This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real exam on the topic of foreign films and their impact on local culture.
IELTS Writing Task 2: Foreign Films & Culture
Some believe that it is beneficial to show foreign films while others feel this can have a negative impact on local culture.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Answer:
Some believe cinemas should show a wide breadth of films from around the world, while others worry about the globalising effect on local culture. In my opinion, though reliance on domestic film can contribute greatly to the cultural development of a nation, it is too severe a restriction.
Those wary of the pernicious effects of films from other countries point to the importance of nationally produced films. When a country imports few films from abroad, they are forced into making more and better movies to attract audiences. For instance, in the 1980s immediately after the cultural revolution in China, few foreign films were shows. Studios instead funded ambitious Chinese film-makers like Zhang Yimou, who would later go on to lead the early 1990s ascent of Chinese new wave cinema. This same pattern has been repeated in South Korea, Japan, France, and numerous other countries at different periods in the 20th century. The sum effect on culture for each respective nation has been massive and, in many cases, represents their most recent defining cultural achievements.
Nonetheless, watching foreign films allows individuals to enjoy the best entertainment on offer. It would be cruel to ban foreign films and enforce a sub-par viewing experience in countries with under-developed film industries. Film is, after all, mainly an enjoyable form of relaxation. The most popular movies tend to come from Hollywood and include blockbuster superhero franchises, Oscar-worthy dramas, and comedies. Many local theatre chains would struggle to stay in business without foreign films and the new online streaming options mean that audiences would likely just subscribe to Netflix or download movies illegally. The actual cultural benefits of such restrictions might therefore be questionable while theatre-goers would surely be deprived of quality recreation.
In conclusion, the examples of isolated national film industries do not outweigh the diversionary value of film. There are other methods of preserving and encouraging culture besides censoring outside influences.
Foreign Films & Culture : Vocabulary
- wide breadth lots of different
- globalising effect making the whole world the same
- local culture the country in question
- reliance dependence
- domestic film film made in their country
- contribute greatly add a lot to
- cultural development the progress of art/culture
- severe extreme
- restriction regulation
- wary suspicious about
- pernicious effects bad impacts
- point to argue
- nationally produced films movies made in that country
- imports what is brought into the country
- abroad foreign
- forced into must
- attract audiences bring people in
- immediately after right after, following
- cultural revolution in China a program of restriction in China in the 1960s and 70s
- studios film companies
- funded ambitious gave money to promising
- later go on after this would
- ascent rise
- Chinese new wave cinema early 1990s movement of good Chinese films
- same pattern identical trend
- repeated happened again
- numerous many
- different periods various times
- 20th century 1900-2000
- sum effect total impact
- respective nation country in question
- massive huge
- in many cases most of the time
- represents total
- most recent defining cultural achievements most important art made recently
- nonetheless regardless
- on offer available
- cruel mean
- ban restrict
- enforce make sure it is followed
- sub-par viewing experience bad time at the movies
- under-developed not mature, not advanced
- form make up
- tend to usually
- blockbuster superhero franchises Marvel and DC movies
- Oscar-worthy dramas high-brow films
- local theatre chains cinemas in your country
- struggle have a tough time
- stay in business continue to operate
- streaming options online services for watching videos
- audiences the people who watch
- subscribe sign up to
- download movies illegally steal films
- actual cultural benefits real advantages for the culture
- restrictions limits
- questionable doubtful
- theatre-goers people who watch movies
- deprived of quality recreation taken away the fun
- isolated alone
- outweigh more important than
- diversionary value important distractions
- preserving keeping intact
- encouraging helping
- censoring outside influences restricting foreign films
From : howtodoielts.com
