Climate Change
What do you think is the impact of films like "An Inconvenient Truth"? Do films, books, lectures, etc. lead to behavior change? If not, what inspires behavior change?
posted by UVM Eco-Reps Program Coordinator @ 11:12 AM
What do you think is the impact of films like "An Inconvenient Truth"? Do films, books, lectures, etc. lead to behavior change? If not, what inspires behavior change?
posted by UVM Eco-Reps Program Coordinator @ 11:12 AM
22 Comments:
Absolutely, I think education about the subject is the best way to get people to change their lifestyles. That and seeing other people live simply. I know for a fact education and seeing others as an example has changed my entire lifestyle, and got me to influence others as well. Because America is a country so easily influenced by the media I think movies are a great way to get the point across. Not everyone has acess to a college education, so sometimes entertainment is the best way to inform people. The entertainment industry must continue producing these types of movies/books so that the American people can change the way they live.
that was
Colleen above
I think films, books, and lectures are all excellent ways to educate the world about global warming because education is the first key to change peoples behaviors. I think films are a particularly good way to communicate since they have all the interest of a lecture, can have the information of a book, and can reach a far greater audience than either lectures or books. It takes a lot more than information to truly change someone's behavior of course because people have to have a personal interest in the problem/solution, but it is a great first step. I think "An Inconvenient Truth" is the most important movie ever made.
-Mollie
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Any source of information regarding the impacts of climate change besides students is great, especially if it is an oscar winning film or a celebrity spokesperson. When Laurie David came I think some people's eyes were opened because they saw an outsider they can relate to come to them to specifically talk to them about what we are doing to the environment. Films are a very effective way mainly because movies are a major form of entertainment for people of all ages, and movies like the inconvenient truth really do have impacts on people. It is a creditable information coming from a well known source which in turn is an effective means of relaying the truth about global warming.
-Phil
i think anything that is informing people about the enviorment is great! even if it's just a few people it's better than nothing. we have to take baby steps to accomplish something like this. I give them all credit and i think they are all a great way of getting the point accross and educatins people on the porblems that we all face!
-sawyer
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I watched "An Inconvenient Truth" over vacation with one of my most critical friends. He automatically hated the movie from the very beginning because of Al Gore... I think that Al Gore was the wrong person to present that material simply because he is such a controversial person. Many people watching that movie won't take it seriously because of him.
That aside, I agree with Colleen about the fact that we as a society are highly influenced by the media. So, yes, movies and books about these issues are very important and influential to many people. However, people have to be personally motivated to change their behavior, it usually has to have some impact on them to get their behavior to change. Thus, education needs to continue so people realize what a pressing issue climate change! (I'm sorry that was so long, but I felt inspired)
I think that films, books, and lectures are a great way to educate people on the biggest environmental issues at hand. A film like "An Inconvenient Truth" really gets people's attention and sort of "wakes them up" to the issues that are going on right now. I feel that the more these types of educational devices are used in today's world, the more active society will become in living an environmentally sounder lifestyle. The one idea that would impact this negatively though, is the fact that many people are unwilling to change their ways. The willingness to change is an important factor in living a better lifestyle. People need to be open to different types of living circumstances in order to create a positive impact on our world. Once this occurs, we will all further our advancement in a "greener" society.
I think that movies such as 'An Inconvenient Truth' have a huge effect on the public, particularly if people don't know much about the topic. Sometimes that stun factor really jolts people into action. The difficult aspect of books, lectures, and movies is that many people will choose not to take the time to read, listen, or watch. I've spoken with a lot of my family members who weren't very educated about climate change, and they really took the message to heart after seeing 'An Inconvenient Truth'. If movies and other media resources continue to be used on a large scale to increase knowledge of environmental issues, I think that more and more people will begin to change their lifestyles.
Such films are powerful forms of media to reach the masses who are largely "out of touch" with the looming env. crisis of global warming. Your "average joe" is not apt to pick up a copy of Cunnimgham's environmental science textbook or read something along the lines of FieldNotes From a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert. As we all know people are typically lazy, and are most susceptible to "education" through the means of sitting on their rear ends and peering at a television or theater screen. Hence it is of the utmost importance for us to support such films as The Inconvenient Truth or the myriad documentaries on peak oil because it is the main means to educate the masses. Clearly we need widespread change in our culture to confront the perils of global warming.
-Elias
I think movies like the ones mentioned are great at getting peoples minds on the issues. Every time I watch one even though sometimes I know all of the information the constant visuals through out the movie always make me think again. I think people need to be opened up to the issue and so many people like movies and are interested in media, so I think it is great.
Aliza
Anything can inspire people and make them think. A lot of people get so stuck in their mindsets and don't even realize the habits they've formed. Films, books, and lectures are all good ways to prompt people to actually think about things that they wouldn't normally think about. The more information there is out there, no matter form it's in, the more likely it is for someone to realize something that had never crossed their mind before or to consider another point of view.
-Naomi
Film is probably the most approachable media, with the exception of television to reach t he myriad of uninformed people on such issues as climate change. Magazines and books are most likely to be of interest to people already aware of the themes in them, and usually require input to discover new, up and coming trends. However, Film and TV are more likely to be stumbled upon, whether you're late for the film you intended or just stumbled upon a PBS special that caught your eye. However, actually getting behavior to change is different than spreading the gospel of environmentalism. Personal contact usually has more influence on an individual's actions, so seeing a lecturer or having a petitioner come to your door might invoke a reaction (either negative or positive) from it's audience. However, mass media is indubitably the root of introduction to new themes like global warming to alert the majority of the public.
To reach the myriad of uninformed people on issues like climate change, an introduction must be made through television or film. The average person will not pay heed to books or articles on hot button issues until it is widely publicized, and articles and books prescribe to an exclusive audience that is already aware of the general outline of such issues. However, tv takes into account the attention defecit nature of the modern viewer, thus allowing it to get the point across quickly, although not nearly as concisely as other media forms, namely books and movies can offer. Unfortunatly, informative films are not publicly screened very frequently, and need publicity to get noticed. So through these very approachable, daily and repetitious forms, issues can get noticed on tv and newspapers. To get a change to be evoked however, personal contact like a lecturer or well known personality need to be established to actually have a lasting effect. So while T.V. is good for an issues 15 minutes of fame, it needs to be hammered home to the public. Of course I feel that all medias should be approached to get any humanitarian cause, because a broader base means a wider and more informed audience, and that is how you bring change on up and coming issues.
I think An Inconvenient Truth, as well as books and other forms of media have a huge impact on behavior and change. Many people get information about what is going on in the world through media, so it is knowledge. Furthermore, it is knowledge that leads people to form their morals and behaviors. So, since media is a form of knowledge for people, it is a molder of the type of behaviors a person is going to display. If a person sees, through the media, that their current behaviors are harmful, I think that can be inspiring to make a change.
Emily T
I believe films are a great tool and an excellent source for people to use. People love tv and a film is just another great way to get a message across. Entertainment is something Americans spend millions on. It is something that is heard. I think people are too use to seeing articles just in papers on topics such as global warming. I think it's important to spread the word beyond the pages of a magazine. Seeing others takes action is a personal motivation for me. I also think films catch audiences of all ages unlike reading an article in a paper. A child is less likely to pick up a newpaper and read it (that's also one of the most crucial ages to have an affect on). I think a film is a great way to get a point/message across~ Carrie
I believe films are a great tool and an excellent source for people to use. People love tv and a film is just another great way to get a message across. Entertainment is something Americans spend millions on. It is something that is heard. I think people are too use to seeing articles just in papers on topics such as global warming. I think it's important to spread the word beyond the pages of a magazine. Seeing others takes action is a personal motivation for me. I also think films catch audiences of all ages unlike reading an article in a paper. A child is less likely to pick up a newpaper and read it (that's also one of the most crucial ages to have an affect on). I think a film is a great way to get a point/message across~ Carrie
I think that films are one of the best ways to get a message across. It takes virtually no effort and can be highly informative. Literature is harder because people have to make an effort to get any information out of it. Especially if the writer is trying to tell the reader something they dont want to hear.
Erin
I think there is huge reactions to films about climate change and environmental issues, especially if they are well advertised and known about. They bring attention to problems that some people in the country are not directly exposed to or educated about. By watching a movie about an issue that you don't know much about it can strike a new interest to learn more about it as well as act out to help. I think it definately can change everyday actions, especially since "An Inconvient Truth" added things you can do to help at the end of the movie. I think that really makes a big change too.
Katherine M.
I definatly feel that movies like an inconvinent truth do help. The only problem is that most people dont see these films. The moast popular was an inconvinent truth, which did make a difference but there are others like Who killed the Electric car? and Future of Food that really only people who are interested in these topics watch. I think there needs to be more publicity on these films and hopefully they will infiltrate the general media.
Despite the lack of knowledge and accessability to these films, i do beleieve that they are making a difference becuase they are entertaining and informative. I think as time goes on these films and documentaries will be more and more successful and popular among teh general public- or at least i hope.
-Michael Rubin
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