World We Imagine Part 1

Arthur Hanlon
Making the World a Better Place


As I was thinking about the ways I could respond to this assignment and try to make the world a better place, it occured to me that it wouldn’t do much good to formulate some grandiose plan that aims to solve all of our social and societal problems. I have an incredible amount of respect for people who dedicate their lives towards this positive progress, but I don’t have the time, resources, or frankly the motivation to go down a similar path. I realized instead that I could do some good in a different way by relying on the skills and network currently at my disposal. 
I’m set to enter the film and television industry after graduation, with the eventual goal of producing content of my own. As such, I can try to make a difference by bringing to life deeply personal stories from around the world, ones that shine a light on the unheard voices and forgotten tales that society left behind. I truly believe that contemporary film is a window into our culture’s views and beliefs. It confirms to the masses what we consider to be important at the time, and has the power to open people’s eyes and spur action through an emotional response. And as the streaming services continue to increase the global reach of content, we have an opportunity to use that scope for something positive. I aim to create content that highlights the struggle some have to go through just to reach a base level of equality. I want to show consumers new stories that they would normally never be exposed to, and produce something that resonates with all audiences around the world. In doing so, I intend to help bring disparate groups of people together, while also fostering a universal environment of acceptance.

The level of change accomplished through these actions is understandably nowhere near as visible as things like housing development, poverty reduction, or clean water accessibility. However, a concerted effort to create powerful cinema using undertold stories from around the world generates an emotional value that people often underestimate. For those living in downtrodden regions, being able to connect with the on-screen struggles provides validation to their experiences, and at least partially fulfills the higher tiers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I know that this alone won’t be enough to solve the world’s problems, but done in conjunction with tangible humanitarian efforts, it can be yet another tool we use to bridge the gap between different cultures and societies around the globe. 

Comments

  1. Ryan TraynorNovember 26, 2019 at 6:58 PM

    I totally agree with you that modern media is a powerful tool that can be used for good or ill. That's why we need people like you who are committed to creating content that helps shine light upon the people that need to be seen the most. I feel that simply letting people's voices be heard is a great step in the right direction, but I liked your idea to actually mix it with humanitarianism somehow. I'm not sure how to effectively do this other than linking a movie's profits to humanitarian aid efforts, but I really liked that idea and would like to see what else you can come up with. I'm curious about what kind of content you would like to make? Real life documentaries, or maybe fictional features that highlight the issues within their themes?

    I hope my questions give you some thoughts about what direction you'd like to take it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. NicoleDecember 1, 2019 at 6:47 PM

    Although you feel that producing unheard stories will not provide direct help, I feel that the awareness these stories will spur so many waves of change. Your skills and passion towards media creation will show through you work and truly evoke emotional responses and awareness. There are so many stories and areas of need that never get the attention or help they deserve. How do you particularly see yourself working in the media industry? What would be your dream position that would truly allow you to pursue these goals? Do you already have certain areas of need that you are interested in shedding light on? Are there ways you could start working towards these goals now? Perhaps by interning with a production company that focuses on bringing awareness to areas you care about.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jason PeykarDecember 2, 2019 at 2:14 PM

    I really like this post! I completely agree that the media can be used in a way to change your world. Showcasing cultures through television to the world in the most raw aspects will allow people to see into the lives of people across the globe on a non-bias basis. A lot media today has been turned bias and I think the world is in need of a truly non biased source of media. Maybe thats the path you should take in doing this? As I am not exactly sure it could be done, but its definitely something I think people would enjoy.

    ReplyDelete

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