Post by unanimous on Sept 5, 2009 9:18:07 GMT 3
movies of any kind is more than just something to pass away one's time. it's a sensory feedback! it could stick with you. there are lots of technical and creative aspects to it that are impressive, but more than that and for most of us outside that industry not able to grasp the finer prints that go with its creation, it's a form of entertainment, a form of communication. of storytelling. just like everything else that the human senses experience, it is something that in one way or another will affect you. it can inspire, elate, depress, give you temporary escape, make you hurl objects, but the most important for me is that it should arouse curiosity and encourage all forms of thoughts. free thoughts. and just like books, should never be censored. while admittedly i might not have the stomach to go watch some forms of presentations of subjects or topics, still it is not in any one's place to deprive others of it. whatever it is.
i hope whoever watches films do not stop there or get stuck there. i dont mean that you buy mugs and tshirts franchised by the film, i meant i hope it makes you curious and makes you grab books and encourage you to learn more, think more. i hope that although it is hard in this generation of sensory influx (internet, all forms of media campaigns), and where most info are in the speed of send, i hope though difficult that it does not disensitize people to basic human sufferings and needs. that while human beings can get used to and tolerate all forms of fads and fashion, i hope that people remain able to discern and respect individuality, maintain dignity and not lose empathy.
now why am i spouting all this early in the morning you say? i saw Downfall last night. it's a film about the last days of Hitler while he was in his bunker planning and devising how to win the ww2. i remember there were talks about banning this film when it first came out in Berlin and the protest that i remember is that it 'depicted Hitler as a human' and not the regular monster that he was mostly remembered by and might evoke sympathy to nazis. watching this film and having all the things i've read, seen and heard of ww2, made me wonder what the fuss was about. it did not change the fact that he orchestrated one of the darkest spot in the history that i know of. if anything, it made me realize that duh....for all the monstrosity accredited to him, he is just another human being just like me. was that what the fuss is about? shouldnt people be encouraged to learn from different aspects? if anything, it made me more aware that a simple act, a simple contribution of one can impact hugely on someone. you dont have to physically murder to kill someone, there is truth to the phrase desk murderer accredited to eichmann - and how easily unknowingly anyone can be guilty of that. . and that the stories and films about the holocaust, no matter the amount, is not just a story. it's a history. a long running essay on the human psyche, actual experiences paid by sufferings and lives- and something we should learn from. and though israel govt are acting the big bullies now, it still does not negate or should negate the events that occurred in the holocaust. associating the big bullies that they have become is a dishonor to the sufferings of those who lost lives and survived the holocaust - and associating the two events is almost - for lack of proper term - disgusting. it does make you wonder though about human nature doesnt it? how the things, bad things we think are done to us that we end up often referring to, we also end up doing to others? how repetition or retelling of stories as a form of positive reinforcement could easily end up being mimicked? how lessons from the bible preached regularly at least on Sundays since the bible was written but still the sins are committed by the very people who preached them? makes one so much more aware of how difficult it is to cross the chasm between knowing and applying what you learn?
is it that we've seen and heard so much but have not learned enough?
i hope whoever watches films do not stop there or get stuck there. i dont mean that you buy mugs and tshirts franchised by the film, i meant i hope it makes you curious and makes you grab books and encourage you to learn more, think more. i hope that although it is hard in this generation of sensory influx (internet, all forms of media campaigns), and where most info are in the speed of send, i hope though difficult that it does not disensitize people to basic human sufferings and needs. that while human beings can get used to and tolerate all forms of fads and fashion, i hope that people remain able to discern and respect individuality, maintain dignity and not lose empathy.
now why am i spouting all this early in the morning you say? i saw Downfall last night. it's a film about the last days of Hitler while he was in his bunker planning and devising how to win the ww2. i remember there were talks about banning this film when it first came out in Berlin and the protest that i remember is that it 'depicted Hitler as a human' and not the regular monster that he was mostly remembered by and might evoke sympathy to nazis. watching this film and having all the things i've read, seen and heard of ww2, made me wonder what the fuss was about. it did not change the fact that he orchestrated one of the darkest spot in the history that i know of. if anything, it made me realize that duh....for all the monstrosity accredited to him, he is just another human being just like me. was that what the fuss is about? shouldnt people be encouraged to learn from different aspects? if anything, it made me more aware that a simple act, a simple contribution of one can impact hugely on someone. you dont have to physically murder to kill someone, there is truth to the phrase desk murderer accredited to eichmann - and how easily unknowingly anyone can be guilty of that. . and that the stories and films about the holocaust, no matter the amount, is not just a story. it's a history. a long running essay on the human psyche, actual experiences paid by sufferings and lives- and something we should learn from. and though israel govt are acting the big bullies now, it still does not negate or should negate the events that occurred in the holocaust. associating the big bullies that they have become is a dishonor to the sufferings of those who lost lives and survived the holocaust - and associating the two events is almost - for lack of proper term - disgusting. it does make you wonder though about human nature doesnt it? how the things, bad things we think are done to us that we end up often referring to, we also end up doing to others? how repetition or retelling of stories as a form of positive reinforcement could easily end up being mimicked? how lessons from the bible preached regularly at least on Sundays since the bible was written but still the sins are committed by the very people who preached them? makes one so much more aware of how difficult it is to cross the chasm between knowing and applying what you learn?
is it that we've seen and heard so much but have not learned enough?
