Movies as a way of life first came to the United States around the turn of the century. The first movie, from Thomas Edison studios in New Jersey was in 1896. It also featured the first passionate kiss ever seen on screen, to the shock of the world. There was much protest, but the passionate kiss remained, and the protestors quieted, until this day.
The first movie with a plot was in 1903, The Great Train Robbery, which, true to its them, included robbery, and in the end, a bloody massacre. It is considered to be the root of violent movies in the 20th century.
Horror movies also began to be produced prior to World War I, and before Hollywood was born, there were hundreds of maccabra horror movies in silent films, many of which have become household names, such a Frankenstein, Dracula, Hunchback of Notre Dame and so on.
Hollywood and Bollywood were twins, and movie viewing has become, as aret used to be in the past, a way of life. Whey were there so many great masters of art from previous centruies, so many m,asterpieces? Television and movies were unknown, the "eye" was "simpler" and what used to be drawn and sketched, gave way to photography and films.
Movies, today, whether they be American, Indian Bollywood movies, or movies from some other culture, often send our minds into another zone, that of tension and suspense, horror, or action violence. Indian satellite TV is often filled with tense, sometimes violent and hurtful emotionally charged episodes.
As it relates to mental health, there are several ways that movies can have an impact: Emotional, Violence, Sex, and Passivity
For some, movies can be viewed somewhat objectively, analytically, from a distance, as it were. For some, deep emotionally bonding and identity forms as it relates to movies. It is for these persons, often emotional, passionate people, that movies can have the greatest impact in terms of emotion and also contribute to mood disorders.
Many movies from the past and present, can be an emotional roller coaster ride. Once we are in that zone for one or two hours, as one woman said was, it was "hard for her to come back to reality." Alfred Hitchcock movies are an example of mind bending, carefully planned psychotic adventures that can effect some person's thinking and mental balance. Everyone's emotional makeup is different, for some it can be a mental overload.
For some children, G-rated movies for children can contribute to depression or anxiety. Strong emotions and cartoon violence open an dclose the heart, adn can be overwhemling for some children. Some children can take a lot of violence on the telvision and movies, with apparently little outward effect. For others, the slightest amount of violence can be overwhelming.
Even common G-rated movies that all of us have seen such as Bambi and Dumbo, even Pinocchio, have been described as "horror movies for children". Other movies such as Beauty and the Beast and similar movies for children have been said by some psychologists, to have a psychological impact on children. Seeing such movies on a daily basis can contribute to emotional, mental battles or turmoil in the mind of a child or adult and lead to a weakened resistance to mental health problems. Some studies have established a link with such programming and childhood depression.
Dr. Peter B. Neubauer was a noted Austrian child psychologist who raised the alarm about violence on television and children, and who noted that for children who come from unstable backgrounds, broken homes, single parent families, violent movies and TV can be particularly unsettling. The movie that he felt was most unsettling for children was the Wizard of Oz, because of its use of neighbors in roles of terror or in unsettling situations, the familiarity one develops with Dorothy, and the tenseness and horror in some of the scenes.
See New York Times Article, March 3, 2008.
Children, Violence, Sex, TV and Movies:
The entertainment that is available to children today in the form of TV, movies and video games, is exposing young children to violence and sex as never before. Some of the cutest of G-rated movies for children have disturbingly violent scenes. Many of the PG movies marketed to children today are exposing children to themes that children were innocent to not too many years ago.
The same could be said of common
TV programs that most children regularly watch. Many
children as young as 1st grade are regularly watching
horror movies of the most grotesque and frightening kind. In some communities, up to 50% of children watch such programming. Many parents allow it, others watch when no one is at home, others watch with older brothers and sisters. Some of these children complain of nightmares.
Around 30% of children and teenagers are educated about sex through TV and movies. By the age of 17, 50% of teenagers have had sexual intercourse, and 9% have had intercourse before the age of 13. All of this is part of the social fabric that is lays seeds of mental unrest in the minds of children and contributing to the tremendous increase in the numbers of children and teenagers experiencing problems with mental and mood disorders. Many children at a young age have psychological wounds as a result of what they have seen on television and the movies. They speak about such disturbing thoughts with teachers. So protecting children from the television and movies that might have such an effect on them is of utmost concern. Introducation to pornography in films is often times, a gradual process, starting from the first Disney Princess kissing, and gradually winding its way up the ladder to PG and R-rated movies and finally to
porn.
Occult themes can also have an effect on children's minds and these things worry them. It can make it difficult for them to concentrate in school and all of this does have an affect on a child's mental health in addition to whatever pressures he may be dealing with at home or with
teachers and students. Such movies as the new Scooby Doo movie, have disturbing scenes for young children.
The history and background of Peter Pan
Passivity and Depression
Similarly, the passive nature of the medium of television itself, as well as the pastime of regularly watching movies, lends itself well to depression, it is generally a passive, mind dulling activity; and the amount of time that a child spends watching
television or other forms of the media in his or her early years is said to be directly proportional to the incidence of
ADHD later in life, according to some well documented and controlled studies.
(See CHADD website, under the section of clinical studies.)
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders in children may often be linked with television and movie habits. It can also have a link with adult anxiety disorders. In adults, a history of abuse or serious trauma likens the chances that one will suffer with anxiety disorders or depression. Being in a loving environment and giving love to others is essential in healing of emotional wounds. Working with young children is one avenue of work that can bring feelings of self-worth and love. Volunteering one's time also can accomplish this. Talking out the past is essential for some, with a mate, or a professional.
Positive Activities
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Photo:Microsoft. Cannot be reproduced.
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By replacing these passive or mind and emotionally dulling activities with time spent in the outdoors or engaging regularly in such mind strengthening activities as artwork, it can do much to strengthen one's mind as well as the mind of a child, and help one to regain self-respect, as well as emotional and mental balance.
Think Green, get outside, encourage your child to play, make sure he or she has good assocation, friends, is not isolated in his or her room all day. Make provisions for good recreation, ice skating, parks, sledding, art, association with other youngsters, costume parties. Keep your child active. Encourage him or her to read. Take him or her to the library. Read with your children.
Art is a good replacement for television, movies and
video games and is a natural mood stabilizer. In the classroom, many children prefer art to movies. In one 6th grade class, 75% of the children chose art over movies. In one 1st Grade Class, 85% chose art over a popular children's movies, without any promting. Children enjoy art, doing something with their hands and seeing the results of their work.
