What Do Your Favourite Movies Say About You?
Revealing Insights & Perspectives
What are some of your favourite movies or shows? Do you have an all-time favourite? What makes that one so significant for you? What do you like about it?
I was talking to someone recently about favourite movies and shows, and a few themes popped up for each of us. I hadn’t considered themes before this. I’d focused more on specific movies or shows, or broad genres like sci-fi, fantasy, drama…
Looking deeper into the common themes of some of my favourites had me thinking about what insights we can learn about ourselves and others from the media we really enjoy.
Some of My Favourite Themes
Coming Together, Finding Belonging & Purpose
I tend to like a lot of movies and shows where unlikely people come together to do something great, or where an outsider finds belonging, purpose, or fulfillment. This fits me because I’ve often felt like an outlier. I’ve collaborated on some neat things with people who are very different from me, and I still haven’t felt a lasting sense of community with many groups. I’m on my own Hero’s Journey to define my purpose and find my belonging.
Powerful Women
I’ve also liked a lot of shows about powerful women with many skills. Shows like Orphan Black (2013–2017) and Dollhouse (2009–2010) both centre around very capable, skilled women, in sci-fi storylines. These resonate with me because, as a multi-potentialite with varied skills, I like to see the possibilities and accomplishments of characters who overcome obstacles with a variety of skills and supports.
I’m a strong woman who’s experienced judgement and shame about my abilities. Sometimes I responded by shrinking myself to meet someone else’s standards or comfort. I’m learning to be fuller in my strength, no matter what “they” say.
Strong women in media can be great role models, whether they’re fictional or in real life.
Invention & Innovation
Burn Notice (2007–2013) is a corny spy action/comedy series I enjoyed for the dry or silly humour, and the outlandish MacGyver-ing of random items to make something useful. The main character is supported by his friend and his ex-girlfriend. I got a laugh out of them using a Hello Kitty cell phone to create a bug to put in someone’s car. Although most of their contraptions and action sequences are unlikely to actually work, I did like the fantasy of it.
I’m an inventor and innovator at heart, creating things from recipes to home projects. (Can these things go together to make something useful or neat?)
Possibilities & the Unknown
I also really appreciate shows with mysticism, magic, wisdom, sci-fi and the supernatural — because it opens so many fantasies and possibilities to the unknown and the “impossible.” Netflix’s Turkish series The Gift (2019–2021) meets most of those, along with historical and quantum references. The quantum possibilities, and shows that depict multiple viewpoints are especially eye-opening to me because I love learning different perspectives, including some that might not have been obvious to me. Open my mind…
And More…
There are many other shows I’ve enjoyed, including popular series and more obscure finds, whether it’s dry humour, corny jokes, science or mystery, or just filler to mindlessly pass time. I go through phases of watching a lot of movies/tv, then watching very little.
What are some of your favourite movies or shows? What is it about them that you like? Do you notice any themes? What can you learn about yourself (or others) from the media you (they) appreciate?
