Predictability Has Benefits

Perhaps most of us grew up hearing that the United States of America was a "melting pot" of cultures with the counterargument that it is (or should be) more like a tossed salad--each member retaining their individual culture, yet living in a common space. While I would like to think that the USA is a place friendly and accepting of differences, it often seems that we must all find a way to "fit in" with societal norms or be "othered." 

With media, it does seem to also be that way. We want to have cultural experiences by going to plays or concerts, but are we expanding beyond what is predictable? And is that necessarily a bad thing if we are not? 

With the chaos of life and the twist and turns it takes that are unpredictable, having media that is predictable can act as a comfort or at least a respite from our daily cares. So with the Frankfurt School's explanation of the culture industry is homogenous--mass culture being identical--and the predictability of knowing the eventual outcome, it may be helpful in allowing us to escape reality for a bit and perhaps set aside our stresses for a couple of hours while being entertained. 

Whenever I need to escape, I generally seek something familiar or "feel good" (probably more accurately, I listen to a lot of morbid podcasts, but sometimes I even need a break from that!). One of my favorite genres of movies are romantic comedies--lots of humor, some romance, a formulaic plot--all easy to follow and relate to. One that I always point to as memorable is The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. While the cast is pretty homogenous--mostly all white, affluent, etc.--I think some of those elements could have changed and the enjoyment of the movie would not be altered. An interesting element of the film is that Bullock's character is a Canadian immigrant with an expired visa, and thus a fake relationship between her and Reynold's character is constructed in order for her to keep her position at the top of the company (Reynolds being her assistant in the workplace is another issue we won't discuss here). 

Because we know the typical tropes of romantic comedy storylines, it's easy to predict that Bullock's and Reynolds's characters will eventually end up together despite disliking each other initially and even some conflict interrupting the start of their relationship. While the formula is the same, the specific elements are still unknown which gives us variety in romantic comedies and keeps us coming back for more. We add in humorous family dynamics, quirky side characters, funny one-liners, and while we can predict the outcome, it is still enjoyable to watch the story unfold. 

So yes, just as in the clip of Siskel and Ebert's movie cliches, media does keep portraying the same elements in stories, but I do not think it is all that bad. The predictability provides something in life we can rely on and provides us a mental break from regular, unpredictable life. Despite the ability to mass produce essentially the same main plot points with a different story and different characters, if it gives us some measure of entertainment and enjoyment, is it really that bad? Or is it really a benefit to society that we have something reliable to count on when we need a break? 

Do you think predictability in movies is a benefit? Or would it be more beneficial if movies more closely replicate real life and its ups and downs?