Most people watch movies solely for entertainment. Watching films can be a form of escapism, allowing one to forget their daily worries and get lost in a story for a good two hours. They can also shape the way we interpret and make sense of the world.
"We can learn a huge amount about certain moments in time or certain perceptions of moments in time,” RMIT University Cinema Studies and Media professor Dr. Adrian Danks told ABC Australia.
Dr. Danks used Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman as an example of a film that reflects the current social issues. Released in 2018, it is a movie about an African-American police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan and used footage from rallies during the first Trump Administration.
“It's able to bring some of those issues or relationships to connect to something that's happening in the current moment,” Dr. Danks explained.
Indeed, films can provide representation through their charismatic characters. As an article by Cornell University pointed out, 2018’s Black Panther, for example, did exactly that: portraying black people as strong, intelligent, and powerful characters, instead of being cast as villains, hoodlums, or sidekicks.
Such representations, albeit through art, are significant in conveying a message to young people. Whether they are portrayals of single moms, struggling immigrants, or members of the LGBTQ community, these films help people in these marginalized groups feel seen, which is a huge deal.
“For children and teenagers who were watching and for colored people who had been played down in all aspects of society, this representation was inspiring,” Cornell’s article reads.
All of you movie buffs out there, we would like to hear from you. Which of these memes spoke to you the most? Why is that? Share your thoughts in the comment boxes down below!
