Topic Proposal- How media can affect our views and beliefs for the better

     Our culture today is full of media and it affects us greatly on a day to day basis whether we realize it or not. Media comes in many forms such as movies, music, books, news, radio, tv, and the internet. Most of the time it may seem like the media in the United States is centered around whats going to cause the biggest buzz or make the most money rather than what is actually important to hear and learn. To me it seems like a lot of our media is driven by money and popularity and it doesn't matter if the truth is being said or not. But I recently came across a documentary that really touched me and made me think. It's called Born into Brothels and it follows the lives of eight children growing up in the Red Light District of Calcutta. The living conditions are extremely poor and the women are forced into prostitution at a very young age. The children's teacher, Auntie Zana, shows them how to use a camera and lets them take pictures of whatever they wish. It is very special because you are able to see their world through the lens of a camera. She then tries to sell their photographs in order to raise money and hopefully send each child to a more safe and stable environment. I found the documentary very humbling to watch because I could not imagine living in those types of conditions. We are not able to choose where we are born nor the type of parents we have. The film proved to touch more than just me because it won an academy award for best documentary feature. It has impacted thousands of lives and opened the eyes of many to the outside world and how one person is able to make the biggest difference.