Reflective use of media

The good Jesuit, Fr. James Reuter, used to say that media is one of the greatest phenomena of our times. In saying that, he hit it right on target. The technological progress of communications media is really a phenomenon. In fact, with MTV, virtual reality, Internet, and the whole world of cyberspace, we have a media explosion!

Our sister, the late Sr. Lucina (a media person in her own right!) used the term “media babies” to describe today’s young people. According to her, media have bombarded today’s youth even when they were still in their mother’s womb, up to the day they were born and grew up.

That observation tells a lot about the young generation today. Nowadays, young people tap their feet and swing their bodies on the slightest sound of music. They study their lessons in front of television, or with their walkman on. They spend lots of time in their computers surfing through the Internet, oblivious of what is happening in their immediate environment.

In his article, Christian Discernment in a Mass-Mediated Culture (The Way, 1986), James McDonnell explains how our use of media becomes routinely and habitual. This can be attributed to non-stop bombardment of media images and sounds that our senses encounter everyday. He says that “throughout the day, at home, office or factory, in the car or on the train, we turn to radio, newspaper, magazine, television, paperback or stereo ‘walkman’ to pass the time, provide topics of conversation, or keep us ‘up-to-date’. At night, television provides the essential accompaniment to our family or community life as we plan our evening around the program schedules.”

Indeed, media have contributed a lot in our way of thinking and a change in lifestyle. Somehow in a family where both parents work, television has become a surrogate parent to children. From it the kids learn and absorb consumerist values that media uphold. Also, to a certain extent, television has turned into a family altar, in front of which the entire family gathers, while eating their meals, to watch the prime time shows.

Marshal Mcluhan, who coined the famous phrase “the medium is the message” also, said, “the medium is the massage.” These words of Mcluhan aptly describe the effects of media in our senses, our values and lifestyle if we use it indiscriminately and unreflectively.

Thus, the importance of being reflective and discriminating in our use of media cannot be underestimated. From time to time it is necessary to step back and analyze what messages the media is giving us and let us sift through those messages.

Film Analysis - Part II

We are all familiar with the so-called high tech movies, are we not? The kind of films the likes of Spielberg and Lucas usually make. These kind of movies (e.g. ET, Jaws, Star Wars, and others, in the same category) usually become top grosser not because they have exceptional stories to tell but because they used a lot of special effects and convincing soundtrack that make viewers interested and awed.

Special effects are important elements of the setting of a film as much as location, costumes, sets and props. It usually involves a lot of creativity, money and time to create a particular setting in a film. I remember watching the making of the movie Volcano on TV, and it was shown there how the film’s design engineer was able to create this sticky substance which appeared on screen as flowing lava. Much of the special effects done on that particular movie were computer generated.

Computer technology is really a marvel of our times. More and more, filmmakers are turning to computers to enhance the special effects in their films. Some Filipino filmmakers also apply the same technology to improve their craft.

Theme is also another important element of film. It is the message that the film tries to communicate to us viewers. However, there are films that do not deliberately convey specific philosophies in life. Most films, especially the less serious kind, merely express a particular view of the world. For example, the recent movie starred in by Bette Midler (That Old Feeling) simply implied that commitment and fidelity is not really that important in a relationship. The story line is typically western in approach, where physical attraction is the yardstick to a successful relationship.

Films, whether they are comedies or melodramas have a message to communicate. In feel-good movies, ideas are easily understood than from the serious kind of films where you have to analyze very well the story line, the symbolism of images and the underlying meaning of music and editing.

Filmmakers are like poets, you know. Well, at least the serious ones. When they make a movie, they weave the whole thing like a poem. That is why there is a kind of style in making films, which they call “poetic realism”. Another style, which I also find very artistic, is what I will call “magical realism”. You can say it is the kind of style that blends fantasy and reality. The European filmmaker, Alfonso Arau is noted for this.

These elements (plot, character, setting, theme and style) are very important in analyzing a film. However, oftentimes it is the theme, (or the values the film conveys) that is given attention to, thus forgetting that the other elements are equally important in the making of the film.