He asked us, “What kinds of movies change the world?”
Of course this question struck me – it’s an important question, and one that I, as a self-proclaimed cinephile with a profound interest in media effects, am incredibly interested in. What kinds of movies do change the world?
Before one can answer this question, one must take into account other profound questions about film and the effects it may or may not have on viewers. How do the things we see on the big screen shape our views of the world? What exactly can films tell us about our own society and culture? And how can films change the world? Is it even possible? I think it is.
I have decided to use my professor's question, and the questions above, as a guideline for this blog. These are the questions that I will, from here on out, aim to answer through my analysis of the films I see and write about. My hope is that, by doing this, I will be able to find something of an answer. My hope is to shed light on this subject and show that movies are much more than entertainment - they are an art form that holds up a mirror to society and perpetuates the ideas for which its stories advocate. Film is a powerful medium that can affect change in this world. And that is what I am setting out to prove.