Introduction
Ethics play a crucial role in the functioning of society. They provide the moral framework that guides the behaviors of individuals by designating what is considered morally right or wrong, good or bad, and just or unjust. Thus, ethics guide the decisions people make in their day-to-day lives, actions, and relationships with other members of society.
Furthermore, the ethical standards of society dictate how particular issues are viewed and responded to by different communities. Unsurprisingly, various ethical problems are used as subject matter in popular culture, including films as a part of the entertainment category of that culture. Movies can be considered a major influence not only on popular culture but on society as a whole, and their incorporation of ethical themes provides a platform for the exploration of those themes. This literature review addressed the portrayal of complex moral dilemmas in cinema and the various ways ethics are utilized in films.
Ethics in Film and the Reflection of Society
Art, in its different forms and media, serves a variety of functions in society. One such role of individual art forms is to provide the reflection of society and its various pivotal social, political, cultural, religious, and other aspects and issues. Throughout history, fiction has been the outlet for the representation of different phenomena in society (Makmur et al. 77).
Films, as an artistic media, are not an exception, with many motion pictures discussing contemporary moral predicament characteristics of specific communities and societies at the forefront of discussion. All subjects that can be covered in films, regardless of the genre, “act within social institutions,” movies unfailingly reflect society and reveal different aspects of life in distinct communities (do Nascimento 19). As ethics and morality play a critical role in the functioning of society, in their reflection of it, films invariably portray various ethical conundrums and the moral norms of the depicted community. In addition, behaviors that stray from the widely accepted ethical and moral norms can be displayed in motion pictures to emphasize their unacceptability and impropriety.
It should be noted that various art forms embody their creators’ ideas, values, and ethical and moral norms. Do Nascimento notes that the production of any form of art does not take place in a vacuum, and there cannot be an “ex nihilo creation” (20). Completing any work of art is a transpersonal operation occurring in a specific social context, with various stakeholders having varying input levels (do Nascimento 20).
It is suggested that artistic communities have complex connections with different aspects of society, and the portrayal of different ethical issues can be skewed by these connections (do Nascimento 20). Thus, films may reflect the views and ethical standards the filmmakers hold. However, as a part of society, directors provide commentary on the phenomena they observe in their communities. Furthermore, using ethical themes in films serves as a “safeguard of humanism in the media” and does not allow for the separation of art and society (Mladenova 8). Overall, even in reflecting the views held by the artists involved in creating a film, the moral standards of the larger population are addressed and offered for discussion.
Ethics in Film as a Catalyst for Discussion and Education
Another common theme discovered in the existing body of literature on the use and place of ethics in film as an art medium is that ethics in film serve as a catalyst for discussion. Films often allow viewers to explore complex situations and their ethical underpinnings and reflect on their views and beliefs in a safe environment. Laugier suggests that films should not be viewed as merely art but rather as a shared experience and communication between the artist and viewer as well as among the viewers (270).
As a part of popular culture, films redefine ethics by allowing the viewers to discuss the circumstances in which film characters find themselves and consider their potential reactions to the exact situations (Laugier 275). Mitchell adds that throughout history, filmmakers tended to adopt a teleological approach to ethics, focusing on the consequences of moral and immoral actions (496). Through this approach, films encourage a discussion of the events depicted on the screen and can be considered contemporary moral tales as they can reach an unparalleled number of people.
Furthermore, as portrayed in films, ethical situations are often used to facilitate the education of individuals on ethical dilemmas and acceptable and unacceptable ways to approach them and potential repercussions. Films are utilized in the education of individuals who may deal with ethically ambiguous situations in their professional lives. Kadeangadi and Mudigunda argue that cinema should be employed to teach skills that can be difficult to train in a traditional classroom, including ethics and ethical decision-making (73).
Bharath echoes the sentiment by noting that ethics classes are optional for graduates in many majors, including public administration, leaving many professionals without the necessary tools to deal with complex ethical decisions (398). In addition, using film and television to teach ethics in formal settings can enhance understanding of the subject, as films tend to reflect present-day ethical dilemmas (Meyer 1). The existing connection between society and cinema and the propensity of the latter to serve as a mirror to the former allow for the use of films as admissible sources for education on ethics.
The Impact of Ethics on Audience Perception and Worldview
The ability of cinema to accurately reflect ethical issues and moral dilemmas of different communities and society as a whole and facilitate discussion and moral education translates into its capacity to foster change within society. The relationship between art, including film as an art form, is not one-sided, with art being impacted by societal changes and reflecting them as well as having a substantial impact on society. Do Nascimento points out that various art forms should be viewed as “mechanisms that generate many other forms of social and cultural behavior” (21).
Through portrayals of the ideal society and exemplary moral behaviors or, in contrast, the focus on undesirable and damaging behaviors and their consequences, films encourage change in individual members of society. The focus on ethics and morality in films allows the audience to compare and critically analyze their beliefs and compare them to the behaviors portrayed on the screen. In addition, filmmakers, as active members of certain communities, have the ability to choose topics that are likely to encourage discussion and change through dialogue among the viewers.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the ability of art to challenge the status quo, affect society, and encourage change is not disputed in the research literature. Mitchell notes that the beginning of cinema was marked by opposition from religious leaders who considered films “a threat to an individual’s morals and even to a whole society’s morality” (482). Thus, even when films were not easily accessible by the wider society, their ability to inspire behavioral and broader societal change was not disputed.
Films generate certain perceptions and images of what is and what could be and provide the audience with a roadmap of behaviors that may spark real change in society (do Nascimento 21). In addition, they have the power to reinforce the existing acceptable meaning patterns and moral values, marginalizing behaviors that are not viewed as desirable by the wider society (do Nascimento 27). Overall, films that focus on a singular ethical message have the capacity to inspire real change in society.
Conclusion
In summary, art in its different forms and media reflects society with all of its critical issues, fosters discussion, and encourages change. The current literature review on the use and place of ethics in films can facilitate a research paper on the extent to which ethical messaging in cinema can enable change in society. In particular, the proposed research can examine what ethical issues spark the most notable change in society. In addition, whether fictional or documentary films with ethical messaging have the greater capacity to spark behavioral and cultural change can be investigated. Overall, ethics in films play a crucial role in shaping society, but further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of such change better.
Works Cited
Bharath, Del M. “Ethical Decision Making and the Avengers: Lessons from the Screen to the Classroom.” Public Integrity, vol. 22, no. 4, 2019, pp. 395-398.
do Nascimento, Jonas. “Art, Cinema and Society: Sociological Perspectives.” Global Journal of Human-Social Science: (C) Sociology & Culture, vol. 19, no. 5, 2019, pp. 19-28.
Kadeangadi, Deepti M., and Shivaswamy S. Mudigunda. “Cinemeducation: Using films to teach medical students.” Journal of the Scientific Society, vol. 46, no. 3, 2019, pp. 73-74. Web.
Laugier, Sandra. “Film as Moral Education.” Journal of Philosophy of Education, vol. 55, no. 1, 2021, pp. 263- 281. Web.
Makmur, Zulkifli, et al. “The Final Destination’s Uncomfortable Vision to the Environmental Ethics.” Journal of Advanced English Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2021, pp. 76-82.
Meyer, Seth J. “Everything is fine! Using “The Good Place” to teach administrative ethics.” Journal of Public Affairs Education, 2020, pp. 1-15. Web.
Mitchell, Jolyon. “Ethics.” The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film, edited by John Lyden, Routledge, 2009, pp. 482-500.
Mladenova, Radmila. Antigypsyism and Film, Heidelberg University Publishing, 2020.