WRITING CULTURE 2012: Film, Food & Beyond

Movies are made to entertain and allow people to escape into another world of adventure, fantasy, horror or laughter. But these are not the movies that I most enjoy.

Sitting through a ridiculous, romantic comedy would make me cringe more than the bloodiest slasher film. Movies with high tech graphics and people blowing things up just put me to sleep. Much to my boyfriend’s disappointment, I would rather watch a documentary.

I just love DOC’s that are beautifully filmed in other countries or especially in another time.  Watching a movie like  Frida gives you a glimpse not only into her life, but life in her time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zudfarZ-ZNk

Although I find history fascinating, I would never sit and read a history book voluntarily.  A movie like “The Weather Underground” not only tells you the story but also captures the culture and political environment at the time.  Rather than reading a whole book, you can really learn a lot in an hour or two just by watching a movie!

Most importantly, DOC’s can change people’s perspective and maybe even their life. They can shed light on issues the viewer may not have been aware of, or even been interested in before seeing the film. “The Future of Food” or “Supersize Me” are just two examples of movies that made a lot of people think about what they eat and maybe even changed their life! I have seen stories about people who were inspired and lost hundreds of pounds after watching these movies. I bet they are glad they didn’t watch “Transformers III” that night!

When I see on the news what movies people are watching, I find it shocking and scary.  I don’t understand why anyone would watch a crappy Hollywood blockbuster when they can see something REAL, and watch a documentary.