Most people have an opinion on film in some way, whether it’s serious and critical like myself, or simply concerned with the quality of acting or visual effects. This blog post is examining the different things people think are wrong with films.
I was inspired to explore this when in a conversation the other day I was asked what I was studying. I replied that I was studying film, and was further asked what does that entail. My simplistic and inarticulate answer was “Watching films then writing about them, like the ideas and messages and stuff”. The paraphrased response was “Can you sort out all this pornography and bad language that’s damaging the kids?”. So of all the things pornography and swearing, to this person, are the worst things in the film industry. I disagree because neither are inherently bad, as with most things it’s how they are used that is the problem, such as the pervasive use of pornography to reinforce the objectification and oppression of women – but it’s the repeated narratives of power and abuse, not that it is filmed sex, that is responsible for that.
As my blog reveals, I’m primarily concerned with issues of gender (on and off screen) in the film industry. This can be in the form of limited roles for women in the film industry, or widespread stereotypic, idealised and objectified female characters in films. This can be extended to other forms of institutionalised discrimination, such as homophobia, racism, and ageism.
Most of the people I talk with about film (who aren’t studying it) usually comment on either acting styles, how ‘realistic’ it is, continuity errors, the special effects (cringingly referred to as “graphics”), or how terrible it is that so many films are being remade. This last point is interesting, because some remakes are allowed, and others not. Take Sherlock Holmes for example. There have been many remakes of Sherlock Holmes, often with little twists or differences to set the adaptation apart from the rest. Again, it seems some of these differences are acceptable, but others unthinkable and disrespectful. In my experience, in Sherlock updating the tales to the modern day is fine, as with Elementary and House. Even more so, in the latter Holmes becomes Dr. House, Watson becomes Wilson and so on, and is set in a hospital. Even this is fine. But in Elementary, John Watson becomes Jane Watson. This apparently crosses the line. It baffles me that switching Holmes to a hospital is fine, but switching Watson’s gender is treason. Similarly, the all female reboot of Ghostbusters is unthinkable evil – apparently.
It’s interesting to see what different people take from films and TV programmes, what they class as problems, and whether they’re really paying attention to all the film/ show has to offer.
Arian's Film Blog 