In this age of consumerism film criticism all over the world - in America first but also in Europe - has become something that caters for the movie industry instead of being a counterbalance.
Wim WendersRead
The most political decision you make is where you direct people's eyes. In other words, what you show people, day in and day out, is political...And the most politically indoctrinating thing you can do to a human being is to show him, every day, that there can be no change.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The way we direct attention shapes our perception of reality and possibilities for change.
Wim Wenders emphasizes the power of visual representation and the influence it has on people's beliefs and understanding of their world. By controlling what people see, there is a significant political impact, as it can foster a sense of hopelessness or belief in stagnation, thereby limiting their perspective on the potential for change in society.
Themes
PoliticsPerceptionChangeVisual RepresentationInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on media influence, this quote can highlight the importance of critical thinking.
More from Wim Wenders
All quotes →But I think that the spirit of protectionism would be the grave of European cinema. You cannot protect something by building a fence around it and thinking that this will help it survive.
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Every photo, every 'ONCE' in time is also the beginning of a story starting 'once upon a time...' Every photo is the first frame of a movie.
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Any film that supports the idea that things can be changed is a great film in my eyes.
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