I would say that film is vital to society. We’ve all watched movies or comedy programs such as The Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy. Yes, these are fictional shows, but they can be influential to some people. They have pushed the envelope of what is acceptable in television, and many people worldwide love them. But I think film is so vital to society because it gives us a chance to reflect on our own lives and the lives of others who are different and can offer us a new perspective on life.
The Impacts of Film on Society
Most film lovers are fond of motion pictures, but they may find it challenging to articulate why they’re also so important to society.
- For the movie lover: there are many reasons why movies are an essential art form, but movie lovers may find it difficult to articulate them in detail. “Movies are just fun to watch on the weekend” doesn’t quite cut it. They know that movies mean more than just an entertaining weekend pastime. They identify with the world they’ve created in their hearts and minds.
- For popular culture: today, film is considered one of America’s most popular art forms and perhaps even its most significant contribution to world culture. It’s hard to imagine what our lives would be like without motion pictures – those flickering images projected on a screen that have become iconic representations of our inner and outer realities, conveying ideas and feelings from one person or culture to another through space and time.
- For those working in the film industry, motion pictures have become a significant industry in America and other leading production centers over the last century. They create jobs for thousands of people involved in production, screening, distribution, and other related activities. They indirectly create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs by creating new markets for staples such as popcorn kernels or celluloid raw material used to print films on reels… and much more! Movies also create economic opportunities through tourism (think Hollywood Boulevard) that benefit all kinds of people, like hoteliers, restaurateurs, shopkeepers, and so on…
Entertainment and Pleasure
For some, it’s simply a matter of entertainment and pleasure. Most people go to the movies to have a good time. They want to be transported to another world for two hours, to forget the stress of their job or other worries.
That’s one of the reasons why film is so important as an art form – it offers people a momentary escape from reality, regardless of what kind of movie they’re watching.
Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world.
Jean-Luc Godard
Of course, a film can also captivate an audience in ways that TV and other media cannot. It may sound obvious, but a film can engage the senses at once in a way that no other medium can.
The sights and sounds, combined with the experience of being in a darkened movie theater with dozens (or even hundreds) of similarly enthralled viewers, make for an immersive experience that’s quite different from watching TV or playing video games alone at home.
Identification and Identity
For others, identifying with the characters in the films they see or a fascination with the craftsmanship that makes high-quality movies possible.
People love their movies, and for good reason. Movies are the only art form that allows us to identify with the characters on an emotional level. We see them as people struggling with real problems and facing real challenges. We live vicariously through them and find our fears, desires, hopes, and aspirations.
Consequently, film can influence public opinion on social issues and change how we perceive ourselves – and sometimes even how we feel about ourselves.
For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake.
Alfred Hitchcock
For many of us, film is an escape from the monotony of everyday life; it provides entertainment that makes us laugh or cry (or both!). For others, it’s about being able to identify with the characters in the movies or being fascinated by the craftsmanship that makes movies possible.
Some see movies as art, while others enjoy watching actors portray fictional characters living their lives in epic adventure stories or romantic comedies.
Even More Effective Today
Movies have always changed the world, but they’ve never been as effective as in our time.
At the end of the 19th century, the motion picture camera and the projector were invented. The first motion pictures, known as “silent movies,” hit theaters in the 1890s. Not long after, film and television became dominant forces in American popular culture.
Film has changed history repeatedly, but it’s never been as influential as it’s today.
Movies have always been an effective way to reflect the world around us. Through comedies and dramas, through stories of love, hope, triumph, and tragedy, films show who we’re as people through the lives of the characters on screen – not just the ones we identify with, but all of them, portrayed by actors who draw us into their world.
The best films encourage us to think about ourselves and how we can improve our lives and society; they show us how to better understand one another through compassion and empathy while encouraging critical thinking about how we got here and the direction we’re headed.
Movies have always been an effective way to change the world around you because they’re mirrors that give viewers from all walks of life insights into their own lives – or at least fictionalized versions of them.
That’s what makes them entertaining, both for viewers at home (or at the movies) and for those who make these cinematic masterpieces possible behind the scenes at every step of this journey called life.
Tools for Social Change
When films about war reflect the real world with gritty realism rather than stylized depictions of soldiers marching into battle under waving flags, they can be used as tools for social change.
As you know, film is a potent medium and can be used for social change.
When films about war reflect the real world with gritty realism, rather than showing stylized depictions of soldiers marching into battle under waving flags, they can profoundly affect how viewers think about issues of war and peace. For example, the movie Saving Private Ryan depicted the horrors of World War II with gruesome special effects; the opening scene focused on the gruesome deaths of several characters-many viewers couldn’t watch it!
In contrast, old-fashioned films often showed patriotic feelings about the war. In Sands of Iwo Jima, for example, John Wayne plays an American soldier who wants to defend his country against enemies.
When viewers see realistic depictions of combat on screen, they may be less inclined to support armed conflict to solve problems. This is an excellent example of how movies shape society!
Broaden Horizons
Films can give viewers a different view of society than they’re used to, broadening their horizons and making them think about problems in new ways.
They can offer a different perspective on the lives of people in other societies, providing insight into the lives and cultures of other people. Films can educate us about other societies that are very different from our own.
Films can also serve to change the way people think about specific issues. For example, films like An Inconvenient Truth have been used to educate viewers about climate change and move them to action.
Art Form and Tool
In this way, film is both an art form and a tool for social change.
It can entertain, educate, or explore critical social issues.
Films can make us sit up and take notice, learn about a new culture, experience a different perspective, or open our eyes to a world we know nothing about. We watch movies because they’re entertaining and make us think about issues in new ways.
They don’t just reflect our culture; they change it!
Mirrors of Society
Movies are essential to society because they reflect culture, change culture, and spur economic growth.
Cinema is a reflection of its own society.
Shohreh Aghdashloo
- Movies reflect a culture in so many ways. Think about the messages of your favorite movies and how those messages have influenced you. In this way, film reflects culture. For example, a movie that calls for forgiveness will resonate with people who forgive but not with people who don’t forgive.
- Movies also change culture by influencing the beliefs, opinions, and behaviors of the people who see them. For example, a documentary about child abuse may move you to take action against child abuse in your community, whether by volunteering for an organization or donating money. This is how films change a culture.
- Movies promote economic growth by creating jobs for thousands of people from all walks of life and generating billions of dollars in revenue each year that’s returned to the economy through taxes and other expenditures on goods and services related to film production (e.g., construction workers building a set).
Some Filmmakers Who Influenced Society
- Alfred Hitchock
- Steven Spielberg
- Walt Disney
- Martin Scorcese
- Kathryn Bigelow
- Roman Polanski
- Jane Campion
- George Lucas
- Agnés Varda
- Brian De Palma
- Mira Nair
- Quentin Tarantino
Examples of Films That Influenced Society
- Star Wars
- The Sound of Music
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Schindler’s List
- Star Trek
- Taxi Driver
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- Jaws
- Thelma and Louise
Some Major Film Production Centers
- New York
- Indian Cinema: Bollywood
- Los Angeles: Hollywood
- United Kingdom: Pinewood
FAQ
Why have films become such an essential part of the arts?
Films have become an essential part of the arts because films produce new thoughts and ideas, provoke new emotions, and stimulate our imagination.
Does film influence society, or does society influence film?
I would argue that art imitates life more than the other way around. Throughout the history of film, society has continually shaped film. When movies first emerged, they were mostly made for entertainment purposes. However, movies later became a way for filmmakers to promote certain values like social tolerance and equality.
How did Hollywood influence American culture?
Hollywood influenced American culture by reflecting the values and ideals of democracy and capitalism. For instance, Hollywood films promote the idea that people can do anything they set their mind to – the so-called ‘American Dream.’
How can films help us understand other cultures?
Films can help us to understand other cultures by giving us an up-close and personal look at a foreign culture. Films are an excellent platform for connecting with other people’s experiences that are very different from ours.
Why is Hollywood so popular around the world?
Great question! Hollywood became so popular worldwide because of several factors. These factors include:
- The glamour and popularity of its stars and directors-these people love to travel around the world and have relationships with many people from different backgrounds
- Hollywood films are culturally universal-you don’t need to understand any specific language or culture to understand a movie.
- Hollywood films are entertaining- they draw in audiences, especially younger people.