Movies Are Much More Than Solely Amusement
For the last hundred years or so, we humans have enjoyed watching classical and not so classical tales come to life in front of us in the form of moving pictures, or movies. There is something about spending a couple hours on a hot afternoon watching the hero defeat the villain that is deeply satisfying for most people. It’s no wonder billions of dollars is spent, in some form or another, on the movie industry.
The interesting thing, is that there are several elements that are similar regardless of the movie that you watch. If you are watching the latest blockbuster at your local cinema, or if you are watching a classic silent movie, there are several elements which remain the same throughout.
The primary element, of course, is the main character. The flawed hero. He or she usually starts out, just like us, with a normal life, and normal problems and concerns. Then they are literally forced onto the path of the hero’s journey. This journey is present in the vast majority of movies from all time. The main character must go on some sort of quest, be in a real, physical quest, or perhaps an emotional or spiritual one.
A secondary element that usually accompanies this is the formation of a group of supporters. The main character makes friends, or gathers supports to help him or her along his or her journey. As this group forms, they usually learn of a common goal that they all share, and must work toward achieving. And more often than not, this common goal entails defeating a common enemy.
The enemy of the movie is often a metaphor for a commonly held fear of the current day. For example, alien invasions were a metaphorical representation of nuclear destruction, while commonly held fears today are generally based on the destruction of our environment.
Regardless if you are watching an old movie on TV that you’ve seen dozens of times, or if you are watching a blockbuster on opening day, realize that movies are much more than simple entertainment. They are designed to help us overcome the obstacles we face on a daily basis. And by watching movies, we are actually better people.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.