This summer, Americans could have seen Michael Moore's controversial documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" or various other blockbusters such as "I, Robot" or "The Manchurian Candidate." What you see every weekend at our local theaters is the diversity that is Hollywood.

There are two Hollywoods. There is the political Hollywood that espouses leftist rants and supports every leftist cause and candidate. Then there is the business Hollywood. It is a Hollywood that features some of the most capitalistic innovators, always looking to maximize their profits. They do this by giving the American public what they want. Hollywood views ratings as important barometers of public opinion, and it is the American public that determines what is shown in theaters or airs on television or radio. In today's markets, we are seeing the expansion of programming with the growth of cable and the American entertainment market flexibility allows it to adjust to the new markets. This is flexibility that only the private sector can provide.
There is one thing you have to consider about the artistic community in America. Unlike their European counterparts, which are maintained by a web of regulations, subsidies and protections designed to "protect cultures," American entertainment markets are essentially privately funded. Humanity professor Camile Pagilia wrote that capitalists and artists are the same side of the coin since it is the capitalist that brings the artist's work to the market and the public. The American artist is free to pursue his or her vision.

Last summer, I had a chance to spend a week in England and to be blunt, British television is quite boring. Most of their better programs are imported from Hollywood. What many Europeans fear is importing our culture, and yet their people prefer much of Hollywood's programming. What European artists truly fear is competition from our artists.

As for the entertainers themselves, it is not uncommon for some stars to bring down $20 million per film whereas many young actors or actress are working at minimum wage jobs while looking for their big break. There is as wide a gap in income between the haves and have-nots in this business as any other. There is no equality of results or income in Hollywood. Success is what determines an actor's or actress's income and status. Hollywood is a meritocracy.
While many in the artistic community consider themselves the guardians of art here, most Europeans view their American counterparts with contempt. Hollywood is considered Bohemian by their European counterparts and, quite frankly, I am OK with that. For one, Hollywood adaptability in adopting foreign ideas and programming adds to its strength and the American entertainment industry produces art, programming and music to fit almost every taste.

So while the stars of Hollywood trash the capitalistic system that made them rich, it is interesting to note that they often don't practice what they preach. It is because the American entertainment industry caters to the public that supports them. Every weekend, you can enjoy a variety of motion pictures from the independent filmmakers to the more conventional fare at the various movie theaters or on cable.

Hollywood, along with the rest of the American entertainment market, is alive and well. This is because movie producers act like ravenous capitalists. They serve their public by giving the public essentially what they want. In the process, you will see mediocrity, but you will also see art that will stand the test of time. You will see it all