In a society that places more value on STEM in comparison to humanities and social science degrees, and artistic creativity is seeing a decline, it becomes crucial to emphasize the importance and necessity of media and film studies majors. We often overlook and downplay the difficulty and value of media and film in society as shallow and superficial, but many of the great things we enjoy in life are thanks to the arts.
Just think about how boring and mundane life would be without art. Art is a form of expressing the past, present, and future; capturing and expressing emotions and moments in time. Despite the jokes we hear at U of T about the ‘unemployed film major,’ the importance of media and film in our daily lives, in regard to social and political beliefs, geopolitics, and culture tells us otherwise.
Without the prevalence of media and art, people would live in their own bubbles, disconnected from the rest of the world. Media, film, and art allow us to humanize one another. Additionally, film is a reflection of major political, cultural and historical debates; therefore, it is evermore important that we continue to support this area of study.
Film and geopolitics
In light of recent geopolitical events, such as the protests in France and the toppling of the Nepali government, film and storytelling help remind us of the realities behind geopolitical events that can’t be encapsulated in a single article or headline.
An example of this is the film The Battle of Algiers. In short, the movie portrays the Algerian independence movement and highlights the adversity Algerians faced in overthrowing the French settler-colonial government in Algeria. The film demonstrates how workers and civilians partook in strikes as well as other revolutionary strategies to topple the government and kick out the settlers.
For me, watching The Battle of Algiers showcased two important lessons: that freedom is a necessary battle that must be fought and that the struggle for freedom is not easy or glamorized as sometimes portrayed in history textbooks. Movies like The Battle of Algiers are vital to preserving history and reminding the masses of the importance of perseverance, anti-colonial struggle, and a people’s right to self-determination.
Films’ cultural impact
Media and film also cultivate and preserve culture. Think about the references we make in our day-to-day life when making a joke or discussing a topic. Historical events, films, and media foster this tradition of reference, in turn creating a culture that adapts from generation to generation.
Films portray the current values, ideals, and beliefs of a particular culture during a particular period of time. For instance, when Tollywood films such as RRR are nominated for and win Western awards like Oscars, Western audiences are exposed to different cultures, worldviews, and artistry. In this sense, films promote and preserve cultural diversity, impacting global trends and cultures.
Additionally, trends in fashion and style are promoted through media and film. Popular movies and TV shows such as Sex and the City (SATC), Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Euphoria, among many others, have shaped fashion and popular culture by becoming staple points of reference in today’s society. Essentially, a lot of what we wear is influenced by film and media.
I believe that media and film challenge many cultural norms, thus portraying different and new perspectives on social issues. Shows like SATC detached the stigma of unmarried women who enjoy casual sex and changed the view of the single life, especially single women in their 30s. Despite misogynistic notions placing value on women’s marital status still existing, shows like SATC have alleviated a lot of that stigma and opened doors to discussion of ‘taboo’ topics like sex, pleasure, and sexuality.
The myth of ‘useless degrees’
All this is to say that media and film studies majors aren’t useless. The impact that media and film have on our world and in our lives is severely overlooked and ridiculed despite being the backbone of pop culture, history, and society.
It is difficult to imagine a world run only by numbers and formulas. Every subject and every field has a place in society, and one cannot omit or belittle another and call it “unchallenging.” Our culture lies within the art we produce, and we owe it to media and film students who continue to share their creativity, set new precedents and preserve our history to recognize the importance of their degrees.
Jana Hilal is a fourth-year undergraduate student, double-majoring in political science, and near and middle eastern studies.
