ABSTRACT
The ability to record visual information has transformed the human experience over the past century, as the multisensory appeal of moving images accompanied by sound has served as a means of entertainment, education, and even indoctrination. In the twentieth century, film and television have had a major impact on both private and public life, shaping the politics that affect the welfare of whole societies and affecting the experience of every individual living in technologically advanced societies. The influence of the electronic media on individuals, their thinking, and their behavior is a subject of much speculation, study, and controversy. But while individuals may disagree as to the precise effects, they would agree that the moving image has had a profound impact on the way we live our lives and the way we behave. The movies are one form of media, but the culture of motion pictures is a broader phenomenon, affecting us as we watch TV, listen to the radio, surf the Internet, or play video games.
