Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Internet and Cinephilia

I started becoming interested in movies at around age 11. It was around the early 1990's then and the Internet was only specialized tool used by a select few. So I got most of my information on books and on TV. It wasn't until the mid-1990's during my college years when I *really* became serious, started voraciously watching Kurosawa, Truffaut, Godard, Fellini and all the Hollywood classics. What happened? A combination of growing up as a person and as a film buff and of course the Internet where I met and corresponded with people who recommended these films to me.

One of the reasons why cinephilia is so popular these days, as well as all other aspects of geekdom is the Internet. Never before in the history of society and film has information and access been this easy. I mean, from the time I started fiddling with the Internet and corresponding with people, downloading entire films and watching in your computer have become commonplace. Rarely seen films and very indie and very arthouse flicks can reach audiences easier than ever before. I also find that some young people are becoming serious cinephiles at rather young ages, discovering films that I haven't even heard of until college during their junior high years!

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Well, there are downsides to this, of course but I do believe that the good far outweigh the bad. It means films and the appreciation for films as art form will no longer be shared by a elite few but rather by a wider spectrum of people.

15 comments:

The Angry Lurker said...

I do wander around the obscure and the classics as I also follow the mainstream, love most types of cinema but mostly as a joyful medium.

Diego Sousa said...

i think it's great to cinema, but, they must think on another way to win the monies, now that we watch it for free

Bart said...

free ftw!

StigmataHandjob said...

I think it's amazing. And for small filmmaker it must be nice to be able to build up an audience they couldn't have dreamed of 10 years ago.
But then again yeah, the money issue.

Sub Radar (Mike) said...

The availability of movies online certainly hasn't helped my movie addiction either.

Bersercules said...

I think its great kids can see so much so quick!
But I also think older people like me and you will feel a little bit jealous.
I remember how hard it was for me to find movies I'd hear about when I was a kid and I cringe!

Thomas Duder, Author of the Things said...

Akira Kurosawa, holy SHIT so superior. Didn't he do the Mushashi trilogy (with Mifune) of movies and Sword of Death?

Either way, Seven Samurai is frikken' superior.

coneforce said...

most of the newest movies are being locked on the internet free providers until they are stopped showing in cinemas... like your blog btw... followed!

DS said...

Interesting stuff +followed

Ting Kubby said...

It's a good thing, i love being able to download old eurocrime and kung fu movies that i couldn't find anywhere else.

Kamatacci said...

The internet is a GREAT tool for movie fans. Kids today have so much more to work with, both watching and making movies, and I think in a few years there will be a huge new wave of real filmmakers who got their start on Youtube.

msmariah said...

I think the internet has been great for some things like film. Perhaps not so much for other things, like ma and pa shops who depend on foot traffic.

Anonymous said...

I became a movie addict the day day I discovered TPB. Follow'd. :D

Bart said...

woop woop

Kyran said...

Yeah I think the internet is great at spreading enthusiasm for all media. At the same time the over-saturation makes it a bit difficult. The social filters are more removed. Before internet you'd only hear about a film from someone if they actually enjoyed it. Now there's so much to choose from and so little time.