Documentary+film+influence+on+society

= HOW DOCUMEN﻿ TARIES INFLUENCE SOCIETY  = = ** History of documentaries ** =

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Before being termed documentaries the short films were called actuality films. They were short clips of daily work routines or transportation. The first considered documentary is The Horse in Motion by Eadweard Muybridge. As time progresses the films became longer and contained more information. As we know documentaries today can have many topics from science to history of bicycles. There is no limit to their content or length. ======

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Today, we watch documentaries for personable enjoyment or view them in classes. Educators have found them to be a great resource in teaching because it shows and can sometimes better explain the topic. Last week my developmental psychology professor showed us a documentary on feral children which was wonderful because it explained famous cases. Documentaries are readily available almost everywhere. They can be found in libraries, on television channels, movie stores and are even can be streamed over Netflix. Documentaries are a great way to educate America. They can also influence public opinion. ======

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Documentaries as previously stated help aid as learning material in different classrooms. They also help aid in learning in people’s living rooms. It is easier to learn a topic by seeing and hearing it than just by one or the other. Documentary films are a way to help expand your knowledge on a subject you may enjoy and open eyes to new ones. ======

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Supersize Me is probably one of the most well know documentaries for influencing society. The film caused McDonald’s to discontinue the option to Super Size and also offer healthier choices. McDonald’s denies that the film had anything to do with the actions they chose. The film opened the eyes of Americans to the severe obesity epidemic that we are facing in this country. It educated parents on what they are feeding their children and themselves as a quick meal on the run. It also showed that eating unhealthy (in general) can cause severe health and mental problems. Not only did Morgan Spurlock (star in the documentary) gain a severe amount of weight in a month but he also suffered depression problems. Americans eyes were open the dangers of eating excessive amounts of unhealthy food and what it is doing to future generations. I know that the film was shown in many health classrooms to show the dangers of unhealthy eating. ======

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I recently watched a documentary called Tapped that dealt with drinking water. It has won many awards at different film festivals including a Best Documentary title. This documentary deals with many different issues including the North Pacific garbage patch, the water quality where you live, how pharmaceuticals end up in our water and how recycling is not being carried out by citizens. There was an interesting fact in this documentary about tap water. It has been shown that the tap water from the faucet in your kitchen sink can be more filtered than bottled water you purchase in the store. This is because townships are always checking the quality of water versus the factories bottling the water that barely check the quality. This is influential on society because I know many people refuse to drink water out of the sink. More citizens (that have seen the documentary) will probably recycle more and drink water from the tap by using reusable plastic bottles. This is a great documentary to go with our “Go Green” movement in today’s society. ======

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A nature documentary that caused a great uproar was The Cove. It won an Academy Award in 2009 for best documentary. Through hidden cameras and microphones a deadly secret is uncovered. This caused many Americans to become involved and proactive in helping to stop this horrible crime. The film also discussed the dangers of mercury within our waters. I do not want to give too much away regarding the film because it was a really disturbing story that caused a lot of anger in various countries. ======

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There are so many different forms of documentaries than the few mentioned. What is shown in these films definitely influences society’s opinions. Films about the “Go Green” movement may open the eyes of people to recycle and try to conserve energy in assorted ways. Films about the dangers of unhealthy eating may help people make better choices about what they are putting in their body. Documentaries can also influence vacation choices. A couple seeing a documentary for a country that may have problems with robberies may influence their decision not to go there. Without the evolution of these films, would we be influenced the way we are today by them? ======

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