Ways Movies Promote and Preserve Culture

by Adrian Johansen

As the old saying goes, art imitates life. But, when it comes to movies, a whole new world of different cultures can be opened up just by pressing play or sitting down in a theater. The lives being imitated may be completely different from what you’re used to. 

That’s why movies are so interesting, so timeless, and so important. 

Film helps to both promote and preserve history – so much so, that it can serve as some people’s only window into other cultures. While there has been backlash over certain films and how groups of people are portrayed, movies can often be used as interesting peeks into history books that would otherwise go unnoticed. 

Let’s take a closer look at why movies are so important for cultural preservation, as well as some films that have gotten it right over the years. 

Connecting the Past to the Present

There’s no denying that movies have evolved, from how they are made and produced to how they are distributed. The digital age has brought new faces of leadership with it. Now, people from all walks of life and many different cultures around the globe are viewed as leaders. 

Even in the U.S., we saw our first African American president in 2008. Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s third female Prime Minister and the youngest the country has ever seen in 2017. The faces of leadership are changing thanks to things like the Internet, social media, and even movies. 

In this way, life may be imitating art. For years, movies have been produced depicting everything from female presidents to minority figures running for political office or running an empire. 

Movies have also shown how different cultures and people from the past have influenced life as we know it, today. A great example is 2019’s Billie, utilizing compiled interviews and biographical information to create a documentary about jazz singer Billie Holiday’s life. Most people have heard the name but may not know just what an influence she had on jazz music and the culture during her life. She was a leader in that industry. Now, something as simple as a movie is letting more people realize that for the first time by bringing the past to the present. 

Keeping Cultures Alive

In addition to bringing the past to the present, some films help to keep certain cultures and historical events alive. That includes oral histories. Sometimes, there is no better way to pass down a cultural experience than by hearing it from someone who was a part of it. In the United States, Native American tribal tales make up the backbone of our country, but that’s only the beginning. Cultures can be kept alive through oral history by utilizing things like: 

• Songs

• Poems

• Short stories

• Novels

• Mythology

• Traditional ceremonies/celebrations

While showcasing certain cultures on film is one thing, movies about translation and oral history really show us how little we might know about other cultures. Films like Windtalkers and The Terminal show the importance of language and translation, and how crucial they are when it comes to keeping cultural histories alive. Not only that, but they show us how important it is to learn more about those languages, rather than trying to force other cultures to adapt to something different just because we consider it “normal”. 

Recognizing Film Flaws

While it’s clear that movies can provide an eye-opening window into other cultures, they don’t always hit the nail on the head. That’s especially true when you look back at older films and notice the misinformation and stereotypes regarding certain cultures. 

On one hand, it’s tempting to want to give those filmmakers a bit of a pass. Many people weren’t as educated on world history as they are now. Remember, the Internet wasn’t a thing when Walt Disney first started making animated films. But, it wouldn’t have taken much research for those filmmakers to know that their portrayals were inaccurate. Some of the most popular movies that have been criticized over the years for portraying cultures in inaccurate/negative ways include: 

• Sixteen Candles

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s

• The Last Samurai

• Fantasia

• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

• Dumbo

• Gone With the Wind

Unfortunately, that list could go on for a while. But, if there’s something positive that comes from those films, it’s that they have sparked discussions today. Filmmakers and moviegoers alike can easily see the mistakes that were made and the cultural insensitivities that should have never been included in the film. So, even though those stereotypes are wrong, they are still important lessons to keep in mind. 

There are so many lessons movies can teach us, but we don’t regularly think of them as history lessons. It’s important to know which films are getting it right, so you can use them as a window to the rest of the world. Take the time to do your research, and you could learn so much about cultures across the globe that may have otherwise never been available to you.