does it say about all of us as a nation when the fame, the fortune and all the other foolishness really do in many ways reflect a good part of our culture? We're buying this. It's reflecting something. Are we in trouble, do you think?

Michael: It's chipped away (IS GRADUALLY REDUCING), but most Americans are not buying it right now. But what I worry about, and this is scientifically proven, is the steady drip, drip, drip (REGULAR INFLUENCE OF MEDIA ON US). Because you can say oh, yeah, I know better than MTV and MTV's going to have no effect on me. But you don't know. Images get planted in the subconscious (PEOPLE ARE PROGRAMMED TO BEHAVE IN A CERTAIN WAY), and people change, the society changes.

Task 2 Underline the names of celebrities/famous figures/popular events. Answer the questions below.

1) What is Michael Medved’s book called ‘Hollywood vs. America’ about in your view? Why is it called so?

Michael Medved attacks Hollywood’s tendency to bash America, attack religion, and affront the sensibilities of average Americans. He argues the entertainment industry doesn't do so in order to make money, but in order to pursue its ideological goals. These attacks are not, however, a conspiracy, but merely the natural result of an insulated society of actors, producers, writers, and directors who are rarely, if ever, exposed to "mainstream America." For example, while religious revival was moving through America, and orthodox Christians and Jews were gaining converts, "Hollywood ignored religion altogether, or else attacked it with unprecedented ferocity."

He shows the destructive influence of Hollywood, its standards and requirements, and so that Michael divided Hollywood from America, saying that it’s more harmful to the country.

2) What are the things parents are most concerned about? To what extent do you share these concerns?

M: One of the things I know many parents are concerned about is the language. We are now getting the message across in all feature films virtually and increasingly in television shows that it is normal, even for little children, to use foul language.

3) Why is the American nation called the nation of fame, fortune and foolishness?

Foolishness really do in many ways reflect a good part of our culture? We're buying this. It's reflecting something.

this is scientifically proven, is the steady drip, drip, drip. Because you can say oh, yeah, I know better than MTV and MTV's going to have no effect on me. But you don't know. Images get planted in the subconscious, and people change, the society change

Task 3 Read the statements and say whether Michael Medved would agree or disagree with them. Find evidence in the article.

1) The concept of ‘family’ is in no way dependent on show business.

2) The Mass Media are to blame for the spread of foul language.

3) There is less and less foul language on TV these days.

4) People are exposed to numerous distorted images of fame and fortune.

Task 4 Explain the meaning of the phrases from the article. Take account of the context. Give Russian equivalents.

decent hero worship	культ героя, преклонение перед кем-то достойным	Admiration for someone whom one idolizes or considers a hero, especially to an excessive or foolish degree. *Extreme admiration for smb
to emulate and imitate	подражать	Emulate suggests trying to equal or surpass someone, especially by copying them. It suggests matching or surpassing a person or achievement by doing the same things that another person has done before. Imitate suggests copying something or someone. You imitate someone's hair style because you like it.
to develop new vocabulary	Копировать, имитировать манеру разговора (разговаривать как ваш кумир)	To copy smb’s manner of speech
to dress up	наряжаться как кто-либо	To wear clothing or accessories that cause one to look like someone or something else.
to have a destructive effect	иметь разрушающий эффект	To have a crippling/harmful effect
to be concerned about something	быть обеспокоенным чем-то	Worried about someone or something.
to get the message across	донести мысль (до сознания)	To convey something so that it is understood. A noun or pronoun can be used between "get" and "across."
to reflect a good part of something	отражать значительную часть, во многом отражать	To show accurately what smth is like.

Part III

Task 1 Read Part III of the article and comment on the underlined parts.

We've looked at some of the good and bad effects of celebrity on us so-called "normal" folk, but how do fame and fortune shape the celebrities themselves (AFFECT\ INFLUENCE)? Some seem to handle the glory well; others become egomaniacal or resign themselves to the control of their agents and managers (DO NOT BELONG TO THEMSELVES AND ARE "SLAVES" TO THEIR MANAGERS). His boxing career earned Evander Holyfield multi-millions of dollars and the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Scott: Because there's something about his game and the boxing sport that is about as basic as it gets, two men in combat, really (IT'S AS SIMPLE AS IT CAN BE, JUST TWO MEN FIGHTING). And when you are a world champion as you were, how do you keep your head from getting inflated.

Evander: Well, mainly I pray about it. You've got to start out praying and stay in prayer. So then I really can't let the ego become bigger (I CAN'T LET MYSELF BECOME SELFISH), then the ego would control me.

Scott: What's important to you in life, other than sports, other than boxing?

Evander: I think love. You know I love the people I'm around. You know when I see other people do well it makes me feel good, and when I can go out and help someone it makes me feel good.

Scott: From the pinnacle of success (AT THE TOP OF YOUR CAREER), a few punches and then you are no longer a world champion (YOU LOSE ONE FIGHT AND YOU LOSE YOUR TITLE). How are you handling what some people might term failure?

Evander: Well, you know, what people don't understand is that you never can fail when you go out and do your best. You win regardless of what the decision is. And I don't feel I'm a failure. A failure is a person who quits (YOU FAIL WHEN YOU GIVE UP). I never quit anything in my life. I have had setbacks and I wouldn't really say losing a fight is a setback. It could possibly be a blessing in disguise for me to move on to something else that is better (A HIDDEN SIGN\A PUSH FOR ME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW\START DOING SOMETHING BETTER).

Scott: Tell me what's foolish about fame.

Evander: The only thing that can be foolish is how you take it. You can take it and use it to your advantage to get over on people, then that is foolish. As long as you take it and use it the right way to help people, then it is not foolish.