Introduction
There are many media people can use to tell stories. Since ancient times, communities have used paintings and oral traditions to tell each other tales. With advances in science and technology, it became possible for individuals to record images or words from other sources. One of the most technically-impressive and developed methods to relate meaning is film. Compared to traditional sources of information, such as photos, drawings, or books, they have a variety of advantages. Cinema is more accessible, providing both a visual and a sensory experience, allowing people to see things that are difficult to imagine, and providing artists with a multi-faceted creative medium. Therefore, cinema is the culmination of all other major artistic mediums, perfected over the years and combined into one.
Pro-Cinema Arguments
First, cinema is arguably the most accessible and simple to consume. Watching movies is one of the satisfying passive activities that require the viewer to simply observe in order to understand the majority of their experience (Cho et al., 2018). Films can often be the preferred option compared to a book, where reading takes significant skill, investment, and concentration. In addition, cinema provides a reprieve for those with visual impairments or people who struggle with reading.
Second, the artistic platform of a movie is able to bring the imagination to life and paint a picture more vibrantly than a thousand words. The filmmakers’ ability to use visuals to their advantage, for example, dramatic angles or pace of camera movement while incorporating narration, gives them more flexibility in story progression. Images and books, on the other hand, do not have such mobility.
Last, cinema as a field has given rise to many creative professions. The growth of technology allowed many new professionals to emerge over the years. Contributing to creating a single movie, all of them work together in their respective fields. 3D artists, make-up experts, stuntmen, and a variety of other occupations would not exist without the prominence of the movie industry.
Conclusion
Cinema can be seen as a more accessible, flexible, and interesting medium for storytelling. The visual presentation (camera movement, speech, and special effects), coupled with sound effects, narration and dialogue, engages many types of viewers. It combines the benefits of other artistic mediums and works in a way they cannot, providing the audience with a relatively new creative outlet that has already been honed by many professionals.
Reference
Cho, D., Post, J., & Kim, S. K. (2018). Comparison of passive and active leisure activities and life satisfaction with aging. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 18(3), 380–386.