Fact or Fiction?

A new internet story has emerged recently, which took me aback. I read the article entitled ‘Woman claims watching 3D Film made her pregnant’. Whilst I am aware this is most likely a false news article, topped off only by the husbands unveiling comment “I see no reason not to believe her as these 3D films are very lifelike”. Despite this ridiculous attempt of a news story, it left my brain spinning. How realistic are films? Will people believe anything if produced in a well-manner? Some common misconceptions I found on my research that many people share include: Danish Pastries come from Denmark (infact they originate from Austria), humans evolved from monkeys (infact we share 94% of the DNA with them so are more likely cousins), Goldfishes have short memories (infact they have been trained to navigate mazes and can recognise their owner after just a couple of months), hair and fingernails continue to grow after death (another common myth which is possibly as the skin shrinks after death which gives a false impression of the growth of the nails), stars twinkle (infact the light from the star enters our atmosphere it gets refracted, so we interpret the bending light as ‘twinkling’). None of these are true, but I imagine the majority of people have believed one or more of the above.

To look at how realistic films are. I feel I should first look at realism and documentaries. How many of the things in documentaries are completely true? The truth seems to be bent. In Filmmaker Eric Steel's attempt to film the beauty of San Francisco's Golden Gate, he captured 19 suicide deaths and several failed attempts. It is apparently the No.1 suicide landmark, but what infuriated the officials of the Bridge is the fact his video was intended "to capture the powerful, spectacular intersection of monument and nature that takes place every day at the Golden Gate Bridge. ... "

I suppose in warped way what my point is, is how you may be believed to watch something showing beauty, but infact be witnessing the death, but if what the poets say you cannot have beauty without death, then I guess this captures the beauty of the Gate.

It's safe to say that the public are becoming more attuned to the way we are tricked through the media. Renowned Movie mogul Michael Moore, often leaves audiences with doubt on what is true. A few facts stated in his film include: the majority of the Obama campaign money came through Wall Street employees, he claimed that the criticism that Barack Obama would pursue socialism increased support for socialism among young people by Election Day, in a public opinion poll he claimed that in response to his movie 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Bush's approval ratings declined, when infact they increased for 8 months. The above two are also false. It's does show you though, that it seems mostly irrelevant of the facts as a small number of critics actually point these falsities out, and instead the impact of his films and what are cinematically available for the viewer are the reasons for the controversy surrounding them. Films I'd recommend that support these ideas include: Bowling for Columbine (2002), Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004), Sicko (2007).

So, in this tangible article, I have loosely tried to inform readers that voyeurism and

hedonism come much before fact and fiction issues.