Why Study Film?

MIT 21L.011 The Film Experience, Fall 2013
Instructor: David Thorburn

In this video, David Thorburn discusses how the study of film and literature enriches students' lives. He also shares that his course offers students an opportunity to appreciate the kind of artistic genius that is distinct from that of entrepreneurs.

License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

[bethrosehealy]

The passion of this man is contagious.

[KirkBGirouard]

The few comments here demonstrate a kind of knee-jerk cynicism too often shoved into the faces of those who dare suggests the arts might be worth something. What these cynics fail to understand is that educational institutes are not necessarily intended to provide job training; they are places for people to learn. Now, if you want to learn the skills applicable to a particular line of work, that's great. Really, it is. But for many people this kind of education is only valuable insofar as it'll one day pay the bills and put food on the table. For the individual, a practical education answers only one question: "How will I make a living?" It's an important question, but only one question, nonetheless.

Film/art/literature/etc. courses, on the other hand, take on every other question that might give meaning to an individual, some emmensely complex. One that comes to mind is, once one's living is made, why might one care to make it? Studying art exposes a student to challenging ideas and teaches him/her to read them and ask strong questions about them. Dedicating serious time to this kind of study gives the student a wealth of content and ideas that add layers and textures to each of that student's subsequent experiences. This is what the instructor in the video was talking about when he said that people who don't spend time with film/art are impoverished. Art augments our experience of the world; the more you consume, and the more thoughtfully you consume it, the richer your experiences will be.

There's more to life than putting food on the table. Perhaps if more people understood this, we wouldn't live in a world where obesity kills more people annually than starvation.

[Boosterisanicecat]

What great passion... really inspired me! Thank you for this

[ShyamKumar-qjyj]

This is what you call passion of cinema.just 3minute video is refreshed my mind more than a cup of hot tea

[sarthaksood]

Man he's a badass passion machine.

[Shubham.Mishra]

The stealth of gaining economic wealth has ruined arts and sciences. As a Filmmaker and an actor myself, who experiences the wrath of commerce on his creativity now and then, I agree with every word you said here and thank you wholeheartedly, Professor.

[MurthyY]

I'm in awe of your passion towards cinema and art...Respect

[fahimahmed]

Basically, I'm afraid of everything in life, except filmmaking
-Lars von Trier

[ikennao]

All I needed was one point he made to know he knows what he talking about, about the camera moving 180 degrees

[fayeyee]

a most interesting insight into film studies.

[asimian]

Why study "<placeholder>"? There is a finite amount of time in people's lives. Find what's important and delve into it whether it's cooking, juggling, art, etc.... While this professor is certainly passionate and I do love film, there's more to the "Why study <placeholder>" and it's more nuanced than stated.

[monilikaa]

I thought it will be another boring lecture..ohhh my god i am going to binge watch his lecture and make notes❤❤

[ishady]

Came here for HUM Humanity/Interdisciplinary Studies class😅

[manzilla]

Pointless degree to study, two of my friends studied film and neither work in the film industry

[PlazaMoon]

and all of them leave MIT with a huge education debt. not good enough to facilitate wonder and commitment to 'film' . just stop bullshitting us.

[SimpMcSimpy]

Sure, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn about .... khmm... movies :)
I am sure they will remember that one after they get their first job at McDonald's.