7 March 2023 IELTS Agree Disagree Essay on Movies

This IELTS Academic Question Appeared on 7 March, 2023 in India.

Question: Some feel that movies and tv shows are a good way to study history despite their lack of historical accuracy at times. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Find two answers to this respective question.

Answer 1:

A commonly held belief is that the purpose of films and sitcoms is solely to entertain people. However, I am in complete agreement with the view that despite being inaccurate at times, they can support learning if utilised appropriately by the teachers to impart historical knowledge. 

One of the significant benefits of using historical shows and films in the teaching process is that the lessons become engaging for students who get easily bored by traditional history lessons. However, It is for the teacher to identify appropriate movies/series and relate them to the subject matter. For instance, the movie ‘Just Mercy’ which is based on a true story, can definitely be shown to students as it talks about the history of Civil Rights in the United States.

Another significant reason why these media should be a part of the learning process is that in a multi-sensory teaching environment, learning is faster and retention is stronger. Students can relate better to movies and TV series which bring history to life. For instance, a movie like ‘Hidden Figures’ can showcase to the students the critical role that women of colour played in the growth and success of the U.S. space program at NASA, despite the odds they faced. 

In conclusion, history can be quite a boring subject if taught the traditional way. Hence, although the historical events one sees on celluloid and on the TV screen are made larger than life and sometimes exaggerated as well, they can make history much more interesting and fascinating to the students and should therefore definitely be used as tools to enhance learning.

Answer 2: 

It is believed by some that films and television programs are a potent method to study events of earlier times even though they may not be precise. I completely agree with the given viewpoint as these sources have the power to create interest in the minds of their audience.

Firstly, making oneself aware of historical events through movies and shows will be an entertaining way to learn, mainly because of the flamboyance in their various aspects, be it the costumes or the sets. Although there may be some over-dramatisation, it is still a better way to learn as opposed to just reading historical books which is a tedious task. Moreover, there is no assurance that these books have a flawless account of past events. For example, many history students are not interested in reading the gruesome details of events like the partition of India and Pakistan; however, movies showcasing the same information usually become blockbusters, and as a result, people are made aware of such events in an entertaining way.

Moreover, learning something through audio and visual effects lasts longer in one’s memory. One may forget what was read in a textbook, but one usually remembers scenes watched in a movie. Such content also has the power to bring out certain emotions in the spectators. For instance, many have heard of the 1984 riots that occurred in India against Sikhs, but the emotions that the television series Jogi has been able to extract from the audience are almost impossible when reading about the same in a textbook.

To conclude, I believe learning about history by watching films and shows is an effective way, given the enjoyment that they bring and also the deep-rooted impact that they leave.