Depiction Of War Through Film example essay topic

Is war changed as it becomes a 'media event'? Based on the Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures, analyse the historical significance of the emergence of film as a, medium for representing war in the 1890's. In this day an age when any country is at war it becomes a massive media event, almost everyday news programmes present us with depictions of conflict in various different countries. Media coverage of war has increased drastically over the last century, but why is it so important to provide such extensive coverage? War is changed as it becomes a media event.

Firstly it is made accessible to ordinary people who are not fighting, those safely at home are informed of recent developments and events allowing them to feel involved and enlightened. It also transforms war from simply a large scale act of violence to a huge patriotic event, making people feel proud of their country, media depictions being used as a tool with which to increase morale. The emergence of film has had certain significance on the representation of war. Newspapers and radio reports informed the public, but film depictions allow the public to feel more involved. In the late 1890's, the United States involved themselves in a series of overseas conflicts which became known collectively as The Spanish-American war.

It marked a new phase in the nation's history, it joined Britain and France and other imperial powers seeking to gain economic and political dominance through the building of overseas empires. The Spanish-American war marked the first time an American war was captured on film. Motion pictures transported vivid images to the home and shaped viewer's understandings of the conflict. As well as the media creating understanding it was also used as a tool by the government to create public enthusiasm towards the war, this was important to rule out any objection or protest to the war. Film equipment was still limited to quite an extent, preventing the filming of actual battles.

As a result a number of re-enactments were made to represent war, this was a very effective way of representing war as events could be constructed to appear the way the directors wanted them to, allowing them to present war to the public in the way they wanted it to look and achieve desired reactions from the public towards the war. Edison made re-enactments of fighting. Film re-enactments such as 'Shooting Captured Insurgents's how ed Spanish soldiers killing Cuban prisoners, while 'U.S. Infantry Supported by Rough Riders at El Caney' and 'Skirmish of Rough Riders' offered patriotic glimpses of the popular Rough Riders fighting, leading audiences to admire these heroic figures, feeling that they were protecting their country. A re-enactment entitled 'Raising Old Glory over Morro Castle' by Thomas A. Edison (January 1899) appears to be completely constructed to create patriotism.

It shows the Spanish flag being taken down and the American flag being raised in its place. Here we see an obvious construction as the castle which appears in the background is a painting. Here we can see how the emergence of film was extremely significant to the representing of war; simple scenes as we see here, could be constructed to create a message to the American people. This one in particular is definitely extremely patriotic, creating ideas of American victory, dominance and superiority. Here we see the great historical significance as these ideas of America seem ever present and Americas citizens have for many years been encouraged to think about they " re country in such a way. Film as a medium for representing war is here and very often used as a form of propaganda, encouraging people to believe in their country and the war they are fighting.

Scenes shown to the public can be one sided, biased and often glorified in order to depict the war in the way the government want its people to see it. In 'Love and war' (Thomas A. Edison, 1899), we see an illustrated song telling the story of a hero who leaves for the war as a private, is promoted to the rank of captain for bravery in service, meets the girl of his choice, who is a Red Cross nurse on the field, and finally returns home triumphantly as an officer to the father and mother to whom he bade good bye as a private. Here we see a very idealistic portrayal of war, one of victory, honour and love. These are obvious qualities that the American government would want their public to feel towards those who fight. 'Love and war's e ems to aim to make the viewer feel proud of the man who went to fight, in tries to enforce qualities of heroism in war. Here War has become a media event, it has been taken to a level at which it is accessible to the ordinary public, but also as war becomes a media event it may often become falsified to a certain extent.

War often becomes glorified, the depiction of war through film, aims to inform the audience but also to a small extent still aims to entertain allow this is not very obvious. War is transformed from a tragic event to one which is full of glory and should be watched. The media uses the depiction of war to make people have faith in and feel proud of their country. It has led to members of society taking more of an interest in current wars. It had also led society to value victory highly. After fighting ended with the signing of a Peace Protocol between the United States and Spain in August 1898, the film companies were eager to get footage of the returning war heroes.

Both Edison and Biography filmed the Sampson homecoming parade on August 20, 1898, in New York City. Several views of the ships involved in the war were shown heading up the Hudson River. Here we can see how film can be used to turn a victory into a national event for all to celebrate. We can see how the emergence of film, as a medium for representing war, is extremely historically significant. It has transformed war into a national event which is brought to us in our own homes. It has made keeping up with events accessible to all, but also has made it possible for the government to attempt to manipulate people's feelings towards war.

As war becomes a media event, it often becomes glorified, for the purpose of propaganda and also to entertain.