International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

— 447 — " The influence is notable, not only positively, but negatively, since the impressions vary from one film to another and, instead of helping towards the attainment of an ideal, may end by leading minds astray. Even the spectacle of fine and generous acts is too fugitive to leave permanent impressions from which children can profit afterwards. In this respect books are infinitely more effective. The influence of the cinema upon female character is stronger owing to woman's imitative tendency, a tendency stronger in the young, but not, of course, resulting in the formation of character, strictly speaking. " " The cinema certainly influences children and grown-ups differently. In the former it stimulates imagination; the latter it teaches a wider and truer view of life. On the other hand, it often exercises a disturbing effect upon young [girls. " " Everyone of us is amenable to outside influences according to his nature and to the bias given him by family environment in early life. Accordingly, the cinema's influence cannot be considered apart from a child's natural predisposition. The fact that nearly all girls prefer emotional, sentimental and even historical films (when, as in " Trafalgar," they contain some love or sacrifice motive), while boys under 15 prefer comic or adventure films, shows that it is the mentality which determines the choice of film and not the film currently shown which determines the character. When asked what was the influence of the screen on the formation of their character, girls of introspective habit all without exception denied that films had struck in them any deep chord. Other girls, however, acknowledge, as a permanent effect of films, an increased tendency towards reverie, while girls of a timid disposition have felt more afraid of solitude and darkness after seeing certain films. " " Some films may strongly influence children's characters. On girls the effect is not as a rule happy. The screen is in the habit of depicting abnormal or immodest women and the young spectators are so impressionable that they begin to imitate these film heroines in daily life." " The cinema has a great influence upon the character of boys and girls alike; at present, however, this influence is bad rather than good. It is more harmful to girls than to boys, especially through its tendency to encourage immorality and false values." " The screen may exercise a strong influence. Some films arouse a desire for another kind of existence and unsatisfied ambition leads to discontent. Girls are no longer content with the ideal of the home, but crave for the luxury, amusement and adventure they see on the screen." " The cinema can in certain circumstances influence children and adolescents of either sex. Among children of a dull, superficial or unintelligent mind, the impressions are never permanent or deep enough to influence the development of character, but upon intelligent and thoughtful children the effect is often profound. Girls are more subiect to influence, because they mature earlier and are often more observant than boys. The lack of modesty and the laziness noticeable in many girls and contrasting so violently with family and school education can often be traced to bad examples set by films." The above are the replies concerning the cinema's influence on character formation which we have thought best worth quoting. Some teachers maintain, without giving reasons for their opinion, that the cinema can have no influence, either good or bad, upon children. Others say that this influence is a doubtful quantity, but, as they furnish no further explanations, we will be content with a mere mention of these replies. Moreover,