In her essay, "Defending Goliath: Hollywood and the Art of the Blockbuster," Manohla Dargis discusses a cultural divide with serious intellectual highbrows on one side, who dismiss blockbuster movies such as The Lord of the Rings or Spider Man, and "ordinary viewers" on the other side, who like these kinds of movies. Do you think this divide is accurate or do people bridge this divide? Which group would you identify with? Discuss some of the movies you enjoy to support your answer.
Personally, I don’t believe that there is a cultural “divide” between two groups of people watching blockbuster movies. If you enjoy watching a blockbuster movie, then you like it. If you dislike it because it wasn’t your type of movie, then you don’t like it. Different people have different tastes and preferences, especially with movies. Some intellectual people may enjoy watching blockbusters because they’re entertaining, while others may not. For instance, the Star Wars trilogy is a classic blockbuster. Most of the people I’ve talked to love the movies, with a few that don’t. Most of the people that said they hated it was because of other reasons such as older special effects, weren’t into sci-fi, etc. It never came down to intellect versus ordinary, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI also don't really believe that there's any cultural divide among people who rent movies from blockbuster. Maybe one person dislikes a movie, but I don't think that's from sort of cultural barrier. I've had movies that I've loved, and movies that I've hated. Sometimes I'll think that I'll like a movie, and end up not liking it, so it really just depends on preference I think. I guess if the barrier were to be true, I would be with the "ordinary viewers" just because I will pretty much watch anything. Whether or not I like it is a different story, but it never comes down to, "oh, that movie is just for intellectual people, that's why I don't like it." I think that people have their own personal opinions over movies, just like any other thing.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that there is any cultural divide between people watching blockbuster movies. I do not believe only intellectual people will just enjoy intellectual movies. I do not think that people will only enjoy the movies from the genre that they usually like to watch. I will watch any movie but I typically like thrillers or comedies, and don’t usually prefer warlike movies. I recently watched American Sniper and actually enjoyed it. Because I will watch any movie I think I would be one of the “ordinary viewers.” Everyone has their own preference on the type of movies they enjoy just like everyone has a preference on anything.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the analysis of the culture divide between intellectual high brows and blockbusters is not relevant. To say movies like Spider Man is something childish compared to other movies that seem more "intellectual". In reality today's times many adults do not consider spider man a childish movie and I have not come across any one who says that it is too childish of a movie to go see. The blockbuster movies do focus on special effects but do not make them childish or down grade the age of them . They just provide more of an interest to crowds allowing more of an audience to appreciate it. There i not much of a cultural divide on America's films. Personally the difference of if it is a high brow or blockbuster does not run through my mind to make the final decision if I liked the movie.
ReplyDeleteMovies are made for the viewer’s entertainment not to separate people into groups. I don’t that there is a cultural divide between “intellectual viewers” and “ordinary viewers”. Everyone has their own preference in movies, so they are either going to be interested in the so-called “blockbuster” films or they are not. There are people who could be interested in some blockbuster movies and then don’t care for the rest. Some one for instance could like the all of the parts to the Godfather movies and then hate the new Batman trilogy. If I had a preference in films it would comedies but that doesn’t mean I can’t like action or any other type of movie genres.
ReplyDeleteI believe movies today bridge the gap between highbrows and "ordinary" viewers because large blockbuster films provide different aspects of entertainment in order to appease everyone. For example, intellectual viewers will watch "Inception" or "Skyfall" and analyze every line, pulling from these films a deeper meaning. Ordinary viewers will watch these movies and enjoy the action and the plot twists without thinking as much about the buried interpretations. The main goal for movies is to entertain and i believe that viewers will pull from blockbusters what they wish to, whether it be profound insights or pure transparent entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is a divide between viewers that claim to be intellectual and who do not like blockbusters and those who watch the most popular movies that come out. For some people, movies are more than just entertainment. Some people think movies are a form of art that should be deeply thought provoking and appeal only to a select group. These "highbrows" separate themselves from the mainstream blockbuster scene. Blockbusters with high budgets and a huge target audience are made for millions of people alike to be able to enjoy, as most people seek out movies for simple entertainment, not an intellectual experience.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe there is a divide between highbrows and "ordinary" viewers. Movies are generally released to the public targeting age or interest groups, not levels of intellect. While there are some people who will sit through and analyze ever single line and scene, like in the movie "Seven", others will just sit there and tune in for the action and mystery. Regardless of what they choose to do, there should not be a specific divide for their preferences. I can not see myself fall into either category. For some movies, like "The Matrix", I will sit an try to figure out the next move before it even happens. For others, like "Inception", who falls under the same level of complexity as "The Matrix", I will just watch for the action. The divide between the highbrows and "ordinary" viewers is extremely bridged therefore I believe there is not really one at all.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that there really is not a divide between "intellectual" and "ordinary" movie goers. Movies are made to be enjoyed and to make as much money as possible. There are various movies that mess with your mind such as Inception. However, I have yet to meet someone that says they didn't like movies such as that one due to the fact that it is made to appeal to a massive audience. I will watch any movie and I particularly liked the big blockbusters such as some of the new Marvel movies and even some old ones like Remember the Titans because they are classics and it is hard to argue that they are bad movies. As I said earlier, movies aren't made to be over analyzed, they are made to be enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteYes I do believe there is a divide. However, at the same time i don't believe there is a divide for enjoyment. In other words, just because your super high class doesn't you can't enjoy those movies. The reason for this is in my opinion is that certain movies like the curious case of Benjamin button clearly doesn't appeal to the lower class of people. The movie is suppose to incite intelligent debates. However, movies like Avengers are just suppose to entertain you. It is like music. Certain rappers rap with meaning and stories while others like Juicy J rap for the heck of it and use music that is suppose to drink to and party.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe there is a cultural divide with serious intellectual highbrows on one-side and blockbuster movie watchers on the other. I believe that people can enjoy movies on both sides and also dislike different movies on either side at the same time. For example, I personally do not like Star Wars, but I love all the Harry Potter movies and have been to every midnight premier. While at the same time I can love some intellectual movies and dislike others. I believe it all depends on if the topic interests me, nothing to do with the type of movie that it is. For me, a lot of the time it just depends on the type of movie I am in the mood to watch. For instance, just because you like one comedy does not mean you will like them all or only like that one genre. Maybe one day you want a blockbuster and maybe one day you do not.
ReplyDeleteThere is no cultural divide in between movie viewers. Dargis presents in the article viewers as intellectuals who are unsatisfied with the big blockbuster movies that come out because they distract the viewer, or as an ordinary viewer. I disagree with this depiction of viewers, and believer that people bridge the gap. I for one could love indulging in movies such as "Jaws" or any of the Harry Potter Movies, but easily turn my nose up at any of the new Marvel movies. There are thousands of other viewers who will do just the same. They will indulge in some blockbuster hits while turning down others. Other viewers will indulge in all blockbuster movies while enjoying intellectually stimulating movies as well. Not every viewer turns their nose up at blockbuster hits while claiming to have a higher and more culturally appropriate taste in movies.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe that there is a cultural divide between the people who enjoy blockbusters and the people who don’t. I think that people like movies solely based off of personal preference and not just because other people like it. What would be the purpose of sitting through a two hour movie that you have no interest in just because your girlfriend or friend really likes it? Some people really like Bollywood movies which is a type of foreign film with very low budgets and terrible acting. The reason people like these movies sometimes is because they are so poorly made that it is hilarious to watch. What I’m getting at here is that everyone has their own taste in entertainment and just because you aren’t into the most popular movies in America does not mean that there is a cultural divide.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe there is a divide of people who like movies. People can have certain preferences of the types of movies they like, but that does not define them. However, people would be crossing a “bridge” if they tried something new. For example, I do not like and have never even watched anime. If I were to go into a movie theater and watch one now, I’d be crossing my bridge. A guy watching a “chick flick” on a date would also be considering crossing the bridge. I guess I would fall into the comedy, romance, scary, and inspiring movie groups.
ReplyDeleteAlong with my fellow classmates, I don't believe there is a "cultural divide." The belief that there is a division between people who enjoy movies such as The Lord of the Rings or SpiderMan is solely based on the fact if whether the person enjoyed the movie or not. I've personally never seen The Lord of the Rings or SpiderMan so I can't make an opinion on those movies. But I do enjoy movies that are romantic, action-filled, or comedic. For example, I watched The Fault In Our Stars over the weekend with my family. I balled my eyes out while my father who doesn't like movies that are romantic or sappy at all, actually enjoyed the movie (I was shocked.) We can't say there is a cultural divide just because there are so many likes and dislikes and individual preferences.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in this divide between intellectuals and non intellectuals and one side liking the typical blockbuster and the other not. To say defiantly that there is such a correlation is futile. First you would have to define intellectual, then to claim that because someone got a higher number on a test than another person would only deny the intellect that they do have, which could be in music or art ect. So then relative to my definition of intelligence that person would be pretty low on the scale. Everything in the world is way too relative to make such a defining claim.
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