There’s a growing trend of cultural disdain toward institutions that shape our entertainment, particularly Hollywood. The criticism is loud and often passionate—frustration with celebrity culture, the corporate mechanics behind films and shows, or the perceived moral or creative direction of the industry. “Let it burn” becomes a rallying cry. But alongside this protest, many of the same voices remain deeply entangled in what Hollywood produces.
It’s a contradiction that speaks volumes about the complexity of cultural consumption. People criticize the machine, yet eagerly await the next season of a favorite series. They share trailers, quote lines, attend opening weekends, and build community around the very content they denounce. This dissonance is not hypocrisy in a malicious sense—it’s a sign of emotional entanglement. Hollywood’s reach is so embedded in daily life that even the critics can’t detach without losing something meaningful.
This dynamic reflects a broader issue with how we process disappointment in systems we depend on. We are quick to condemn the failures—poor working conditions, lack of originality, exploitative practices—but slower to disentangle our admiration for the craft, the storytelling, the moments that have shaped our memories and conversations. This isn’t limited to Hollywood; it applies to tech, education, and politics too. We often demand reform but simultaneously rely on the very system we critique.
To navigate this tension, it’s helpful to differentiate between the industry and the art. The frustration may be aimed at the corporate layer—studios, executives, and decisions driven by market logic—but the affection remains for the writers, actors, directors, and crews who bring ideas to life. The stories still matter. The creators still matter. And so, the impulse to celebrate what resonates exists alongside the instinct to criticize what disappoints.
Understanding this contradiction is important because it’s honest. Most people are not fully for or against the systems they critique. They want improvement, not destruction. They want art to thrive without exploitation. They want integrity in an industry built on imagination. And that means wrestling with the discomfort of loving something that sometimes fails you.
So rather than framing this tension as hypocrisy, maybe we should see it as an invitation—to look deeper, speak louder, and support the parts of culture that move us, while also demanding better from the structures behind them. Because criticism, when rooted in care, isn’t destruction. It’s hope. It’s the belief that something better is possible—even in Hollywood.
