What on earth is cinema for?

Cinema is the most esteemed cultural activity in modern times with the biggest impact, vast ideologies, boundless perspectives, evocative illusions, reminiscent emotions, and vivid colors. Films have become an indispensable lump of our lives since they are capable of inducing emotions in us. Films, at least good ones, are made with arduous efforts for their fixed strenuous causes. Most of us fail to notice the intended purposes of films. This knocks out the impetus of filmmaking. We should try to pin down more films that impact us and make sure we are uncovering the best in them. Inherently, cinema best reveals its true essence when we conceive it as a form of therapy.

Dealing with snags :

We, Homosapiens, basically take our problems seriously to our bones. With that said, we are understandably prone to self-pity. We easily get frustrated by the problems life hurls at us. Most often we give in to taxing circumstances instead of being inelastic. We most probably react by getting more dire and dreadful. Particular films can perfectly portray this tendency. Such films depict our pains for laughs. Cinema takes on the important task of gradually etching us towards being nicer to the people around us. Films develop a sense of empathy and togetherness in ourselves. They elevate ourselves and give rise to the energy to deal with our difficulties. Although it’s inexplicable to explain, proven to be true in most cases.

Being absent-minded :

Mortal life is generally a compilation of our struggles and how we respond to them. Life is inscribed with countless opportunities. Sometimes, in life, an action that seems small can have mammoth consequences. We tell little lies. We’re a bit dishonest with our family. We get a bit lustful and get carried away. And eventually, stray off of our path.

From this, catastrophe arises. Well, films can help us by speeding up time and showing us in a matter of hours the horrifying outcome of what we originally thought as small feelings. By delineating terror and horror, films make us someone who is a bit more honest, a little more empathetic, and moral. They unwittingly prepare us to be readier to face unpleasant realities. They make us more respectful towards the things we hold dear. Does watching films increase concentration? Absolutely! Studies conducted at the University College of London and Vue cinema reported that people watching movies have experienced improved mental focus and fixation. This focused watching is good for cognition and memory.

Embracing our routine :

In our daily busy routine, we often forget to take a moment to appreciate the little things in our life. It’s pretty healthy to feel that one’s life is special, deserving of admiration and respect, and a little glamorous but we never do. Even though our daily routine is exactly lined out to be the same every day, there are certain things in our lives to be enjoyed. Films have an enormous power to glamourize. It can put delightful images in front of us - Vivid and Immediate. Many films glamourize the wrong things, we are used to the thinking that corruption and detachment are generic rather than the incidental danger of cinema. The worst kind of films throws us back in our lives, leaving us full of longing and dissatisfaction whereas the good ones make us ready to re-engage with circumstances with which we had grown tired. Cinema basically goes on to admire and appreciate what we already have in our lives.

Difficult to relate :

Ultimately life is unfair. Life is frightening, bizarre, and unremittingly depressing. Our disenchantment is often confused with arrogance, racism, and coldness. But what we suffer from is a denial of our common humanity. Cinema can induce emotional energy by showing us the appeal of people far away. Once we learn to relate cinema with ourselves, we open ourselves more to accepting all the good things life is tossing at us. Movies, when related, help us subjugate anxiety and can help to diminish stress. Films have experimentally been proven to pump up oxytocins and decrease stress hormone levels and blood pressure.

Vanquishing insecurities :

We all unwittingly develop problems around self-assertion and courage. We’ve gone down so far on the track of teaching ourselves the importance of compassion and compromise. Well-mannered people have learned so well to suppress their own appetite for a fight, choosing their victory over desires. But in a world where conflict is unavoidable people need to strengthen their willingness to face hurdles not always to compromise and play it safe. Films don’t ideally leave us in awe but educate us by example so that we too become a bit brave and valiant when and where we need to be. Films bring out the best in us once we learn to resonate with them and help us deal with our insecurities.

Cinema endorses us against our folly and vices. As mentioned earlier, films can create a sense of satisfaction and increase learning when we learn to read them. Research studies have shown that cinema bolsters our beliefs and improves our thought patterns. 

Cinema is nothing but a mere compilation of frames of guides of life, chunks of applied philosophy with pieces of dramatic illusions.