BYU–Hawaii students, alumni and faculty shared the impact movies can have on people’s happiness. They discussed why movies help boost their mood and which movies bring individual happiness to them.
“Movies can directly affect our mood,” shared Dr. Mason Allred, a professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters. He continued, “Research into the ‘uses and gratifications’ that motivate media consumption show us that we select what we watch because it is doing something for us.”
Sara Nelson, an alumna from Utah who received her degree in psychology, said, “Movies are the modern way of telling stories that are important to us.
“Like fairytales, they show us how good always overcomes evil. Stories have always … been important because they exemplify for us how to overcome challenges.”
Nelson said the movie “Inside Out” brings her happiness. She said it explores feelings and shows people that feeling sad when they have lost something is effective both in their functionality and connection with others.
Allred commented, “Movies, just like music, can function as a coping mechanism. They are often nostalgic, uplifting, or funny, beyond just distracting and entertaining.
“They either remind us of our childhood, or earlier times when we watched them, or they might make us laugh or feel grateful for the present. Any of these really positive feelings can be gleaned from movies for people. In fact, watching a depressing or ‘sad’ movie that deals with really important social issues and drawing an inspiring and uplifting lesson from it requires much more from the viewer.”
Ben Cranney, a senior from California majoring in communications, said, “I think movies have this awesome ability to make our lives better if we watch them with a particular mindset.”
He added, “The movies that really make me feel strong emotions that last longer than a day or two typically don’t have the happiest of endings. Movies allow us to put ourselves in the shoes of others. They can help us see new perspectives and problems that we may never encounter otherwise. When we begin to feel the pain and struggles of those who are different from us, we can become more understanding of others, which absolutely would make the world a better and happier place.”
Movies allow us to put ourselves in the shoes of others. They can help us see new perspectives and problems that we may never encounter otherwise.
Allred commented on what he does in his own life to feel happy when it comes to the media he consumes. He said, “For me, part of feeling happy is feeling energized, alive, and excited about the world and what we humans are doing. Often really good art, ideas, or talent can do this. Unlike the depressing comparisons of social media, amazing art inspires me.
“We shouldn’t equate passively consuming mindless, ‘funny’ entertainment as a key to make us happy. I never turn to Instagram or TikTok to feel happy. But revisiting an amazing movie or timeless song can do this to me. Watching cinema can make me feel alive and grateful to be so.”
Cranney shared one movie that brings him happiness is “Interstellar.” He described the plot as a father who leaves earth on an expedition to save humanity. Because of the complex nature of space travel, his daughter continues to age on earth, but he hardly does at all. She felt upset living several years without his promised return, but she later learned that he had been watching and looking out for her during much of her life. In the end, they reunite as she is on her deathbed.
Cranney said, “It is definitely this bittersweet feeling that he kept his promise, but the time they could have spent together is now gone.” He continued, “Christopher Nolan is so good at making these extremely complex movies that, although at times may be outlandish, always tug at the heartstrings.”
Allred said often individuals are seeking a way to laugh, so they will rewatch various movies they know the cast of characters and wish to hang out with old friends. He commented on movies that help bring him this nostalgia. He said, “Watching ‘The Goonies,’ ‘Big,’ ‘TMNT,’ and ‘Back to the Future’ remind me of a simpler time and type of filmmaking that corresponded with my youth.”
Nelson commented, “Movies give us an ability to step out of our reality for 90 to 180 minutes and come back taking life – and ourselves – a little more or a little less seriously.”