I often muse that if I did a TED talk it would be on the power of mass media and how "it's just a movie" purposefully ignores that ability of mass media to communicate ideas and mis/inform and influence large groups of people. Chances are, if you're american, you watched Bill Nye the Science Guy as a kid; it taught science to us a kids in a fun way that everyone enjoyed watching. It was such a powerful piece of programming to get us to learn, much like Sesame Street for even younger children.
Now time for some film history. 1915's epic "The Birth of a Nation" is the father of modern film techniques. The film innovated the language of cinema in many ways. The Flashback was invented with this film. It was the first film with an original score created specifically for the movie. It was the first film to use hundreds of extras for scenes. First to use nighttime photography. The Close up and how it's used relative to other camera shots such as long shots was codified with this film. It's a significant film in so many ways. Really, the first epic action film, without question.
The thing about this benchmark film, is the story. The KKK are the heroes and black people are not really depicted as people. The ranks of the KKK soared thanks to the film, audiences took it to heart. It was most certainly not "just a movie" to the millions that joined the brutal terrorist organization. It's message was clear, to them.
Now here we are in 2018. Marvel's Black Panther is going to release to audiences around the country tomorrow and people of all ages and backgrounds are excited for what's already become a historically and most likely esthetically significant film, but some people aren't excited and claim "it's just a film" or "it's not the first black superhero" and the only reason I can think these people are so invested in downplaying the significance of Black Panther is in it's downright revolutionary depictions of black people.
Black Panther has a mostly black cast but with a huge blockbuster budget, which is unheard of before now. Black Panther features African characters as the primary protagonists and heroes. The writer/director is a black man. This film is the latest in a collection of films that have been telling a overarching narrative, so it'll be harder to ignore than if this wasn't a Marvel Studios production; millions will watch this film that otherwise wouldn't have if it wasn't a Marvel Superhero.
Eh, this is basically a first draft of the "what if?" I did a TED Talk that speaks to the power of media. I just wanted to inform non-film students of the history of the art form and it's power to communicate.
Before all these assholes started losing their minds that people are excited for this important film, the counterpoint to Birth of a Nation propelling KKK membership is when another superhero, Superman fought the KKK on his radio program which dwindled the membership of the terrorist group.
Basically, mass media and especially film are some of the most potent tools to educate or influence. So at least don't be that asshole saying "it's just a movie", especially when said movie communicates a message much greater than the movie itself
Now time for some film history. 1915's epic "The Birth of a Nation" is the father of modern film techniques. The film innovated the language of cinema in many ways. The Flashback was invented with this film. It was the first film with an original score created specifically for the movie. It was the first film to use hundreds of extras for scenes. First to use nighttime photography. The Close up and how it's used relative to other camera shots such as long shots was codified with this film. It's a significant film in so many ways. Really, the first epic action film, without question.
The thing about this benchmark film, is the story. The KKK are the heroes and black people are not really depicted as people. The ranks of the KKK soared thanks to the film, audiences took it to heart. It was most certainly not "just a movie" to the millions that joined the brutal terrorist organization. It's message was clear, to them.
Now here we are in 2018. Marvel's Black Panther is going to release to audiences around the country tomorrow and people of all ages and backgrounds are excited for what's already become a historically and most likely esthetically significant film, but some people aren't excited and claim "it's just a film" or "it's not the first black superhero" and the only reason I can think these people are so invested in downplaying the significance of Black Panther is in it's downright revolutionary depictions of black people.
Black Panther has a mostly black cast but with a huge blockbuster budget, which is unheard of before now. Black Panther features African characters as the primary protagonists and heroes. The writer/director is a black man. This film is the latest in a collection of films that have been telling a overarching narrative, so it'll be harder to ignore than if this wasn't a Marvel Studios production; millions will watch this film that otherwise wouldn't have if it wasn't a Marvel Superhero.
Eh, this is basically a first draft of the "what if?" I did a TED Talk that speaks to the power of media. I just wanted to inform non-film students of the history of the art form and it's power to communicate.
Before all these assholes started losing their minds that people are excited for this important film, the counterpoint to Birth of a Nation propelling KKK membership is when another superhero, Superman fought the KKK on his radio program which dwindled the membership of the terrorist group.
Basically, mass media and especially film are some of the most potent tools to educate or influence. So at least don't be that asshole saying "it's just a movie", especially when said movie communicates a message much greater than the movie itself
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