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THINKING CRITICALLY 2
Read Chapter 8 of the Straubhaar et al. text. Select 2 questions from the list below to
answer:
1. What would be the most effective response by the film industry to keep it from being hurt
by piracy in the way that the music industry has been?
The music industry has been hit hard by piracy. The most effective way to keep the film industry
from being hurt by piracy would be to keep including the flashing colored dots within the studio.
The colored dots help to identify the copies made of the movies that are first run at the theater.
This also is an effective way to help trace the tracks of the pirates who made the copies.
Another way to control piracy in the film industry would be to have higher fines and more jail
time for those that continue to break the laws. Piracy has cost the music industry billions of
dollars and soon will be film if they don’t put a end to it. It should be made known the jail times
and penalties associated with piracy so that maybe we will see a decrease in illegal copying and a
increase in royalties made.
Also, during the movies, night vision googles can be used track hidden cameras used to record
the film on a first run night. According to Straubhaar, LaRose, & Davenport (2017), “Google is
also perfecting a “video fingerprinting” technology that makes it possible for computers to spot
copyrighted material.”
2. Does violence in film need to be more tightly controlled? If so, what steps would you
suggest to create effective control mechanisms? Justify your answer with examples from
film history and from controversial films.
From a biblical worldview I believe that violence in film should be more tightly controlled. Even
though violence is all around us and even included in the Bible, I think it should be kept to a
minimal and we should have a mindset more of Jesus Christ. The United States has become more
diverse and because of it more movies are made to be diverse.
Movies are made based on people that go to the movies a lot, that’s how they make their money.
The values and current interests of teenagers and college students have begun to dominate films
(Straubhaar, LaRose, & Davenport 2017). Also, you have many that thrive on thriller/violence in
movies. Some films ratings are not clear. Such as a PG-13, it’s when you view the movie
yourself that you may see something inappropriate that you don’t want your child to see.
To have effective control mechanisms the MPAA has already taken some control by informing
movie goers of the types of restrictions by the ratings. I also would up the age restriction to see
films that include lots of violence. Young minds are influenced more easily and need to become
more mature before engaging in these films. Movies such as “Kids” and “Scarface” should be
tightly controlled. For a child under 18 to view this may be curious but this on the other hand
should teach them a lesson.
3. Do you think that the impact of special effects and other technology on films is positive?
Discuss ways the new tools help and/or harm storytelling in film.
View the Videos assigned in this Module/Week.
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1. Pastor, author and filmmaker, TD Jakes stated in his video interview that if Jesus were
alive today, he would be a filmmaker. On what basis does Jakes make this claim?
Discuss whether or not you agree with this thought and why.
2. In recent years, more Christian films have come on the market. Some people have sung
their praises and some have criticized them harshly. In your opinion, have the Christian
films out there been effective in preaching the gospel.? If so, how, and if not, why not.
Over the past years Christian films have become more prominent. There are more and more put
out. The last one that I can remember that touched my heart was “Breakthrough”. Breakthrough
was based on a true story and had awesome meaning behind it. “Breakthrough” in my opinion
was for the believers and also the non-believers.
Christ wants us all to come to him, not only those that already believe. God has a funny way of
showing us himself, even through some people around us every day. For in the end every knee
shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Christian films are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as He still speaks today. If there is a
doubt in any believer or non-believer, they should know that God can turn your life around in the
spilt of a second so that you will want to follow him. It’s an awesome experience! Christian
movies will and should turn the believer into a prayer warrior. These movies have truth and
meaning behind them.
References
Straubhaar, J., LaRose, R., & Davenport, L. (2017). Media now: Understanding media, culture
and technology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ISBN:9781305950849
