She refers to a phenomenon of moviegoing which I have called certification. Nowadays when a person lives somewhere, in a neighborhood, the place is not certified for him. More than likely he will live there sadly and the emptiness which is inside him will expand until it evacuates the entire neighborhood. But if he sees a movie which shows his very neighborhood, it becomes possible for him to live, for a time at least, as a person who is Somewhere and not Anywhere. [citation needed]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Movies can validate a person's existence by showing their neighborhood, making them feel real rather than lost.
- In plain terms
- Seeing your life on screen helps you feel like you belong somewhere.
- What can you take from it?
- Representation in media can validate personal existence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does art affect your sense of place?
- Do you feel seen by the stories you consume?
Another view
It assumes movies are the primary way people find belonging.
More from Walker Percy
I had discovered that a person does not have to be this or be that or be anything, not even oneself. One is free. [citation needed]
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