Smoking

http://www.shinystyle.tv/DesperatelySeekingSusan_300x298.jpg

In relation to the lecture, I have found a film which promotes smoking. In ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’, Roberta (played by Rosanna Arquette), a bored housewife, notices a personal ad in the newspaper, named ‘Desperate Seeking Susan’. Roberta leaves for New York to find Susan (played by Madonna). She finds her, and begins to follow her, resulting in Roberta buying a jacket, sold seconds ago by Susan. In the pocket, she finds a key to a locker, and breaks into it. To replicate Susan’s behaviour, Roberta begins to smoke and generally behave badly, by mixing with people, she normally wouldn’t.

Madonna smokes throughout the film, to make herself look ‘sexy’. Roberta is fascinated by Susan’s persona, as the smoking seems to make her look fashionable and adventurous. This seems to be promoting smoking, to make young girls and women think that smoking can make you more attractive and mysterious. The film was made during the 1980’s, and therefore, the long term risks of tobacco use were not fully recognised. Subsequently, smoking has become a constant issue of debate due to its well researched health risks, and indeed, anti-smokers have taken a moral high ground about smoking.




"Smoking among adults
Among adults aged 16 and over, in England, in 2005:
Smoking prevalence for adults was 24 per cent (25 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women). There has been an overall decrease in smoking prevalence from 39 per cent in 1980. In recent years prevalence has been falling more steadily"
http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/smoking07