Social values displayed in audiovisual content in troubled times and their impact on educational processes in Europe

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Social values displayed in audiovisual content in troubled times and their impact on educational processes in Europe

Kravtsova O.A. MGIMO University

James Clear who is the author of number 1 York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, which has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide, suggests his core classification of values, as follows: Authenticity, Achievement, Adventure,

Authority, Autonomy, Balance, Beauty, Boldness, Compassion, Challenge, Citizenship, Community, Competency, Contribution, Creativity, Curiosity, Determination, Fairness, Faith, Fame,Friendships, Fun, Growth, Happiness, Honesty, Humor, Influence, Inner Harmony, Justice, Kindness, Knowledge, Leadership, Learning, Love, Loyalty,Meaningful Work, Openness, Optimism, Peace, Pleasure, Poise, Popularity, Recognition, Religion, Reputation, Respect, Responsibility, Security, SelfRespect, Service, Spirituality, Stability, Success, Status, Trustworthiness, Wealth,,Wisdom.

He recommends us select less than 5 core values in order to focus on their priority, not the number. This is a great idea to know ourselves better. The question is if we find that source which can inspire us to choose this or that value and do our best to cultivate it and accumulate that others take from us and feel the same as we do [1].

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670), a Bohemian educator, introduced pictures as teaching aids in his book Orbis Sensualium Pictus(`picture of the Sensual World”) that was illustrated with 150 drawings of everyday life. This is the example of audiovisual education which proved the fact that pictures accompanied with audio make the education effective [2].

Today we are much more interactive by using moving pictures accompanied with voice- cartoons, films, and even books which by pointing a phone on them make them speak to us literally.

Values are injected by delivering information which can please, encourage, and urge to act- in the sake of one's idea or even country. That is why in any period of life of an individual there appear problems which worth attention and involvement. Audiovisual content is able to reveal social values and even vices by means of displaying facts of life ( imaginary or relevant nowadays) in order to recognize what the society is ready or unready for.

Audiovisual media focuses on films and television where one is impossible without another because they give a full range of content to their viewers. Media literacy in based on abilities to access, analyze, create and act according to the communicative skills as well. The promotion of media literacy and even accuracy reflects the viewer's understanding of the world's history and the present world around. This is the reason why social values act as a treatment of the issue to be disputed today.

Historical background of the issue mentioned above serves as a proof to the fact that everything visual is a result of everything once printed. Our interpretation of any content we watch and hear depends upon media literacy skills we acknowledge.

The World Wide Web has increased for the last three years and we have an endless list or resources we get information from. The American Library Association Presidential Committee writes: “to be information- literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information' [3].

Methods. Why focus on values? Let us take the film of 1944 “Henry V” (by Kenneth Branagh). It became a part of English cultural folklore. It is based on William Shakespeare's play. As it's known the film was made towards the end of the World War II, and was intended as a morale booster for Britain. It's dedicated to the spirit of those who fight for their land. Such historical classic films are distinguished as unique works of cinema rich in a specific language with great dialogue, deceitful characters and menacing scenes. Since the time was hard and the major focus was made on survival of the nation, this film urged viewers to think about the might of the spirit, willpower, and dignity, and somehow made soldiers believe that they are important the same way as win [4].

The year 1944 is remarkable in the history of England in all cultural spheres:

The 1944 English cricket season (Football: England | Scotland). “The Military History “called cricket of The World War II “WAR CULTURE”. Sports journalist and commentator, Ernest William Swanton, known for being a journalist, and author, chiefly known as a cricket writer, was also known as a commentator with “fruity voice”. His manner of speech was very simple without flourishes. His radio commentaries provided a contrast to the romanticism of J. Arlott who was a poet except for the fact that John Arlott was a sports journalist too. The manner of Swanton's speaking made viewers believe that any ordinary person can do sports and can win- simple language attracts people [5].

Next comes radio (1944). All messages via radio were about the war, support, and struggle. BBC even used Paul-Marie Verlaine's poetry line as a coded message to the French Resistance.

As for British Television, the broadcasting was suspended of the amid fears that signals would help German bombers.

British music in 1944. Peter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten. His operas include the struggle of an outsider against a hostile society and the corruption of innocence. In 2009 Phillip Hensher, a novelist, critic, and journalist, in his article “A man for the people” (from The Guardian) admits that The Germans have The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, an opera about the creation of high culture in the middle ages. The Italians have Nabucco, about a nation's longing for freedom, written by Verdi under occupation, and looking forward to Italy's independence. If the English look for a national opera, however, the most likely candidate is a peculiar tale of sadism and neurosis, a story which focuses on individuals isolated, persecuted and cast out....It had a heroic aspect to it - Britten said in his introduction to the first production that "I wanted to express my awareness of the perpetual struggle of men and women whose livelihood depends on the sea" [6]. Challenge, determination, and self-perception were literally present there by means of opera voices and musical instruments.

`Lawrence of Arabia” by David Lean (1962) depicts Lawrence's experiences in the Ottoman Empire. Its themes include Lawrence's emotional struggles with the personal violence inherent in war, his identity, and his allegiance between his native Britain with its army and his new- found comrades within the Arabian desert tribes. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made [7]. A film critic Stephen Farber says that 1962 was the greatest year at the movies and the greatest moment in the history of cinema which became perfect for streaming in dark times. By dark times he might have meant the Cuban Missile Crisis that sent millions of people into their supermarkets to emptying shelves because the people were on the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. That year appeared to be unpredictable with so many provocative films condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency.

Stanley Kubrick is cited as one of the greatest American filmmakers in the history of cinema. His films are famous for their realism, dark humor and evocative music sense. His “ Doctor Strangelove” dating from 1964 has become a classic, and many historians refer to the film discussing new approaches to understanding the main idea of superiority in history. Kubrick succeeded in dissecting human fear of the second half of the XX century- the fear of a nuclear war. A cinema analyst Scott Myers states that Kubrick felt he could deal with the absurdity of mutually assured destruction. The Cold War is confirmed a rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. The message Doctor Strangelove is sending to the world lies in a survival kit which contains the Bible and the Russian phrase book- such contradictory things which bear completely different senses. A global atomic genocide grounded on tension between two mighty countries makes people fear more and more which is both laughable and disturbing. The year 1964 is also known as the year when The Beatles took America by storm. Their “ I want to hold your hand” immediately hits the top spot and the whole world is getting mad about the greatest four who have managed to connect the rich and the poor. The Beatles have become that phenomenon which cannot happen again as musical critics believe. Coming back to the sixties it is worth mentioning that every major city had one or two top radio stations that played The Beatles which became the top pop music renaissance that emerged at a time of cultural cognitive dissonance. The audience allowed them to be catalysts of change, and this factor was so unique that it made the band become immortal. Their youthful, positive energy replaced something that was lost.

Films and music of contrasts made 1964 one of the most eventful year- on the one hand people feared something they could not control, on the other hand people celebrated life with no plans for the future.

In 1987 Stanley Kubrick's film “Full Metal Jacket” was surely not only about the Vietnam war but about relationships between different people who appeared in the same situation- the situation of struggling for anything we care. Symbolic soundtracks of Johnnie Wright, The Rolling Stones, The Trashmen and others made the movie much emotional and worth remembering. The line “These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do. One of these days these boots re gonna walk all over you” belongs to Nancy Cinatra, and get another sense while talking about the US army bombing bunkers and tunnels used by the Viet Cong.

1994 was famous for first multi-racial elections in South Africa and Nelson Mandela elected as president. The year is proclaimed the International Year of the Family by the United Nations General Assembly. It is accepted that the family is a fundamental institution in human society, but many people couldn't accept the fact that 1994 had to be proclaimed The Family Year because there were a lot examples which proved the opposite - the worldwide debate showed disagreement and even discrimination against those whose priority was to live apart from family units. Film “ Forrest Gump” by Robert Zemeckis shows simplicity as a dominant which captures a viewer and doesn't let them go until the end of the movie. People watch the story and see themselves in it. Robert Zemeckis succeeded to show us in an ordinary person who appears in different situations and acts both differently and the same. The events take place in the beginning of the fifties of the last century and are displayed as markers of the epoch- being small and big simultaneously. This is proved by the symbols we see in the story- how fragile and cyclical is our fate depicted in a feather which appears in the beginning and in the end of the film. And the legendary box of chocolates which symbolizes variety and unpredictability of life. Reading between lines no matter it is a visual content makes us think deeply and analyze the time we are in a hurry so much. The popularity of this film proves the fact that in many countries dating from 2020 it was decided to be released once again as a film with a strong therapeutical effect.

The next millennium has brought new ideas, new ideologies and new approaches which lead to acknowledge of human-being understanding. New-brand technologies in cinematography have brought all nations so close to each other- let's remember a well- known Nokia's slogan `Connecting people' which with time changed its concept into `Very Human Technology'. Technology is the word which is everywhere now being a dominant attraction of anything advertised and mentioned in any context. Narrations are changing our focus in what we believe, what we see and what we hear.

2001 brought new turmoil and disturbances into the world. One of the most known shock and drama happened in September,11 when two hijacked American airlines plowed into twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. And the film “Conspiracy” by Frank Pierson. Although the film is the story of the 1942 Wannsee Conference and delves into the psychology of Nazi officials involved in the final solution of the Jewish, and it was officially released in May, cinema critics compare the main idea of the story with the idea to kill people in New York- if people discuss something important they do not leave the room where they are discussing it. As it is in the film when fifteen officers from Nazi Germany get together for a top secret meeting which is to be a doom day for all Jewish people who live in Europe. People trapped in New York had no way out of the huge room named the World

Trade Center, and the decision about their killing was also made in one place. A cinema critic James Rampton noticed in his review on the film that the film emphasizes an old principle according to which evil is prospering when good people do nothing. Since then this pain stays with a generation , and a word terrorism became word number one around the globe.

What is interesting to observe during the last 20 years in the cinema is turning back to the history of the World War II- `Downfall”(20n), “Dunkirk”(2017), etc. make us rethink our mutual history and make certain conclusions not to allow the drama happen again. At the same time it is showing us those values we must have lost- respect, responsibility, service, contribution.

2014 was extremely difficult for Ukraine: all world media were broadcasting emotionally drained photos of tragic events happening in the capital of Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal issued a post “Deadly Clashes Roil Ukraine”, The Washington Post and The Times showed their “At least 20 killed in Ukrainian protests', and “Streets run with blood in Kiev violence”. The peaceful country was attacked by aggression and hate. Later there happened more tragic events when the Russian Federation annexed the Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk regions were attacked with weapons. The tragedy made Ukrainian directors pay much attention to the Ukrainian freedom and independence: documentaries were reborn and it gave the nation a chance to know about the events firsthand. The last 7 years restored such values as authenticity, autonomy, compassion, citizenship, community, determination, honesty, justice, meaningful work. The proof can be found in the film (and it is not only in new Ukrainian cinematography)- «Кіборги. Герої не вмирають»(“Cyborgs. Heroes don't die”) which was represented in the Congress of America in 2018, and in 2019 it was released in the USA (the ITN Distribution translated the title as Heroes never die). Now we have a new radio station dedicated to the Ukrainian Army (events, news, music- Ukrainian, European, American). And the word Justice is more relevant than ever.

2021 is on the way and we already have que of anticipated movies coming in 2021. Mostly they are grounded on computer games and social issues of a new society we have become during pandemic. A new wave is already bringing new markers in cinema linguistics- challenge, poise, recognition, autonomy.

Conclusions

In recent years we have seen a push for the idea to educate people mostly on analytical data grounded on what they see and how they understand it. Correspondingly, we are engaged in building a new mutual culture and ideology based on the audiovisual content we have at the moment. In troubled times people want to watch uplifting stories and listen to sensible sounds. All visual and acoustic industries are working on it and the example with the greatest work belongs to mostly troubled times in history with Stanley Kubrick's films in the sixties, Christopher Nolan's “Dunkirk” now, and other prominent audiovisual events which are already becoming history.

The linguistic background is meaningful since the viewers refer themselves to a certain linguistic identity which is also explored in the environment the people are living in and the set of values they are being installed.

Social values are being enthusiastically promoted via films and television. Media literacy is a key point in the issue of social values broadcast via the World Wide Web, moreover their evaluation of today's society is the main focus, and even challenge. Historical background and connection between the events and a manner in which these events are being enlightened promises to be the first bridge in communication within one culture and between cultures as well.

References

audiovisual content linguistic identity

1. James Clear. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. October, 16, 2018, 320 p.

2. Comenius: Europe in the Classroom. European Commission: Education and Training. Retrieved 26, November 2011

3. American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report, January 10, 1989, p.1

4. Pfeiffer, Lee. ”Henry V' Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Nov.2015.

5. Ernest William Swanton George. Barclays world of cricket: the game from A-Z . Willow Books in association with Barclays Bank, 1986

6. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/08/peter- grimes-philip-hensher

7.Stephen Farber. Cinema '62: The Greatest Year at the movies, March 13, 2020, 270 p.

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