International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jul-Dec 1929)

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THE CINEMA IN HIGHER PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION {from the Italian) From its appearance the cinema was rightly hailed as a powerful instrument of culture and education to be used either through parables or for the reproduction of natural phenomena or the works of man. But after several attempts, in some cases really remarkable, the cinema was for long a time monopolized by the industry providing theatrical entertainment, which alone seemed to gain public favour. A profound change, however, has gradually taken place and, partly spontaneously and partly as a result of a deliberate policy on the part of the Governments, educational films have made good progress and tend more and more to be recognized as a branch of the cinematographic art in the service of lofty ideals, amongst which the protection and improvement of public health occupy a prominent place. In the field of propaganda, for instance, the methods of realizing films relating to health instruction have no doubt considerably improved, and not very seldom we are shown pictures which, while being accurate from the scientific standpoint, succeed in arousing the interest of the public and in amusing it at the same time. I have had the opportunity of seeing health propaganda films produced in several countries and have been able to note that the fantastic element was, for the purpose of rendering scientific instruction more accessible, so ably blended with the traditional element of local customs, habits and tendencies as to render the films really fine works of art. There is, therefore, every reason to hope that, in the field of health instruction, still more admirable results may be obtained by avoiding in every case the absurdities, mistakes and exaggerations which necessarily were found in the first attempts in the sphere of educational cinematography and which, instead of attracting and convincing the public, kept it away. — 182