Contributor's Corner: Why Is Cinema Important?
During the dawn of Viddy Well, we asked each interested contributor to fill out the same questionnaire. The questions spanned from grave to goofy, but the replies were nearly always unexpected. This week we'll take a look at the following question:
Why is cinema important?
Davis Mcdermand:
Because life sucks and movies are here to remind you that it sucks but not 100% of the time -- it's the only relevant and accepted form of art in the modern age, I think; well, that and television. It literally is comprised of everything.
Blake Haughton:
Cinema is important because it gives a window into imagination, similarly to books, but it resonates a bit more strongly with people who don’t imagine quite as much (kind of ironic that it takes so much creativity to make movies to begin with, huh?).
For two-three hours, you can follow someone’s journey through dealing with grief, or on their quest for vengeance. You can see an outside world that someone has never seen, and through their perspective, feel the same feelings that they do.
Most importantly, you see people that aren’t you, and their journeys and experiences have the ability to change and shape you into something new. It forces you to ask yourself questions you likely never would otherwise.
Alex Swartzentruber:
It's important to me because it's where all Arts meet and become one; it's perfect. But, people will still watch movies once something all immersive comes to replace them, like VR, or whatever? That could be an interesting essay. Hmmm...
Jake Bottiglieri:
Cinema is important because it’s the only art form that allows you to truly experience life through/in another person’s eyes/head. We can create reality’s that are otherwise inaccessible or impossible to grasp alone in our own heads. Its many genres and styles provide an endless array of varying subcultures to society, and an even greater multitude of avenues to deliver, nuanced, thoughtful, and emotional messages regarding the human experience.
On top of all that, its entertainment is (for the most part) accessible to the masses whereas paint, dance, and sculpture take a minimal knowledge of their creative process to actually enjoy on a level greater than surface. In film, a 13 year old in South Africa can have the same emotional experience as a 54 year old in Japan. Or, they can have the EXACT same emotional experience. Film (along with certain forms of TV) is the best medium for relaying the human experience on a broad, and entertaining scale.
Anthony Cleveland:
Cinema is the only art form that can include every medium with it. Sculpting could be animated. Music for soundtrack. Theater for acting. It's the greatest way to share a story, and this is coming from a comic book writer.
Aaron Haughton:
Cinema is important because it's for everyone and is easily digested. As a writer, I keep telling people I come in contact with that we're all writers and that anyone can do it; although, anyone I ever tell that to seldom believes me. We live in a day and age where we are all storytellers, posting our little social media messages (however trite and vapid) and filming dumb shit on our phones -- that's the lowest rung. But, we all have phones with quite decent cameras now. We're all capable of doing something great, and each of us has at least one story to tell. At least, I like to think so.
What do you think? Why is cinema important to you? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and, as always, remember to viddy well!