Griffin, a graduate of the School of Film at California State University-Los Angeles, came to campus in an attempt to reveal that the glitz and glamorous Hollywood lifestyle is just a front the entertainment industry uses to control the mind and pocketbooks of young people.
“We all hunger for the truth, and many are sick of what is going on in the media,” she said.
Students and employees at AC are among the thousands that Griffin has presented her message to.
She targets such stars as Britney Spears, Eminem and Christina Aguilera as being largely responsible for the way teenagers think and behave.
The corporate media has taken control of our imaginations, and we are a culture whose touchstones are movie quotes (and most are not very good stories at that), Griffin said.
Griffin expressed her views of the machine behind American culture after spending nine years in Hollywood.
While working in the entertainment industry, she said, she witnessed first-hand the widely accepted deterioration of morals and standards.
“I can see how easy it is to succumb to what Hollywood serves them,” she said.
Griffin said she wants to expose the lies of the media and inspire people to create change in the media they do consume.
As an advocate for clean entertainment, Griffin shared the latest news in all media facets.
She noted that she constantly updates her presentations in order to relate to what teens may have been influenced by during the previous weekend.
“I can see the light bulbs going off,” she said after her presentation to students. “I get a great response from the audience.”
A recent study by the University of California-Irvine shows teens are highly affected by the media. Some experts say they believe the messages being put out are negatively affecting the behavior and lifestyle choices of those easily influenced minds.
Andrew Souktakith, a criminal justice major, said he has been around the block with the media.
“I’ve already realized what the media’s been doing,” Souktkith said.
He noted that his own experiences with gang violence changed his view and that he already has made changes to his family’s media listening and viewing habits.
The Student Government Association and the First Year Experience committee planned the event and invited Griffin to come and speak.
Heather Atchley, director of student activities, said, “The First Year Experience committee is made up of faculty and students whose focus is to make freshmen’s first year at AC a good experience with lots of involvement and events to promote success at the college.”
Employees attending Griffin’s presentation could receive a professional development credit. Lunch was provided to students who attended, and employees had refreshments at their session.
For more about Griffin, visit her Web site at www.tinamarielive.com.
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