The Power of Movies

The Power of Movies

Ellen Summerfield, an intercultural film specialist, shares the advantages and dangers of films in helping us understand and learn about other cultures.

Do the films you watch generally fall on the left or right side of this chart? Look for films that will create a positive experience and allow you to grow and prosper. After you see a film, compare it to this list. If you find a movie has left you with negative messages, reinforced stereotypes you have, or presented a single viewpoint, be wary of taking its message to heart.

Film Can…	But Film Can Also…
Increase our knowledge about our own and other cultures	Misinform, distort, and lie
Raise awareness; awaken interest in and curiosity about our own and other cultures	Provide superficial experiences
Allow us to “experience” other cultures	Provide superficial experiences
Enhance our cross-cultural skills (e.g. empathy, listening, mindfulness)	Cause us to fear, dislike, or minimize human differences
Develop critical thinking	Oversimplify; lull critical skills
Develop media literacy	Encourage passive reception
Speak to and evoke emotions	Desensitize
Make communication patters (verbal and nonverbal) visible	Perpetuate negative patterns of communication
Make intercultural concepts visible (e.g. culture shock, assimilation)	Trivialize or domesticate human differences
Make visible and challenge our values; reduce ethnocentrism	Reinforce ethnocentrism
Bring to light multiple perspectives	Reinforce a single perspective
Give voice to the voiceless; allow new voices to be heard	Establish the “voice of authority”
Expose and undo stereotypes	Create or reinforce stereotypes
Give us permission to talk about sensitive and controversial issues; create common basis for discussion	Cause a dispute or blow-up: create hard feelings; cause us to feel hurt / offended/ angry
Reveal our common humanity; create bonds	Incite fear and hatred; reinforce notions of “enemy”
Create hope	Create feelings of hopelessness
Provide positive role models	Provide negative role models
Advocate for peace and justice; promote responsible action	Cause us to feel immobilized; promote irresponsible action
Leave lasting positive images	Leave lasting negative images