Eddy

University Writing 1103

Malcom Campbell
12/4/19
1
What is There to Fear: The Roles Movie’s Play in Society

Movies are a common form of entertainment and many people in the world watch them.

With large audiences viewing movies, what effect can this have on society and the individual?

Films were made to entertain, but regardless they affect the viewers. As people who like to

dream about what life could be and watch movies, we compare our world to what happens in the

movie. Movies are not made factually and use the imagination, but regardless they leave an

impact on some people that watch it. Some movies leave a minor impact, while others are major.

Some movies are emotional and have a meaning that is being portrayed to the viewer to

either learn or talk about. Each movie is different, and they affect society in different ways. An

example is how someone feels about a certain topic or get an idea of something that can be done.

Films have this power that is overshadowed. They use special effects, music, emotions, words,

and visuals to manipulate how someone can perceive the scene. This happens because movies

are portrayed in another world where anything can happen. People know that movies are not real

life, yet it can treated like it is due to how immersive the films can be. Some kids especially have

a harder time differing what is real and what is fiction. For example, some children tend to

believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy due to their imagination.

Movies’ Effect on Children

Movies are rated for certain ages because parents and adults don’t want kids getting ideas

of violent actions and knowing vulgar language at a young age. Kids can be seen as innocent and

naive, a group that should be protected from the real world that can be cruel. Kids also can’t just

go watch these movies only to be protected, they could also be traumatized. Films have an

impact on the mind. Children and teenagers are still developing their ideas and perceptions of the
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world as they are maturing and getting older. They are discovering new things and to watch

certain cinematics without it affecting children in a negative way, they must be mature. This is

why films are rated so parents can know whether they want their children and teenagers

watching a movie. Children don’t always understand right from wrong, and they tend to believe

everything they see. This can cause children to have a skewed view on life and have

misconceptions about things they don’t understand. The effects this can have on the future can

affect our society as a whole. As adults on the other hand, views in life are more solid and less

likely to be changed compared to children.

Children that have been traumatized could affect them in their everyday life such as

sleeping on a regular basis. In 1999, Kristen Harrison and Joanne Cantor, from the University of

Wisconsin, did a research among children and teens, which appeared in the journal Media

Psychology (qtd in Degroat). They have found that half of the reported incidents with their

normal behavior with their sleeping and eating was due to a horror film or show. The effects of

eating and sleeping were among the most common, as well as avoiding situations that were

similar to what they were traumatized by. The effects normally last a week or two, but they can

also last into adulthood. The effects lasting through the rest of their life was not likely. This

proves how movies affect society and the individual in a way that can challenge how they live

day to day, such as sleeping and eating.

Horror films are thought of as the movie that traumatizes the viewer, and that is what

they were made to do. However, horror films are not always an evil moving picture for whoever

watches it. Parents are advised to not let their children watch these movies that can affect them in

a negative way, such as sleepless nights. The factor about the horror films is the adrenaline effect
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that differs from one person to another (Victoria Advocate). The adrenaline rush on children can

be unpredictable with how they will react and if it will be too much for them to handle. As

children, they are still developing, and their brains can’t always process what is happening. They

also don’t always realize what is fake and what is real, and they could believe everything they

see. They get scared and the traumatizing events linger on with them into bed with the terror of

their dark bedroom all alone- they feel vulnerable.

Some children can watch horror movies and not be affected. Instead they learn that it is

all made up and it is fake. On the other hand, as the movie industry has more and more advances

with effects and CGI, the movies look more realistic and they get gorier. As more and more

parents are aware of how movies can affect a child, they pay more attention to the ratings and

what they allow their children to watch. It all depends on what the parents let their children

watch, and if the child will be traumatized by the movies. Adults on the other hand understand

that movies are fake and made up. Some adults can still be scared of things they watched as

children, such as It by Stephen King. It seems common that people can be scared of clowns,

which could have been thought to be caused by the horror movie that traumatized them as a kid.

Keep in mind that everyone is not the same and there are those who can watch horror movies

without the negative effects, it is the children that are being affected by films that parents have to

be careful.

Movies’ Effect on Adults

Adults see movies as entertainment and sometimes not much else. What if movies present

a topic that is controversial or a topic that they may be unaware of? Movies affect adults

differently than children. Children are shown fantasy or devastation and they sometimes believe
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what they see. Adults have an understanding of imagination and reality. Adults, on the other

hand, are more affected by concepts and ideas of topics and other things they may not know

about. Organizations portrayed can be affected by how they are viewed in theaters. What is

typically used, and changes based on the movie is the government.

There are new ideas being presented and adults don’t always know the answer or what is

being talked about. This means, like a child, that is all they understand. They are learning about

this new topic, which could be anything. Whatever the film shows, that is all the information that

is known to them. Movies can manipulate whatever scenario into how they want the viewers to

perceive it. This can be a positive and a negative thing. Films can cause adults to question their

government and law enforcement, or it can cause them to have more faith in them. A research

study in 2014 “by Michelle C. Pautz, an associate professor of political science at the University

of Dayton, suggests films can act as an influence” (qtd. in Guida). The study showed how after

watching a movie such as Argo and Zero Dark Thirty affected how the viewers felt toward the

government. Their views tended to be more positive after watching either film due to how the

government was shown in a positive light in the screen.

In an article about how different movies affect people differently in various ways,

Natasha Englehardt gave many different films that brought about different topics as an example.

She showed how different genres of movies can have an effect on people, although it is in

different ways. The film The Day After Tomorrow hit the silver screen in 2006, developing the

idea of global warming. This film made the audience scared for their future and what effects

global warming could have. The film was scientifically inaccurate. The movie exaggerated the

theory and drastic climate change (C2ES). In the movie, climate changed overnight, but it in
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reality it changes over decades. The plot is loosely based off the theory of climate change and is

unreliable for facts. Regardless, it still caused the viewers to think about global warming as a

force to be reckoned with. This formed activists that were against global warming and wanted to

do anything to prevent the continuation. Another example would be the movie Fight Club, which

came out in 1999. Since the movie came out in theaters, there has been an increased amount of

fight clubs that have begun since the film introduced fight clubs as a way to vent frustrations.

This cinematic film influenced violence in adults and condoned unethical behavior. This effect

was not only in America, it was also in Moscow and Thai. Movies effect not only one society,

but to multiple societies as well.

Movies in History

Other countries also produce films, and they too affect their own culture and society.

Richard C. Helt saw that there was a connection between films and society. Helt is known to be

an author of several books about West German films made in history. An example was the

Nazi’s and how to portray them in German cinematics without crossing a line with the subject of

the past in the country associating with the Nazi’s. They didn’t want to portray a subject too

early and have a negative response from the audience. When they were planning on making

movies based on the events of World War II, it was several years after. The problem was that the

producers didn’t know exactly how much time had to pass before the communities in Germany

to accept movies about the events that happened. Producers have these topics to keep in mind as

they have a great influence on subjects both unknown and well known.

America is known for great films and movie sagas. One example America has produced

was Star Wars. This movie can be recognized without someone ever seeing it due to its
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popularity in society. President Ronald Reagan during the Cold War had a plan called the

Strategic Defense Initiative which was to protect America and calm people's fears from the

Soviets nuclear weapons (Kennedy Leslie). It was later coined the name Star Wars due to the

ambitious and impractical plan that seemed like it was an idea from saga. Star Wars is known for

their spaceships and lasers in space. Reagan’s plan involved satellites in space to shoot lasers at

missiles as they were flying towards America to bomb the West Coast. This plan, in reality, was

expensive and mostly impossible. Since the plan was seemingly impossible, it was viewed as

fake and out of a movie that was trying to be made into reality. This example of Star Wars shows

how movies have integrated into society and is a part of everyday life with so many references

being made and connected. Reagan’s plan was to calm fears of many, so connecting to

something familiar helped with reassuring their safety. Movies was used to change the minds of

America and make them believe they were safe in their homes.

In society, movies are used to reference ideas and are used in everyday conversations.

Some people are movie fanatics and will be dedicated to a company or a movie series. Someone

can go to a store and buy toys and posters and collectables for the movies that are popular.

Movies in the past are popular and so are movies coming out this year. Movies tend to stay

relevant even if they came out over fifty years ago. The impact movies have on people can

always just be loving a franchise and experiencing the adventure of watching something

enjoyable. There are people who see movies as something that does not impact them

significantly other than enjoying the films. As a form of entertainment, it has different

influences. Everyone is different and how they interpret a movie is based on what they like and

what they believe.

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Movies have stayed relevant over a hundred years, and this is due to the variety it gives

viewers. Every month throughout the year, several movies will debut and gives movie goers

something new to experience. Since movies are diverse, it allows many different groups of

people enjoy them. It brings people a variety to choose from, so there aren’t only movies for a

certain group of people. This also brings diverse groups of people together to enjoy a movie they

like at the same time. It is a place for people to go and hang out with friends and family or meet

people with the same interests as they do. Typically, those who go out and watch a movie, they

already know they like it. Since they know they enjoy it, those around them also enjoy and it

allows groups of people to share experiences in a movie. Some people will clap when they get

exited in a movie and other people will join in because they feel the same way. On the other

hand, some people like to keep to themselves and not share experiences with fellow strangers

who are watching the movie at the same time.

Movies compared to those in the past have changed. The movies throughout the years

reflect our culture and ideas. In the past, there were movies showing the differences Some of the

movies in the past are considered classics and are still popular. Some classics now a days are

remade and put into more of a modern era. These are ways to bring back classics and still keep

them relevant compared to other movies coming out at the same time. Other movies from the

past were popular back then, but because the views and beliefs have changed as whole in society,

they are seen to be controversial and are no longer popular. Movies compared to the past are

different in ways other than views and beliefs. Special effects have improved has years go by and

new technology change the movie industry and how films are made. Movies made today, have

more green screen backgrounds, while movies in the past were made at real locations with
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minimal green screen effects if that was available. Puppets and animatronics were also used

instead of special effects, and this changes how the films look and if it seems real or fake.

Comparing movies now and the past, are different and constantly changing.

Movies have changed throughout the years, but they still affect society and change what

people think. They can be a positive change and a negative change. Children could be

traumatized by the movies they see that scare them or leave an imprint on them for years. Adults

and teenagers have a better understanding than children do when they can realize what is real and

what is made up. Teenagers and adults although will believe topics they either don’t know about

or don’t understand. Teenagers compared to adults are more susceptible to this due to how their

beliefs and values are not fully developed. These can be a positive as long as what the films are

showing are true and the information are correct and not twisted. On the other hand, most movies

are not factual and will make their own truths based on what their story and plot is. As long as

they remember that everything is not always true and factual, it can be a good thing and can

bring about conversation.

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University Writing 1103
Malcom Campbell
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Works Cited

“The Day After Tomorrow: Could it Really Happen?” Center for Climate Change and Energy

Solutions, https://www.c2es.org/content/the-day-after-tomorrow-could-it-really-happen/.

Accessed 2 Dec 2019.

DeGroat, Barnie. “Scary movies can have lasting effects on children and teens, study says,” The

News and Information Services, The University Record, 12 Mar 1999,

http://ur.umich.edu/9899/Mar29_99/9.htm. Accessed 6 Nov 2019.

Englehardt, Natasha. “Film and Society: How Films Impact Society and Popular Culture,” Platt

College, https://platt.edu/blog/film-society-films-impact-society-popular-culture/.

Accessed 13 Oct 2019.

Guida, John. “How Movies Can Change Our Minds,” OP Talk, The New York Times, 4 Feb

2015, https://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/04/how-movies-can-change-our-minds/.

Accessed 13 Oct 2019.

Helt C. Richard. “Ribbons in Time: Movies and Society Since 1945 by Paul Monaco,” The Johns

Hopkins University Press on behalf of the German Studies Association, German Studies

Review. Vol. 12, No. 2, 1989, pp. 398-399, https://www.jstor.org/stable/1430139.

Accessed 16 Oct 2019.

“How Watching Horror Films Can Harm Children,” Victoria Advocate, 14 Oct 2016,

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/how-watching-horror-films-can-harm-

children/article_efae53e1-566b-513b-bc51-

4c8b528e0c52.html##targetText=A%20well%2Dknown%20study%20by,anxiety%20dis

orders%20well%20into%20adulthood. Accessed 6 Nov 2019.

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Kennedy, Leslie. “Why Reagan's 'Star Wars' Defense Plan Remained Science Fiction,” History,

22 Jan 2019, https://www.history.com/news/reagan-star-wars-sdi-missile-defense.

Accessed 12 Oct 2019.