Art: Who cares?
In my Acting 2 class last week, we had a long discussion on Film and art in general. The underlying question was "what is it that has made us lazy and passive when it comes to viewing art and why do we not change?"In class, we discussed a lot of different aspects of the idea of art but it began initially with film.Why is it that in a film class, kids didn't seem to care? When it came time to discuss and share thoughts and insights, few seems to have deep, meaningful thing to say. What is it about watching a movie that makes people think? Why do people watch movies simply expecting to be entertained?This is a Facebook post I later made, sparked by that discussion. It contains a summary of my thoughts on the matter;
I have a thought that needs to be shared and listened to: I hate watching movies. If you know me, you know this. It's not that I hate movies- what I cannot stand when it comes to watching movies is that I want to watch a truly inspiring or meaningful movie with a purpose of watching it. Unlike most people nowadays (referencing purely to what I've observed in my own life- and clarifying that my experience is with my generation and below), I do not watch movies with the intent of relaxing or being entertained. If that is the case for you, which is in no way a bad thing, that's okay. It can be a fantastic way to relax and not have to think or stress about life. For me, I simply refuse to exist passively within entertainment and art. Art is created with a purpose to be understood, no matter how insignificant it may be to one person. I think that watching any form of art should not be simply because you can do so while doing homework or checking Facebook. If I am watching a movie or an episode on Netflix, it is to give my full attention to that show with the intent of learning and thinking and applying concepts to my own life. I hate, and will almost never participate in, watching a movie for the sake of watching a movie, just because someone suggested it. Now, as stated before- I do not think viewing art passively is a bad thing (although it's something I will not be a part of). But it is, most definitely, dangerous. Although I believe that it is okay some of the time or once in a while, it, unfortunately, has become simply a bad habit for many. One cannot seem to give their full attention to any movie or show, constantly being on a device. Even when a person does put their device away and pays attention to a movie- having an enlightening, thoughtful, discussion about it afterward is practically impossible because a person does not know how to think deeply, or at least without great effort. Sadly, this is not something I think can be easily changed once past a certain age. Sometimes, people just aren't taught to think and feel deeply, or even realize that it is important to do so. That is the general problem with humans in this time. People expect and want instant action, gratification, and satisfaction. People don't want to sit and wait and feel and think and DO. This passivity is so dangerous and is eating up the world. You can be that difference and that change, though. You can choose (haha, like, actually make a choice- I know it's weird) to be ACTIVE! You can choose not to be lazy, not to procrastinate, not to not care! If you want something, if you want your life to change you have to actually DO something! So next time you watch a movie, stay off your phone. Notice the brilliance, the symbolism, the acting, the effects, and discuss it with someone afterward. The next time you go to a live performance, get off that glowing device and care and feel with those on-stage. Choose to learn. Choose to be. Choose to do. SERIOUSLY LET'S ALL JUST NOT LIVE SHALLOW AND BORING LIVES LEADING MEANINGLESS CONVERSATIONS MOMENT AFTER MOMENT INTO COMPLETE POINTLESS NOTHINGNESS. Just live and love and feel and care deeply. Be honest. Be passionate. Have purpose. Have integrity. Stop being lame.
So there- there are my cohesive thoughts about the idea. I have much more to say but am too passionate about it to be able to adequately put it into words.
I have a thought that needs to be shared and listened to: I hate watching movies. If you know me, you know this. It's not that I hate movies- what I cannot stand when it comes to watching movies is that I want to watch a truly inspiring or meaningful movie with a purpose of watching it. Unlike most people nowadays (referencing purely to what I've observed in my own life- and clarifying that my experience is with my generation and below), I do not watch movies with the intent of relaxing or being entertained. If that is the case for you, which is in no way a bad thing, that's okay. It can be a fantastic way to relax and not have to think or stress about life. For me, I simply refuse to exist passively within entertainment and art. Art is created with a purpose to be understood, no matter how insignificant it may be to one person. I think that watching any form of art should not be simply because you can do so while doing homework or checking Facebook. If I am watching a movie or an episode on Netflix, it is to give my full attention to that show with the intent of learning and thinking and applying concepts to my own life. I hate, and will almost never participate in, watching a movie for the sake of watching a movie, just because someone suggested it. Now, as stated before- I do not think viewing art passively is a bad thing (although it's something I will not be a part of). But it is, most definitely, dangerous. Although I believe that it is okay some of the time or once in a while, it, unfortunately, has become simply a bad habit for many. One cannot seem to give their full attention to any movie or show, constantly being on a device. Even when a person does put their device away and pays attention to a movie- having an enlightening, thoughtful, discussion about it afterward is practically impossible because a person does not know how to think deeply, or at least without great effort. Sadly, this is not something I think can be easily changed once past a certain age. Sometimes, people just aren't taught to think and feel deeply, or even realize that it is important to do so. That is the general problem with humans in this time. People expect and want instant action, gratification, and satisfaction. People don't want to sit and wait and feel and think and DO. This passivity is so dangerous and is eating up the world. You can be that difference and that change, though. You can choose (haha, like, actually make a choice- I know it's weird) to be ACTIVE! You can choose not to be lazy, not to procrastinate, not to not care! If you want something, if you want your life to change you have to actually DO something! So next time you watch a movie, stay off your phone. Notice the brilliance, the symbolism, the acting, the effects, and discuss it with someone afterward. The next time you go to a live performance, get off that glowing device and care and feel with those on-stage. Choose to learn. Choose to be. Choose to do. SERIOUSLY LET'S ALL JUST NOT LIVE SHALLOW AND BORING LIVES LEADING MEANINGLESS CONVERSATIONS MOMENT AFTER MOMENT INTO COMPLETE POINTLESS NOTHINGNESS. Just live and love and feel and care deeply. Be honest. Be passionate. Have purpose. Have integrity. Stop being lame.
So there- there are my cohesive thoughts about the idea. I have much more to say but am too passionate about it to be able to adequately put it into words.
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