Students who learn history by watching historically based blockbuster
movies may be doomed to repeat the historical mistakes portrayed within
them,suggests a new study from Washington University in St.Louis.
Although films may increase learning and interest in the classroom,
educators should be aware that students might learn inaccurate
information,too,even if the correct information has been presented in a
text.More broadly,these same positive and negative effects apply to
the consumption of popular history films by the general public.
Popular films increase interest in history and contain much accurate
information,but producers of these films often take liberties with
facts to tell a more entertaining story.Such is the case with the movie Amadeus,a historical drama about the life of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Released
in 1984,the film delighted moviegoers and critics alike,eventually
winning eight Academy Awards,including Best Picture.Although the film
is credited with increasing the popularity of Mozart’s music,it may
also have created a misleading impression of Mozart.
