Sociology Through Cinema
Many young people today are learning about their world through electronic means - radio, television, video movies, computer games, virtual reality games and the Internet. In particular the visual environment of the electronic media is greatly attracting the print media in all its forms. How many children read comic books these days? Most would rather watch cartoons, or play arcade games or hand-held video games. We will be focusing on cinema and how it has culturally played a role in society.The 1990s have been a significant time for film and video. Nineteen ninety-five was the one-hundredth birthday of the movies (Film theory and criticism, 1985). In 1996 the movie Independence Day became the fastest and largest grossing movie of all time, replacing Jurassic Park (1994) at the top of the list (Film theory and criticism, 1985). Video stores have proved that they are here to stay, so much so that now all feature films are made in such a way that they can be easily adapted to both video and television. Films and videos are rarely a simple record of what the camera sees. The reaction of audiences may vary according to what part of the world they are from, together with their customs and beliefs, when and where the film was
The World of Apu, a 1958 film from India shows two young married couples that are clearly in love but they never kiss. Censorship regulations in India at the time prohibited kissing, so they had to show affection by other means (Readings, Cinema) In every era, political climate influences the choice and depiction of subjects. Another example is seen during the cold war period, from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. Such American movies as Red Dawn (1984), shows Soviets and Cubans invading a small Colorado town, and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) portray Soviets as untrustworthy and treacherous. Rocky IV (1985) also reflects the political mood through two boxing matches between representatives of the Soviet Union and the United States, and it's not surprising which political system the movie champions (Readers, Cinema). All these movies exalt Americans and encourage nationalism while demeaning the Soviet system. In contrast, since the increased cooperation between Russia and the United States in the 1990s, few such anti-Russian American movies have been made (Readers, Cinema). For example, the movies of Clint Eastwood, such as Dirty Harry or Unforgiven, often question the role of violence in protecting or threatening society. In the Dirty Harry series the main character Harry Callaghan uses a .44 Magnum revolver (the most powerful handgun in the world) to symbolise violence and its effects on society (Film theory and criticism, 1985).
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Approximate Word count = 1673
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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