So another debate we had Tuesday in class was about what we think when we see the words “ based on a true story” or “memoir” on a TV show, movie, book, etc. Some of us believed showing this in a movie looked like a joke. Maybe to get people’s attention or make people believe something is real wen it really might not be. Some thought that seeing this totally changed our mood about the movie or book and made us connect with it more because we can relate to these “real” people. Like someone mentioned, Paranormal Activity says it is based off of a true story. This might frighten someone so much they never want to see nighttime ever again. Someone else might see this as a joke, “how could this possibly have happened to a real family?”
It is all a matter of opinion how we see these things. When I see “based off of a true story,” like on The Blind Side, it does affect me and make me more emotional towards the film since it is in my mind that this has really happened. Some people it might not affect at all and they might just find the movie or book to be entertaining. Like we discussed about Patricia Hampl’s writing, is it really lying or is it just a way of making something more entertaining by bending the truth?
Personally I believe that in things such as memoirs and biographies, of course we should only be given the complete truth, even if it is a little boring. If someone is trying to reach out to others and give them advice, why would you want to lie to everyone and give them false information or help that possibly won’t work? On the other hand, when creating stories or movies based off of a real life event, it would be much more acceptable to exaggerate the true story a tiny bit in order to add a little more flare and entertainment to the piece. If someone is creating a story just for the fact of providing entertainment to others and just using their own lives as inspiration, I believe the author can change and exaggerate whatever they want because they are not trying to tell a real story, they are just trying to write for fun and for the enjoyment of others.
Im glad you blogged about this, the discussion in class was very interesting. everyone seemed to be more affected when a movie or book was based on a true story. The two questions you asked at the end really got me thinking. I defiently think knowing a story is based on a true story before i read it makes a big difference in how i feel.
ReplyDeleteI like the question you posed at the end of your blog. It's really hard to say, seeing as that doesn't exist lol. But I would say it would probably really affect me because now I know the characters, I have seen them and the plot unravel, and I can know if this really happened to people in our history; something that is pretty cool to know. I also agree with you about exaggerating the truth when it comes to writing fictional-based books or even a documentary on a person's life. That is acceptable because the book is most likely being written to entertain people. But if it is a factual-based book, you should probably steer clear from lying.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real fine line when you exaggerate and lie. It's very difficult for me to use it. I try to avoid it at all possible. I did like the movie that Fati showed us in class was a good example of how the integrity of a story is still intact even though the names aren't true.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see that a movie or book is based on a true story it makes me think a little different than if it was all fake. I'm not saying that I am only emotionally attached to a story that is more true. Because honestly I will be emotionally attached to a story regardless of its trufulness. But when a story is based on a true story I will admit that I am more emotionally attached than if it wasnt. Like you said with the movie The Blind Side, becuase it was based on a true story it made me more emotional towards it. But one thing with that movie is you know for a fact it is based on a true story because there are facts behind it. Yes, some things were exagerrated or slightly made up but a lot was true. You can even look it up. Having the facts makes a story more real. I'm sure there are no facts for Paranormal Activity. At least I hope there isn't.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you asked us questions towards the end! Watching a movie or reading a book that says "based on a true story," always makes me wonder if it really is. I guess we'll never know the real truth behind some stuff but if it is true, it definitely makes me more sentimental towards the things that happen in the movie or book. I feel as though I can relate better because it happened to a real person. However, I still have to remember that this is still a movie and the directors/writers most likely put extra details in there to make the story more interesting to the audience. I'm fine with that, too. As long as the people they're writing about are okay with the facts, then I don't see the issue with twisting the truth a little bit.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see "based on a true story" I usually assume that it really did happen. The discussion that we had in class really opened my eyes. I really had no idea that people who wrote books or made movies could say that without their work being true. I think the reason why I was so scared of Paranormal Activity was because it said that it was based on a true story. When I asked my friends if it was actually based on a true story they didn't know. It seemed so unrealistic that it had to be fake. I still could not sleep the night after I watched it because it was said to be "based on a true story." If I was not told that it was actually a true story till the end I probably would have not been scared while watching the movie. I think that writers and movie makers should not be able to say that unless their facts are true. If they only have one real fact then it's misleading to everyone else. I know I don't want to spend time believing that something happened when it really didn't.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if you are going to call your book a memoir that it should be true. If you want to include fiction to jazz the story up then don't call the book a memoir. I think that people get very emotionally attached to true stories because they can connect. To find out that you have been lied to is very hurtful after you have become so attached to the characters. Last night, I went to see Elie Wiesel speak. I thought it was so cool that he said that Night was a memoir and that every single work in the book is true. He said that memoirs do not have embellishments, they are the complete truth. I just thought that it was really neat that he mentioned that right after we had discussed this in class.
ReplyDeleteI believe that seeing "based on a true story" most definitely makes me connect with the movie or book a lot more emotionally. I believe the Literary term for that is Pathos? I don't really remember. But anyways, i think it is a smart tool for authors and producers to use. What can actually happen/ has happened makes the story line feel even more real to us and people like things that they can somehow connect to or even feel. I do believe memoirs should be truthful but I can by no means say that I have never extended the truth to make my writing more interesting. If the author makes something up COMPLETELY than it is understandable that people will frown on that. But think about it, we all fabricate the truth some with some of our stories.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a tricky topic because to me it depends on the movie or book. Like that one dude we talked about in class, he said his was memoir and it was exaggerated so that’s a let down. He fooled his readers by saying those were his memories but they weren't so he lied. But if it was just a normal novel then that fine because the author isn't claiming it to be the story of his personal life. The author could be creating a character to resemble someone specific but it doesn’t have to be exact at all. Its not that these things make me sad or angry its just kid of like a tease and a let down. Im just a tiny bit disappointed in the author. But if the book affects you then it should be the story more then the face that its true or not.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely glad this topic is still going on cause I felt like I had more to say, haha. It really does matter situation this disclaimer is issued upon. Like you said something like Paranormal Activity will just make me chuckle, but something like the Blind Side I would feel a little bit cheated if I found out it wasn't so much a true story as a fabrication on something not half that meaningful. It really depends on the situation, but because I know people lie about that so often I don't believe that anything is based on a true story anymore. None of it affects me because I know more often than not it's just a lie.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely one of the more interesting topics that we discussed in class. Personally for me when I see one of those "this is based on a true story" disclaimers I begin to scrutinize the movie more. I begin to think whether this is legitimate or stretched out and exaggerated in order to make the movie more entertaining. If I had to guess it is probably a mixture of both. Some movies I can tell it is completely exaggerated while some others Im not too sure about.
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of those topics that can be debated over and over and over and over.... To me, there is no correct answer, only opinion. Every example has a counterpoint, or at least a loophole. The point is that "based on a true story" is a literacy device that can be used as humor, can add emotion, can devoid emotion, or can inspire. Whether the statement is true or not, it affects how we perceive the media.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. In some movies such as "Saving Private Ryan" the "based on a true story" definitely makes an emotion connection with the majority of it's viewers. Also i agree that memoirs and biographies should be completely truthful as they are supposed to be just that. When i see "based on a true story" in a TV show it kind of makes me laugh though because the majority of the time the only true thing in the show is maybe one of the characters that is being played by somebody else.
ReplyDeleteI think it's just a matter of opinion. More or less, it really depends on what the reader plans to get out of the story. We could argue for days about whether its right to stretch the truth or not. The fact of the matter is, the author wants to sell their book and they will use any device they can to do so. Whether it's bending the truth to squeeze an extra ounce of emotional appeal, or simply using the same names of people who were involved in a true story. Regardless, these stories appeal to many people whether they're true or not.
ReplyDeleteI really like the questions you asked at the end. For my class, general psychology we have to participate in research. For each experiment they do not tell you exactly what they are testing for because then it would change the way you act in the experiment. I believe the same happens when you tell people it is a true story right away. The whole movie they are like wow this actually happened. Not that knowing beforehand is a bad thing, but I wonder if it would be more of a shock to tell people after?
ReplyDeleteI feel as if most "true stories" are not true. When people tell their biography or come up with a story based on real events. It seems to be exaggerated or changed up to make the story more presentable or interesting to the audience. This can be viewed as a good thing to people who are all about the entertainment aspect of the story. I personal don't agree with it. If I am going to take my time to read a non fiction story, or watch a non fiction movie, I want to make sure that I am getting the whole truth and not just some bullshit story to make a few extra bucks.
ReplyDeleteWhen i see based on a true story, I do not really think about it that much. If i can tell it is not really based on a true story, it does not change my opinion on it that much. Memoirs should be truthful, but adding a bit of flair is important because sometimes a boring one can be unbearable to read. So the truth is important, but it can be exaggerated a little bit.
ReplyDeleteWhen i see based on a true story, I do not really think about it that much. If i can tell it is not really based on a true story, it does not change my opinion on it that much. Memoirs should be truthful, but adding a bit of flair is important because sometimes a boring one can be unbearable to read. So the truth is important, but it can be exaggerated a little bit.
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