By Bill Allen
Movies are an escape. They present an opportunity that allows us to be anything, anyone, and be everywhere. Our imaginations are our only limitations. But sometimes, we can be more critical and more biased than necessary.
For example, we love the Barbie movie, but many hate the remake of The Color Purple. We can accept the fantasy of a child's play toy being alive in our actual world, but we cannot accept a fictitious story about post-slavery Black American lives. We can accept musical expressions and dance in the Barbie movie but not in The Color Purple.
I understand that people fondly remember the original The Color Purple movie. I liked that movie also. It was a bold portrayal of American life that was known but never before depicted in cinema. The actors were wonderful. The original film was snubbed by the Oscars, and we have seen that happen again. The Barbie movie has also been snubbed, to some degree. However, it has not received the same backlash as The Color Purple remake.
Unique and critical evaluation is also associated with the Origin movie. The movie combines almost all the means we have found to separate individuals beyond race. Origin is a complex feature that requires reflection, empathy, and self-evaluation. Bias is often taught and learned by choice or standards written into laws or the community structure. We all found our way to do this with atomic equations and understanding nuclear fusion in Oppenheimer. Yet, we do not want to accept that many need to feel superior to others for no specific reason other than self-importance.
Education and opportunities can be equal, but there is always a desire to be superior.
(Photos courtesy Warner Bros.)
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