Scene Smoking: Cigarettes, Cinema & the Myth of Cool

Instructor’s Guide for College

Discuss the rights and freedoms defined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and their influences on the production of film.
Differentiate between censorship and social responsibility.
Distinguish between normalization, glamorization, and responsible and irresponsible use of tobacco in the media.
Describe how social responsibility relates to artistic freedom and the depiction of tobacco use in the media.

Artistic Freedom: Artistic expression that is protected by the First Amendment.
Censorship: The removal or suppression by a government or other ruling body of what is considered objectionable in books, films, and other material.
First Amendment: Prohibits the government from passing laws that restrict the freedom of speech and protects the public’s right to receive a variety of information free from government censorship.
Glamorization: Presenting tobacco use as glamorous and conveying desirable qualities such as popularity, success, and attractiveness.
Media Literacy: The ability to use critical thinking skills in accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating media.
Normalization: Presenting tobacco use as a routine, natural, and acceptable part of everyday activities.
Product Placement: An arrangement between tobacco and film-production companies to have a specific brand of tobacco used in a film or by an actor. Tobacco product placement is prohibited by the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between the tobacco industry and 46 states.
Social Responsibility: Going beyond one’s obligations to obey the law; having a desire to do the right thing and being prepared to give good reasons to justify one’s actions.

Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007