Around 40,000 years ago, before the advent of cinema, there existed painting as a means of describing emotions, actions, and their outcomes. Later, theater emerged as a form of entertainment that enabled audiences to experience real and imagined events live. Advancement in theater lead to Cinema where experiences, stories, ideas and atmosphere were showcased through the use of moving images.
Over time, Cinema has become a popular pastime for audiences , but is Cinema just a way to kill boredom? While Films can certainly help to pass the time during a long flight or bring a family together over snacks on the sofa, it should be viewed as more than just a source of entertainment. Cinema can serve as a tool for learning or even therapy. The purpose of cinema goes beyond mere amusement and can be well-described as such:
- Cinema Makes us Appreciate Our Privileges
Many of us perceive our lives as dull, unhappy, and stressful. However, the world of cinema presents us with stories of everyday life, capturing human moments that we might have otherwise overlooked. Heartwarming songs and intimate details within these stories allow us to connect and relate to them, adding some flavor to our mundane lives. The purpose of these tales is to help us appreciate the beauty of our ordinary lives, instead of complaining about them.
- Cinema Prepares us For Future Conflicts
Sometimes you are unaware of the end results of your action and you end up attempting mistakes that you shouldn’t have. The portrayal of the situations in any film and its extreme outcome can probably prepare you for future conflicts and the result of the conflict.
- Cinema Frames Vivid Human Conditions and Emotions
It is easy to live inside our own bubbles, unaware of the challenges, sorrows, and injustices that exist in the world. However, the purpose of cinema is to bring you stories, scenarios and cases that will open your eyes to things you may not have known about before. This is the power of cinema; it makes you more aware and human, and it keeps you grounded. It reminds us that there are lives being lived beyond our own experiences that we should be aware of.
- Cinema Portrays Risks On-Screen
The act of witnessing someone stepping outside of their comfort zone can be incredibly inspiring. It can fuel you with the motivation to try something new, even if it may seem daunting at first. Heroic tales and motivational stories have the power to encourage you to take risks and push yourself beyond your limits. Movies can also serve as a source of inspiration, motivating you to do something extraordinary.
Films can do so much for us. They depict our emotions and cultivate empathy, they comfort our unimaginable fear, they shape our understanding of what is considered normal, they take us toward good conduct. It’s time that we should stop looking at cinema as only a mere form of entertainment in society. Cinema at its finest, is a guide to life and applied philosophy.