Violence in the MediaGina Marchetti, in her essay "Action-Adventure as Ideology", argues that action-adventure films implicitly convey complex cultural messages regarding American values ​​and the "white status quo American". " He goes on to say that all action-adventure films have the same basic structure, including plot, theme, characterization, and iconography. As an ideology, this film genre tacitly expresses the social norms, values, and morals of its time. The Marchetti's essay, written in 1989, applies to films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Rambo: First Blood II. However, action-adventure films today seem to be moving further and further away from his generalizations about structure, reflecting new cultural norms and different in America. This changing ideology is best represented in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers (1994), which challenges almost every concept Marchetti proposes about action-adventure films and sets the stage for an entirely new point of view on he action in the 90s, most action-adventure films, to some extent, fit the general guidelines of the iconography, states that all action films and adventure are set in exotic locations, such as decaying temples or rainforests. Most modern American films, however, are set in American cities and towns where a lot of violence occurs. Natural Born Killers is filmed entirely in New Mexico, Arizona, and Illinois, with the arid, desert land forming the majority of the visual scenery. Why is America no longer so interested in exotic, foreign places? Perhaps modern films are more realistic and therefore can solve real American social problems in the realm of fantasy. In the case of characterization, Marchetti states that the most st...... middle of paper ......sensing in this country, although not quite as extreme as in Natural Born Killers. Despite the controversy caused by the supposed message that "killing is cool", there is an important ideology embedded in the film. There is sanity in madmen. The film, in a certain sense, shows the consequences caused by the suppression of the inner and free soul. We have all seen cases of people "cracking" under the pressures of modern society. I'm not suggesting that we live like wild animals, but I think Natural Born Killers is an excellent film that made a natural attempt to kill the standard ideology. Works Cited Natural Born Killers. Director Oliver Pietra. With Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Downy Jr. Warner Bros., 1994.Marchetti, Gina. Action-adventure as ideology. Cultural Politics in Contemporary America, 1989.