Silversheet Possibilities For Cultural Education

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 225, 24 September 1935, Page 3

Silversheet Possibilities For Cultural Education

HAS DONE MUCH; CAN DO MORE

Tho potentialities of tho modern cinema as a universal means of cultural education was referred to in a Rotary Club address delivered at Palmerston North, yesterday by Mr W. A. Armour, M.A., principal of tho Wellington Boys’ College. The speaker also stressed tho value of the talking fdm as an agent for the promulgation of international goodwill and understanding. Recently ho had been talking to a gentleman who had had extensive experience abroad and when asked what he considered to bo the greatest sight he had seen on his travels, the tourist had cited the Grand Canyon of Colorado, said Mr Armour. By means of tho cinema, it had become possible for a person who had not travelled to know much about all the greatest, sights of the world, but no film coui'd hope to catch all tho grandeur, the vastness and tho splendour of the canyon mentioned. This, explained tho speaker, revealed what tho cinema had accomplished and something of which it could not encompass. About the Young People To-day it was a common expression that young people were out for all the pleasure they could get. Ihis was probably quite true, but it was talked about in rather a derogatory manner. The speaker held, however, that as long as this pleasure was legitimate there w f as nothing wrong with it. Usually people referred to it in a tone of censuro implying that youth was not fond of work, that tlioir manners wore not all they should bo aud that thoy did not set fib down readily to busineses and to earn their living. It was true that they went in for pleasures • such as hiking, motoring, dancing, and the like, and devoted a great deal of time to tho cinema, but these young people, it had to be remembered, rvero between tho ages of IS and 24 years. They had been three to nine year 3 old at tho time of the Armistice and wmro not tho product of a war generation but belonged to an entirely now era; one of speed and of organisation, particularly in sport. In 24 hours tho modern youth did far more than tho youth of the past. They played a game, went swimming, went to dinner, then, to tho theatre, and then to a dance. Tho attitude of these young people was ono to ponder on. An ago of speed had allowed this, and so tho general attitude to pleasure had changed.

The Cinema’s Opportunity

Undoubtedly the cinema had ono of the greatest possible opportunities with its capacity for entertainment, but it had to bo admitted that, in the early days, it had failed by reason of its questionable treatment of subjects. Tho film, nevertheless, could not fail, and iu tho past few years the productions had changed vastly for the hotter—not only in .the type of picture but in its technique. Tho elderly person probably disliked tho canned music and underlying sentiment of the early talkies, but had to admit the marked improvement taking place. Wo iu New Zealand wero particularly fortunate in that respect, as wo were getting the best of American pictures even before they wero screened iu England. Books dealing with nature, travel, politics, etc., all gave attention to the cinema as a means of educating the public, and particularly was this so in regard to outside countries. The speaker cited how tho tribes in Africa wero being educated by meins of the silversheet and how native races, by means of easy communication, were receiving an infiltration of Western life. So it behoved us to see that tho right version was scut outside. In Eastern Asia the wrong type of film had been released and had created tho wrong impression; ono of contempt for tho Western people.

True Index of Character Mr Armour pointed out what a wonderful agent tho film, was for tho promulgation of international understanding and goodwill, and stressed the need for a truo index to character being given. This would naturally lead to a better understanding and hence better goodwill. Referring to film legislation In Now Zealand, he declared that it was tho most advanced in the w'orhl. The public had at ono time spoken of the loose nature of films and even of posters, but this had changed and measures were being introduced to make the position even better. We ought to be proud in tho knowledge that interests were being watched for youth and adults. The speaker next referred to the proposed formation of a New Zealand film instituto and told of tho effort to establish the district branches i:i Wellington and Dunedin, Next would como Auckland and Christchurch, and then a national body would be created and conducted on similar lines to tho British institute to help cultural cinematography. Four points would occupy attention, these including the use of tho cinema to encourage tho development of entertainment and instruction, influencing the public opinion to appreciation, acting in an advisory capacity, and to link up the trade with the cultural interests of the Dominion.

Asset to Education

From an educational point of view there wcto great possibilities. It had been discovered overseas that nearly 70 per cent, of tho children visited a cinema at least once weekly, and in New Zealand it would work out at about 60 per cent. This showed the influence, and yet tho cinema in New Zealand was virtually virgin soil from an educational point of view.

Tho broadcast of educational lectures to primary schools on occasions was being carried out in New Zealand at present, but it would bo rcai-

ised that, with the lack of receiving sets in schools, only a small' quota could bo reached by this medium.

Many had affirmed that tho radio was a better mechanical aid than tho cinema, but with this view tho speaker did not agree; the film, he contended, covered more than tho mere voice.

In South Australia tho silversheet was being used to advantage as in other countries. Ho did not, however, advocate tho presentation of pictures at a theatre for children. What he favoured was the installation of projectors in the classrooms. A 60 m.m. film was preferred to the usual 35 m.m.; also film subjects of approximately 15 minutes’ duration, with a supplementary lesson by the teacher.

England was far behind Europe, and even behind Scotland, in respect to cinema education in tho schools, added Mr Armour. Switzerland had even commenced a scheme in 1921, while Germany had 10,000 projectors in the schools and 5000 teachers trained in tho uso of cinematography. It was hoped to increase tlio numbers under a recent scheme.

Italy and France were utilising the method, but England only boasted 700 projectors —about one for every' 500 schools—and only had 3000 films. Germany utilised 40,000 copies. In America it had been found that 11,000,000 children visited tho cinema weekly, and it had been also discovered that 19 per cent, more was learned by cinfcma pupils than by thoso taught otherwise; also that they learned more quickly. Supplementary' reading had also improved because of this medium. Continuing, the speaker said that he had not time to touch on the aspect of tho cinema in so far as it affected tho education of f the adult mind, but lie could say that, with the universities, in medicine and business generally, it was being used to disseminate knowledge. It was also an aid to religious instruction and in the teaching of leisure. Tho film had done a great deal in tho past; it would do a great deal more in the future.

In conclusion, ho referred to tho possibilities of screenings in rooms with diffused lighting, the introduction of a superior negative, and tho general progresses heralded. Mr J. A. Murray had introduced the speaker of tlio day and Mr G. G. Ham cox moved the vote of thaulcs.