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Media Is The Masses: Cinemal Abuse

By Sean Stubblefield  

I remember when going to movie theaters used to be fun- a special occasion. I would go often, frequently with a group of friends. Going to the theater was a social and cinematic event... exciting, meaningful, communal. Now, I only occasionally visit a theater (typically by myself) because I still love seeing movies on a big screen... but am repeatedly disappointed and saddened by the degradation that theaters-and movie lovers- are suffering.

The erosion of theater attendance is intrinsically connected to the erosion of the movie experience quality provided by theaters.

Did decreasing attendance cause decreasing accommodations, or the other way around?

People haven't stopped watching movies, just because the theaters have failed us.

Most people clearly still care about a pleasant movie experience, or else they wouldn't be abandoning theaters en masse, in favor of watching movies at home to avoid the annoying cinemalaprop theaters have become.

Yet, given the profit factor alone, if an enjoyable and meaningful movie experience is what the people want, isn't this what theaters should be providing- as being in their own best interest?

Regardless, the decline results from of lacking appreciation and consideration for the movie going experience, by sufficient numbers of insensitive theater patrons and staff. Leaving mostly uncivilized rabble in attendance. Many suffer because of a few.

Besides the cinemassacre occurring through a disgraceful deficit of content quality in mainstream movies, the majority of reasons for increasingly declining theater attendance are due to the theaters themselves, in the environment and behavior they tolerate: talking, cell phones, crying babies, undisciplined children, commercials, no ushers to maintain decorum, high prices, poor technology & indifferent or incompetent staff (faulty or badly adjusted speakers/unfocused or misaligned image on screen), freezing temperatures, uncomfortable seating, blah décor, disregard for cleanliness and neglected maintenance.

I think so many people have become so spoiled (literally) by watching movies in a home environment-where unruliness is permitted and they are not taught or required to be considerate of those around them, that they don't know how to behave properly in a public viewing setting.

Furthermore, they demonstrate a disrespect for not only the movie going experience, but movies themselves. Obviously, neither aspect matters to them, or they would not be so dismissive of movies and fellow movie patrons by being so rudely disruptive in theater.

If they valued these elements, then they would sit down, shut up and pay attention to the movie-- which they paid money for!

Dude, a theater is not your home; behave as if you are a guest, if you lack discipline in your own home. Why are you even there, if you don't care about the movie?

Maybe if so many movies weren't so bad, more of us would care more about proper theater conditions and decorum... demanding/ expecting better.

Even with the option of home theaters and DVD, I believe that if a satisfying and meaningful movie going experience were available, people would still be excited to see movies in theaters.

Send Comments to: exastra@hotmail.com

Currently based in Houston Texas, Sean Stubblefield graduated Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Television Production. A philosopher poet, Stubblefield has been writing non-fiction for 15 years, and has penned eight books to date. His first book, Paradox: A Journey Inside Out will be available Spring 2008.

For pre-orders, please contact Judyth Piazza at judythpiazza@newsblaze.com.

For More Information: www.myspace.com/exastral.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com