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The Missing Link
Nov. 13th, 2001 09:16 pmIf you live anywhere in the English-speaking world, you probably know that this Friday brings the wide release of the Harry Potter movie, which has been hyped more than even Star Wars -- and that's saying something. In another two months, we will also have access to the movie version of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring, soon to be followed with The Two Towers and then Return of the King.
Although both of these upcoming cinematic events are highly anticipated, they have drawn criticism in certain circles on the grounds that movies of popular books "ruin children's imaginations."
I've been thinking a lot about this, and I'm going to have to strongly disagree. Certainly, I could bring in the argument that good movies can encourage reading -- that I never would have read The Three Musketeers if it hadn't been for certain films, or Trainspotting, or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, all of which have dramatically impacted my fantasy life. I could also investigate the fact that movies of popular books often brook heated discussion as to the accuracy of interpretation -- in many cases triggering a deeper consideration of the underlying themes.
However, neither of these reasons are the root of my discontent; I am tired of the constant devaluation of film as an art form in its own right. Movies are no less valid than books -- and I say this as a longstanding bibliophile. Yet, we are constantly told that they are hypnotism for the masses, and that they destroy our ability to think original thoughts.
This shows an incredible narrowness of focus. Yes, movies do not require the same visual imagination that books and radioplays do. Fine. They require the viewer to imagine the emotions of the characters. A movie, unlike a book, does not tell you that the character is sad, or that the reason for his fear of spiders is an unfortunate childhood incident; all these things must instead be inferred. By and large, I consider this to be a more valuable skill. Interpersonal relationships rarely fail because one member lacks the ability to draw a compelling picture; they more commonly falter because of insufficient empathy.
Books might make us better painters,
but movies make us more compassionate.
Although both of these upcoming cinematic events are highly anticipated, they have drawn criticism in certain circles on the grounds that movies of popular books "ruin children's imaginations."
I've been thinking a lot about this, and I'm going to have to strongly disagree. Certainly, I could bring in the argument that good movies can encourage reading -- that I never would have read The Three Musketeers if it hadn't been for certain films, or Trainspotting, or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, all of which have dramatically impacted my fantasy life. I could also investigate the fact that movies of popular books often brook heated discussion as to the accuracy of interpretation -- in many cases triggering a deeper consideration of the underlying themes.
However, neither of these reasons are the root of my discontent; I am tired of the constant devaluation of film as an art form in its own right. Movies are no less valid than books -- and I say this as a longstanding bibliophile. Yet, we are constantly told that they are hypnotism for the masses, and that they destroy our ability to think original thoughts.
This shows an incredible narrowness of focus. Yes, movies do not require the same visual imagination that books and radioplays do. Fine. They require the viewer to imagine the emotions of the characters. A movie, unlike a book, does not tell you that the character is sad, or that the reason for his fear of spiders is an unfortunate childhood incident; all these things must instead be inferred. By and large, I consider this to be a more valuable skill. Interpersonal relationships rarely fail because one member lacks the ability to draw a compelling picture; they more commonly falter because of insufficient empathy.
Books might make us better painters,
but movies make us more compassionate.
