CINEMA - ITS USES AND ABUSES

Films have become part and parcel of our life in modern times. They are accepted as the common form of entertainment The colour TV and the video have brought films into our drawing room.

Because of the appeal to the eye as well as the ear, films have become a very powerful medium of mass communication and entertainment. They can be used for good or bad purposes.

Films can be used for providing education and healthy entertainment to the masses.

History, geography, science, arts, crafts and many other subjects, or skills, or new techniques can be taught effectively through films. Learning through film can be fun. Moreover, a film can reach thousands or evenlakhs of people at a time-a thing no teacher can do.

Because of their powerful influence, films are being used for advertisement and propaganda. Films can be used to arouse people's interest in various development projects and secure their active co-operation and participation in them. They can be used to create public opinion against many social evils, and outdated customs.

Films have a very powerful influence on young and illiterate people since their minds are most impressionable. They corrupt their minds. People lose the power of judgment between the good and the bad and the capacity to enjoy good things of life. They prefer passive interests. They live in a world of make-believe. Excessive violence shown in a film brutalises many. Young and immature people try to re-enact these scenes in their real life.

They learn the lessons in crime, violence and many other evils from films, charmed and deceived by the glamour of films, young and immature people become film-addicts and fans of film heroes or heroines. No wonder we find a film actor or an actress becoming a member of parliament, or a chief minister, or even the president of a country. In certain parts of India fans worship their matinee-idols. Excessive film viewing is habit-forming and harmful to the eyes and health.