Essay on Life Changing Movies

The news comes in many different shapes, forms, and ways. One very common denominator out of them all is simple: Trump. Social media news comes at you fast, and all seem to aim for a juicy headline or “clickbait” as some may call it. Social media is where I get most of my news, but sometimes if a headline is too descriptive or juicy there’s no need to even click on it, the story is in the headline or URL. With that being said I feel that social media, namely Twitter, is the quickest and most effective form of news delivery; you choose what, when, and how much news you take in from it.

I watched Fox News and CNN for my main networks. These setups are very similar with an anchor and then a guest to facilitate conversation, opinions, and news. Fox News noted their “All-Star Panel” was coming up, which made me laugh pretty hard considering these “experts” got the 2016 election 100% wrong. CNN used very similar panels and one-on-one guests. Topics included Trump’s 100-day mark, Obamacare’s future, Russian interference, and North Korea mainly. News Channel 5 covered a lot more weather and local stories which I enjoyed! Need to be informed of local news as well. One thing to note about Cable News Giants: Where were the positive and uplifting stories? PBS seemed to me to be more focused on 1 main anchor and the facts, while CNN and Fox are about arguing and opinions – they try and tell you what to think – not report the facts and let you decide! So important! PBS wins this round.

The radio programs like NPR covered mainly the same topics. Trump, healthcare, border wall, Russia, terrorism, etc. But did note some positives like, progress for Flint, Michigan, and their water crisis. We are getting closer, thanks to a worm, to creating biodegradable plastic! Sweet! I hate this way of taking in the news or anything, I’m a very visual person! I find it hard to stay focused and remember what they’re saying. The Newspapers are enjoyable to read, I went over to my grandparents who are subscribed to The Tennessean! Had a chance to see stories I otherwise would’ve missed. Some national stories I had seen but got a lot more Tennessee news and sports which I enjoyed.

In conclusion, there are very many different ways to get your news! Everybody out there can find at least one way they like. Whether you want to hear people argue back and forth, listen, read, or pick and choose from social media it’s up to the consumer! I find twitter (social media) the best way to get my news and stay up to date, but it’s completely personal preference. I’d rather get the facts and make my own conclusion, which is how the media should operate, but they’re all way too politically motivated.

First, I would like to say these books and this class have completely changed a lot about me. It’s opened up a whole new world on how to properly watch movies and be able to use them to your advantage and transformation. Also, how to be weary of television and not let it control my life, but for me to control it. Entertainment isn’t a bad thing, but when we let it take over and affect our lives it can be. Like they say, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to have this class and read these books. The movies I watched (at your advisement) helped me grow as a person and broke down some uncomfortable barriers.

“Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown.” This reminds me a lot about what we, and Brenė Brown, discussed in class. People fear the unknown but we need to go at it ferociously! I don’t remember my very first movie experience but I’ve always enjoyed comedy and I feel it has helped shape my sense of humor. Dr. Wolz stresses that romantic movies give a pretense of real relationships, although some do teach patience and understanding. I think, that because of this some real relationships fail because too much is expected, and movies have a huge impact on us. Dr. Wolz’s brilliant book teaches us how to take these experiences we see and use them!

Even before I knew about the whole other side of movies (like Dr. Bull said, now we're getting our money’s worth) going through hard times, I turned to comedies as a getaway. According to Wolz, there are three ways to use movies (I love learning how to “use” movies) Prescriptive, Evocative, and Cathartic. I was amazed at the surprising amount of people who use movies as therapy. Watching certain movies can support our psyche’s growth and transformation. Even movement in movies engages kinesthetic intelligence. I sat down and watched Dogma using Wolz’s book and beautiful techniques. I watched this movie using The Cathartic and Evocative ways, doing my best to disconnect from the real world immerge myself in the movie release some stored emotions I had, and venture out of my comfort zone. The movie had funny parts and I enjoyed the eventual ending, although some parts did make me uncomfortable, Evocative way – healing!

I feel like a whole new movie watcher, using it to my advantage one way or another. For example, the movie Religious by Bill Maher got me out of my comfort zone. The Evocative Way was the dominant theme for me watching this movie. Maher irked me but I always, no matter what, respect other people’s opinions and agree to disagree. I used religion to reinforce my own beliefs. People like Maher who think they’re smarter than everyone else and think they know everything about this world are a result of being afraid of the uncertain. Disbelief has zero benefit, and this universe and God are way over our heads. But, this movie, no doubt did facilitate some thought and discussion for me and allowed me to grow stronger in my beliefs.

I’ve learned how to use movie experiences for healing and growth. But, like I’ve said it also makes me uncomfortable and takes me into the unknown, or where I’ve refused to go on my own. In movies, we get to see a representation of reality, not reality itself – I am now emerging myself into these situations – not merely watching for enjoyment. Belief could potentially get in the way of seeing the truth, so I’ve tried to be less opinionated and more open to new things and ideas. Morty Lefkoe’s Decision Maker Process is awesome! We have to root out the causes of these problems we face, not suppress them and find a quick fix. As we discussed in class, this world we live in now sure offers a lot of quick, toxic fixes!

I found myself using The Cathartic Way watching Inherit the Wind. I had heard of this trial, but never this movie so I was excited to watch it! Crazy it was right down the road. The theory of human evolution does irk me and bring out negative emotions, but I focused on getting out my problems with it at the school teacher on trial (although good points were made) and the movie. The Mission was an awesome movie! I used this to try and relate and motivate me on my journey with Christ. I related to the problems the Jesuit priests faced, although much harsher, in their journeys along the way. More modern and less severe, although I face challenges and temptations every day in my journey and I used this movie to motivate me!

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Doing the exercises in Wolz’s book was extremely enjoyable, I was very glad they were in there! It helped facilitate my thinking and understanding of the book, while at times was even challenging. It made me evaluate things about my life, and traits, as well as relate movies in every way possible to real life and using them. It made me recognize my full value and capabilities, for when were not fully aware of them were losing out. Awesome life-changing book.

Postman’s book was equally exciting and informative, I learned a lot. I’m going to work hard to enjoy television, but not let it control or affect me in bad ways! The book goes into saying that a very smart man named Aldous Huxley in “Brave New World” described a population so engulfed by distractions and material things to realize they were made powerless. Good thing I now know how to think and use movies, not just be entertained. Postman says that each civilization will identify the truth based on its different forms of communication. For our world today, it’s all electronic. Anybody my age can send a text or Snapchat, but can hardly look people in the eyes or even have a phone conversation with them. Lost art!

Postman tells about a “media metaphor” saying every civilization’s discourse is capped by the level of media bias. I took this very literally and immediately thought of the sideways, disgraced media plastered on our televisions that were plagued by. According to Gallup’s new poll that came out in February 2017, 32% of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of trust in mass, or mainstream, media. And they have no one to blame but themselves! What ever happened to the media reporting nothing but the facts and letting the viewer make his or her own decision? Don’t tell us, show us! For a journalist or media member to truly be great at their job they must have zero political opinions, yet the ones in mass media are the most politically charged – not to mention controlled by the elite like Walt Disney, and their agenda is bad for everyday Americans! Sad! The good news is, if the mainstream media had any pull or control in this country, there’s no way the “Trump Phenomenon” would have ever happened.

Postman says how he has no problem with the entertainment side of television, he even loves it, but he’s concerned that it's limiting our discourse where all serious discussions are turning into entertainment, dangerous! Television is influencing the way that we live even when we're not fixated on the screen. Postman goes on to say how we used to approach this world and life with a rational perspective, until along came the “Peek-a-Boo World.” With the invention of the telegraph and rapid reproduction of pictures, an on-set of an abundance of newfound access to instant information, and people no longer being limited by geographical locations and barriers our society slowly became less driven for the truth and understanding why. This brings us to the “Television media metaphor” where people begin to start prizing and holding up entertainment as the standard of truth. We’ve become a civilization that wants flash and entertainment over truth and knowledge. Cable-News-Giants are constantly plastered on our televisions and, in my opinion, is exactly the kind of thing this book warns about.

“News of the Day” is something Postman talked about that struck me hard. In today’s world the most horrific, gruesome story only gets a short amount of TV time then it’s on the next, which gives us no time for deliberation or consideration. For example, the terrible earthquake in Haiti in 2010 measured 7.0, and 1.5 million people were immediately displaced, with more than 220,000 people dying as a result. This story dominated the news for a week or so and ran its ‘course’ to only be forgotten by the media. It became a non-story, and the media gave no attention or appreciation for the cleanup and healing. They abandoned them like many other catastrophes. Luckily good people didn’t abandon them and continued to help!

Religion has become a non-factor on TV, and other big-name things like Google. Our Government, and the people behind the scenes pulling their strings, don’t want us to be Christians (or be locked in and understanding the entertainment sink they throw at us) – it’s scary. Postman tells how television now lacks the power to deliver a truly religious experience, but now in time, I think it’s because they don’t want to. He dives into political battles and commercials that now only deliver negative attacks and tries to play on what people feel they’re lacking (he sure can see the future). Or, even worse, people only go off what the mainstream media says and don’t search out their own news. I would encourage everyone to research each candidate and decide for themselves who they should vote for. As the saying goes, elections are about voting for the person you dislike the least.

Our education system is slowly but surely becoming based on and through entertainment. Teaching kids through entertainment and television doesn’t teach them the important material but teaches them how to love television. Don’t get me wrong - there is a time and place for media, television, and entertainment but we must not let it control us. The kids of America are tomorrow’s leaders, doctors, teachers, military personnel, etc.… We must be sure they get the same great educations we had and not become consumed with today’s technologies and media. These days, kids as young as six or seven will beg to take a Snapchat or play a game on their phone, it’s unreal. They are the most susceptible to being consumed or media because they have the most abundant of it, and right from the moment they’re born.

So, it seems Aldous Huxley was spot on. His warning was well-advised and we need to get on board with it before it’s too late, especially for the youth. However, his solutions cannot begin to work until people become so much less saturated with television and entertainment. But like Huxley said, a culture does not tend to turn against its technologies. We don’t, I think, have to turn against our technologies and forms of entertainment, but take them for what they are – entertainment! We must filter through the bull mess and just enjoy it, but not let it control us. For the sake of our future, we must heed this warning. Let’s get back to rational thinking and discourse and leave the entertainment at home. I’ve learned how to watch movies to facilitate thought and growth. Thank you for the awesome movie suggestions, like you said it’s maybe not what I wanted to see, but needed to see it.

Overall, I feel beyond the shadow of a doubt that I’ve undergone a life-changing experience from these books and this class. I’m using movies to tap into my unlimited potential, which is so cool because I’ve always loved movies anyway. And I would like to thank Postman for the warnings in his book, I will fight to make sure I don’t let television and entertainment replace my discourse and will strive to help others with this as well. Thank you so much Dr. Bull for the opportunity to read these and for the opportunity to have this class with you. I no doubt grew as a person and have already been applying what I’ve learned to my life, movie experience (more bang for your buck), and television. I use movies now, whether Prescriptive, Cathartic, or Evocative. They all work for my good, Thanks, Dr.Wolz! I hope you have an awesome, safe Summer and I will see you in the Fall!

Works Cited

1. Postman, Neil. Amusing ourselves to death: public discourse in the age of show business. New York, NY, U.S.A.: Penguin, 2006. Print.
2. Wolz, Birgit. E-Motion picture magic: a movie lover's guide to healing and transformation. Centennial, CO: Glenbridge Pub., 2005. Print.