The dream of many is to travel the world, visiting multiple countries and absorbing the unique cultures of each. The problem is, this just isn’t feasible for a lot of people. Money and time constraints make it hard to go globe-trotting, so most of us have to use entertainment as a way to get an understanding of other cultures. People in Pakistan may watch western films to see what life is like there, and vice versa. There are various ways that people can get a crash course on a country’s culture through the means of entertainment.
Films Are a Good Way to See Life Through Another Perspective
Films are probably the most common way that people can easily get a feel for what it’s like to live in a different country and experience another culture. Medium’s list shows every nation has its own film industry, and the offerings from them all are highly unique. The views and morals of the country in which the film is based often shine through on the screen as well.
Anyone who wants to get a true sense of Pakistani culture could check out some of the films, which are likely to be new and exciting to people from the west. A good place to start would be with the 1998 offering, Jinnah, which starred Christopher Lee in the title role. It’s a biopic about the Father of the Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and it tells the story of the creation of modern-day Pakistan in 1947. Another good option is Main Hoon Shahid Afridi. The 2013 film goes into detail about the country’s deep love for cricket.
Someone who has grown up in Pakistan may want to experience different cultures through film in a similar way. A lot of people turn to Hollywood to get an idea of what western culture is like. When watching films from the USA, it is apparent that good vs evil is a strong overriding theme in many of them. Viewers in the States are also quite keen on having a happy ending. Indeed, it is hard to think of many successful movies that haven’t ended on a high note.
Slots Have Varied Cultural Influences
Another way to quickly learn the basics about different cultures is through online slots. This is a more recent phenomenon than film thanks to advancing technology. It is already apparent that there is no limit to the genres and themes used in the industry. After getting a crash course about a culture from slots, those who enjoy them may want to learn more and this could spark some personal investigation.
Lists of slots on popular sites like Betway clearly represent a myriad of different cultures which increases global apetite. For instance, there is the Cleopatra slot, which gives users a taster of ancient Egyptian culture. From there, they can go on to research the time period themselves and discover the intriguing tale of the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
Slots like Lucky Leprechaun and Irish Eyes give users an insight into the culture from the Emerald Isle. There is a firm belief in luck in Ireland, and this leads the people there to have a positive outlook on life. Other slots like Alaskan Fishing can give users a taster into the world of extreme sports, which is a culture in itself. Because all of these offerings can be enjoyed in short bursts, slots enthusiasts can experience many different cultures in a time-efficient way. They could then be tempted to learn more about these cultures, or even take up some of the pastimes related to them.
Reading is Perhaps the Most Immersive Way
While films and slots do give people a lens through which they can view another culture, books are probably the best way to really feel what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. They can be highly immersive, and give readers an insight that they might not be able to get from anywhere else. Indeed, learning about the world through the viewpoint of a character that lives in it may even be more of a cultural crash course than visiting the country itself.
The list of books that allow readers to immerse themselves in another culture is endless, but there are a few notable examples from recent years. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini gives a good account of what Afghan culture is like, and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga provides an interesting insight into the complex culture of India.
The age of easy access to entertainment has made it possible for anyone to get a feel for other cultures without having to leave their own country. Films, slots, books, and even live stream videos allow people to see life through a different lens, and this can spark an interest towards further discovery.