This August has not had one day that was a “slow news day”. While it is normal that the news is not very diverse, lately networks have been going above and beyond exploiting gore and regurgitating misinformation. So what are the facts we need to know? Who should we be listening to?

I have no idea.

I do know that sometimes movies and documentaries are the most useful tools to help understand the confusion of the world, though. I know this is a drastic oversimplification, but these movies are thought provoking works of art.

1.Network

Yes this movie is from 1976. Is it still relevant? 100%. The opening scene is of a news anchor drunkenly laughing with his friend about the gore of network news. They both say that if there was a “suicide hour” segment on their show the shows ratings would sky rocket. The rest of the movie unravels to show how far news stations seem to go to feed the masses exaggerations and fear to increase ratings.

 2.     VICE: Islamic State

This 42 minute documentary shows the lives of members of the Sunni jihadist group now commonly called ISIS. It exposes the true radicalism of this group. The most disturbing part of this documentary? How many young boys run up to the camera with shouts of how they wish to kill Americans. This documentary offers a hard hitting look at what is happening right now in what is called “the Islamic State.”

 3. Crash

 With what is happening currently in Ferguson a Hollywood blockbuster is not enough to fully grasp what is happening there. Crash is a fictional story about the lives of several different people living in LA. Each storyline is charged with racial tension. I think it is an important movie because it shows multiple sides to the issue of ignorance, as well as police brutality.

 I know that two of these are "Hollywood" spun, but that does not in any way mean that they don't pack a punch of reality. I want readers to always question where they get their news and keep questioning what the real truth is.

Let us know your thoughts below!