We’re transitioning into an increasingly modern era, where blockbuster movies are not only created, but are more accessible to viewers through streaming platforms. As jaw-dropping audios and show-stopping visuals are within reach, we are developing into a period where we as humans are susceptible to what we are exposed to online.
University of Missouri sophomore, Cass Watkins, shared her views on how films shape people into who they are.
“I think especially in the age of the internet, they have a huge impact on culture, both like popular culture and culture in general,” Watkins said. “I mean, if you look at films like – famous movies like ‘Star Wars’ – it’s really big and it’s had a huge impact on culture and society.”
Watkins also mentioned that movies from different time periods act like time capsules with people getting different glimpses into what the culture and society was like.
“So if you watch a movie made in like the early 1900s, then you’ll get kind of a taste of what it was like back then,” Watkins said.
Not only do movies and films act like time capsules, they can also reveal parts of us we weren’t familiar with. The power of the media, in general, is indescribable.
“My favorite movie is undoubtedly “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Watkins said. “The first time I watched it, it was really impactful to me because I saw a lot of my own relationship with my mom in it – I saw a lot of myself in the film, so seeing myself represented in that way – it made it even more engaging to watch that film.”
Not only have specific movies impacted Watkins in her present life, but they have affected what she wants to do for the foreseeable future.
“[Film] has had such an effect on me that I want to do it for the rest of my life, you know?” Watkins said. “I just find it so inspiring – it’s such a good creative outlet for me and I don’t get tired of it at all.”
MU sophomore, Leo Lennon, shared a similar opinion – that movies have an important impact on society. They said that their favorite movie is “Pride and Prejudice (2005),” in part because of its female characters.
“There was a recent study published in 2024 that said most of the movies that were nominated [for Oscars] had a female as a main character, which I think is really important,” Lennon said. “So, it kind of shows what we’re trying to center in our politics today.”
Lennon also said they have a connection to the movie because they used to watch it with their aunt.
“It was something me and my aunt were really passionate about – we really loved the movie,” Lennon said. “She got me into it, so now anytime it’s on a streaming service I have to watch it because it just reminds me of her. I love books, I love to read – so reading something by Jane Austen and seeing how it’s portrayed on the screen was really interesting.”
While growing up, film has played an important role in shaping Watkins’ and Lennon’s identities.
“I definitely wouldn’t be the person I am right now if it wasn’t for the cultural references or the media that I’ve been exposed to – they’ve really shaped who I am, from me growing up to me now,” Watkins said. “The things I watch now still shape me.”
As media and film continue to be a prominent aspect of societal culture, it will always have the potential to impact us. So pay attention to the things you love, and how they may shape you into who you are.
Edited by Molly Levine | mlevine@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Emma Harper and Ava Mohror | amohror@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com