What are the results of our culture’s deep involvement with media available today? As I was thumbing through a Vision Video catalog recently, a video called Captivated—Finding Freedom in a Media Captive Culture caught my eye. Perhaps it was the picture of the mesmerized boy on the cover of the DVD that got my attention. It sparked my curiosity about what information that DVD might hold regarding the effects of our culture’s over-indulgence in media.
Although I ordered a copy of the DVD from Vision Video, I later discovered that Vision Video had uploaded the entire video presentation online. Also, there is a website at www.captivatedthemovie.com, where the DVD can be purchased. The DVD contains extra features, including extended interviews. I discovered that the video was released back in 2013. The presentation won “Best Documentary” at both the Gloryreelz Christian Film Festival and the International Christian Visual Media Conference in 2013.
The man who wrote and produced this excellent documentary, Philip Telfer, had been gravely concerned about the effects of media on our society. He began a ministry of travelling around to warn others of the effects. To help draw audiences, he did some tricks on his BMX bike and incorporated some music into his presentation.
Telfer quoted some startling facts in the DVD. He stated that, by the time a student graduated from high school, they would have spent more time watching TV than the time they spent in the classroom. The average number of texts that a teen sent each month was 3,339 at the time the video was made. Perhaps the number is as high or even higher now. Telfer aptly compares our media availability to an “all-you-can-eat” buffet.
This documentary delved into some of the devastating effects of media on babies. It was frightening to discover that exposing babies to media can make reality seem boring to them and can shorten their attention spans. For some children, media exposure may be partially responsible for a diagnosis of ADHD.
On this DVD experts provide some facts about how our brains work, and they explain the tremendous effects media has on our brains. Several disturbing effects were explained. Teens are deceived into thinking they can multi-task with homework and media. The truth is, our brains can only effectively multi-task if some of the tasks are very simple, like walking or chewing gum. Media has made our personal relationships shallow and artificial. Over-indulgence in media has made it possible for teens to screen out the adults in their lives. Media has amplified trivial things, while drowning out the really important things.
The Captivated documentary brings up the fact that we must not only be concerned about the quantity of media exposure, but also the quality. We are warned that some media is poisonous. The impact of violent media is discussed. Evil music is also brought into the discussion.
This presentation informs us that in the 1920s the public demanded morality in entertainment, but in 1968 censoring immorality was replaced by a rating system. It was no longer impossible to present immoral material, so long as it was given a rating indicating such. What we take in affects our own actions. We are reminded that we are in a spiritual battle for hearts and minds.
The writer of the script doesn’t say you must cut out all media. He simply suggests that we cut way back to a more reasonable amount of exposure, as well as cutting out harmful media entirely. One of the speakers on the DVD points out that too much media can prevent us from hearing God’s voice. Media can also cause hearing loss, eyestrain, sleep disruptions, and a lack of physical activity.
This DVD conveys that it’s time for Christian parents to be spiritual leaders for their children as they disconnect from some of the media. Parents are encouraged to replace their children’s meaningless media with activities that are much more meaningful. Interviews with a family transformed by changing their media habits is very enlightening. Even some of the general public who are not Christians are becoming very concerned about the influence of media.
I hope you will take time to watch this 107-minute documentary that has some very important conclusions that could revolutionize some of our lives, if heeded. I believe you will find the testimonies of pastors, doctors, parents, teens, and even a veteran fascinating and impactful.
Below you will find a trailer to give you an overview of the contents of the documentary, and below that the full documentary.
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