Changed Perceptions from Film

[TMA_1]

I have never had this happen, but a film has changed the way I think philisophically.

I just saw Network last night with my friend robbie. It basically is about how desperacy can really make people do things that would generally be seen as completely evil. Also it is about how TV has completely changed the way people think (Personally and from talking to many intelligent people, we have gathered that TV has to be one of the biggest influences of the 20th century).

I dont want to go into the details into the movie. This is one of the only times when I will not say a word what happens in the film. All I can say is that if you like good film, if you want to see the best film writing ever, and if you want to see something that blows your mind away than see this.

has anybody else seen it? It is totally amazing. It has made me think differently on the effects of electronics and other things in our society, and has also really brought me to a closer understanding of human nature. I highly suggest this film to anybody who wants to see something really beautiful, artistic, and intelligent. One of the most amazing things about this film is that it was made in the mid 70s, and it feels so modern. good gravy!

Please post and tell me if you have seen it, it is absolutely amazing.I highly suggest it to those who already love film. I wrote this in PRP by the way because it is so profound and philisophical, and effected me in like manner.

[nemafakei]

I read through and was slightly confused. Then I read again: "Network" is the name of the film, correct?

[Egeides]

Same here... you seem soooo excited that you did not gave the title ;D

[TMA_1]

oops. lol yeah I was a little excited. The film is called "Network". It is now my favorite film. I didnt really do it justice, I just wish somebody out there has seen it, it is considered one of the greatest filsm ever made.

[SpiceGuid]

the Network sounds like the Matrix.

i would say you have been brainwashed because understanding of human nature should come from life, not from a movie.

remember the sociological is always political.

thus the tendancy to excuse terrorism is revolting in my opinion.

has the movie been broadcasted ?

if so it has been purposely.

[sneezer3]

What exactly is it about and where can we find it?

[nemafakei]

SpiceGuid:

Can you learn anything about human nature from a book? Of course you can. Why not a film?

Granted, human life tends to represent things more realistically. But other stimuli can provoke thought about situations you would otherwise never have considered.

[VigilVirus]

I can think of many movies and books off the top of my head that affected me greatly in regards to human nature:

Fight Club

The Pianist

Shawshank Redemption

Green mile

Brave New World

1984

Fahrenheit 451

There are many more I could list.

[SpiceGuid]

Can you learn anything about human nature from a book? Of course you can. Why not a film?

because a movie is pictures and sounds, pictures are emotional, they are an experience on their own. the movie provides the (simulated) experience.

book are words, they provide no experience. the experience is your real life.

and your real life does not lie. 

[GUNWOUNDS]

I learned alot from the movie "Team America: World Police"

[nemafakei]

Why does experience have to be the only thing that changes your perception? Surely it is more the case that an idea, or anything which causes you to reconsider, is something with a chance of changing your perception.

[TMA_1]

here is a good example of something small that affects bigger things.

One time I was babysitting a kid. I was talking to him about the earth, and that it is basically spherical. the kid responded with something like this "Yeah, it is kinda like a road. you can see it go on for long distances, but not forever because the road curves with the earth". That may not sound like a big deal, but to him (his name is kenny, he is 8 years old, a very smart little kid), it changed his perceptions just by a little tidbit of information. The film itself puts new perspective on things, and what I cannot understand is how somebody can say that film shouldnt be able to do that. Film is much like any art medium, and like any kind of art it brings you to think and process information differently. Books and music do the same thing if you wish to percieve things in a new light. Why not film? I think it is a little silly to say it doesnt.

[Acriku]

I think what SpiceGuid might be talking about is that movies are not real, and often times the philosophies they project may not reflect real life. When you distort the reality, the resulting philosophies that are attached to that different reality already have false pretenses and must be critically thought about in real life. However, in real life you're guaranteed to find the philosophies based on this reality to have pretenses that are real, and therefore can be trusted more than those coming from a movie. For example, the movie Along Came Polly taught me that if you try your hardest to get a girl to love you, by doing things desperately and not being yourself, then you will get the girl to love you. This is not at all the case in real life. You can't force someone to love you, and acting desperate in life will not make it any easier, in fact will make it worse. This philosophy is in a false reality, and not compatible with this reality. Or is it not what he is trying to say? *shrug*

[nemafakei]

Ah, but that's a different question. You don't have to agree with all (or any) of the messages conveyed by a film to have learnt something from it. You appreciate that a film is a distorted reality, but you can use analogy to make those things that can work in reality relevant.

I could watch Michael Moore's political commentary films and agree with not a single word he said - but still have my perceptions changed by the film: because I gain some sort of insight into how politics in the US works. Indeed, I could gain such an insight by looking at the film as a part of US political debate - and at least understand what some of the arguments and issues are, even if I don't accept his viewpoint. I merely use my discretion to separate the questions from his answers.

[TMA_1]

yeah exactly nema.

See acriku, perceptions can change like anything else. A book or magazine, or even spoken word can be just as tainted as anything out there. I mean sheesh look at the years of propeganda! lol Film can be as true or as false as any other medium, and if you are not an idiot, you can piece through it. I dont see why people are arguing about it, it seems rather simple.

[Acriku]

I'm not arguing about it, I'm trying to put what Spice is saying into other words that may bring about further discussion. Anyway, you can use your discretion Nema, but again what you may discover or learn or change from, might very well be false or under false pretenses. However, the same can happen in life where the lack of facts gives a false pretense and certainly falsities in-and-of-themselves in our experiences. But it seems that life can bring more true changes due to everything happening in life is real.