According to Fernando De Toro[1] the cinema is an analogous representation of the reality; the cinema is a sign of signs or a sign of things. In this way, humans have been interested in capturing their essence on the big screen. Although Colombian cinema has done its best effort to do good quality movies, it is not as good as Hollywood cinema is.
First, the Colombian cinema is genuine and original because it reflects our social reality. If you go to see Colombian cinema, you will find stories about peculiar families, urban drama, the Caribbean coast, the Vallenato and migration. For example Los Viajes del Viento presents a wonderful sample of music, colors and forms from the Colombian coast mixed with a cultural and anthropological point of view about our customs. Also, it is possible to find some stories as Sumas y Restas and Maria llena eres de gracia, in which you can appreciate some ofdrug trafficking, para-guerrilla and poverty. Then, Colombian cinema is authentic as far as it shows our real life.
However, Colombian cinema is below from Hollywood cinema in what refers to techniques and technologies. This problem has been caused, maybe, because of the low budget addressed to cinema in our country, or just because Colombian producers do not create stories that demand more elaborated methods. With regard to that, Hollywood cinema is really extraordinary. Producers make movies that tell captivating stories, and they do it better when they produce films with highly structured techniques, a great example of this is the 3D films. It gives to the viewer, who is in a globalized world, the opportunity to compare and choose what he prefers. So, Colombian cinema could be better if it told more elaborated stories and used more advanced techniques and technologies.
To sum up, Colombian cinema presents some different aspects from Hollywood cinema as are its daily stories which reflect our real life, and its poor techniques in production. Nevertheless, it is an authentic, real and valid cinema. It fulfils the purpose of the seventh art: it recounts our history through stories that allow us to see how we are, it entertain us.
[1]De Toro, Fernando. “Semiótica del teatro” chapter III. Buenos Aires, Galerna Editorial, secondedition 1989.
Nowadays, we hear the word Globalization all around us; nevertheless, few times we really know what it means. This concept is used for referring to the increasing world interdependence of people and nations. This phenomenon has produced an important list of economical, political, cultural and environmental consequences. Thus, we can talk about advantages and disadvantages as results of Globalization.
On one hand, Globalization allows a high interaction among people from different places of the globe. In these days, it is easier to travel around the world, because the diplomatic barriers are less strong than before. This fact, to travel around the world, is very remarkable because of the effect it has in how people accept and respect differences in culture and ideas. Without doubt, to know and to understand about other cultures is a great beginning to avoid aggressions and violent behaviors. This way relations, contacts and interactions are more accessible and fruitful thanks to Globalization.
On the other hand, Globalization has an enormous impact in the cultural heritage of each country, especially in language, and not always a good one. For example, it is well known that in our country exist a lot of dialects which belong to our indigenous. Nonetheless, when those people immigrate to cities seeking better opportunities, they must use Spanish instead of their dialect. In a global scale it happens when people forget the importance of their language due to Globalization. They ignore that language is more than words, language is what they think, feel and believe; language is who they are. To lose the appropriate point of view about a global language and about the mother tongue is a disastrous result of Globalization.
In a nutshell, Globalization can be a positive phenomenon because it allows the world to get development and advance in culture, diplomatic relations, economy and politics. But it can be negative also, because if we don’t have the right balance, we would lose our cultural heritage and it would be devastating. Then, as all in life, we must be prudent people and make the most of Globalization in favor of our development without forgetting the importance of our identity in our life.
