I recently saw an interview with Sean Penn on “Inside the Actor’s Studio” where he made some interesting comments about the responsibility of cinema artists.

Penn was talking about the importance of realism in film.

He pointed out that most people, and even himself as a kid, enjoy movies that provide an escape into a fantasy world.

Penn went on to say, however, that he’s not sure if it is valuable in the long-run to see such movies.

Even if a movie is thrilling, if you feel even more alone after you leave the theater, has it really done you a service?

I was very taken with Penn’s comments. I think they tap into a major flaw in the way most people view ar, and the way pop art presents itself to the people.

Penn was right on about film. Most people’s primary reason to venture out to the movies is to have fun, pure and simple.

While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to have fun, if that’s the only reason you ever go to a movie, you’re selling yourself short.

Film, like any other art, has the ability to move and inspire. It’s a shame that most people are only out for a good laugh.

People treat movies like any other opiate. Films provide a two-hour diversion from their lives and then are forgotten.

I fully appreciate how enjoyable a diversion can be. I enjoy movies that take me to a world that I could never see on my own.

But living vicariously through the movies does little to improve my life.

We’ve all seen people who are obsessed with the “Star Trek” films and try to live their lives just like in the movies.

Let’s be honest, when a guy wears a “Star Trek” uniform to work it’s a sign that he probably isn’t really happy with his own life.

Even more upsetting are the people who don’t even realize that so many of the diversionary films are worthless.

There’s nothing more annoying than listening to someone who especially enjoyed “Big Daddy” because it had a message.

If you thought “Big Daddy” was touching and original, you are what we in the wheat business call “chaff.”

OK, now I’m just getting mean. But I get frustrated when I have to listen to movie criticism from people who obviously aren’t actually interested in films.

Sure, everybody likes going to a movie, but people that are there for a diversion are not truly appreciating the medium.

It’s the same concept if you listen only to top-40 radio. It’s probably safe to say that you don’t appreciate music.

If your short list of the greatest bands of all time includes Sugar Ray and Fastball, you’re pretty much accepting whatever is being thrown in your face as excellent.

But my purpose here is not to chastise anyone for indulging in the latest flavor-of-the-month, although it is oh, so fun. But there can be so much more to it.

Like Penn said, if you are using art only as a form of escape, doesn’t it make your everyday life all the more painful? Unfortunately, escaping is often people’s first move.

If you go through the poorest regions of Appalachia, or even just to southern Iowa, you will notice that a large number of the people have themselves a satellite dish.

Most people have a very harsh reaction to this. They tend to think “Why on earth would these people spend hundreds of dollars on a satellite dish when they can’t even afford shoes for their kids?”

It seems to make sense, until you look at things from their perspective. That satellite dish provides them the opportunity to escape from the troubles of their day-to-day lives, and therefore seems more valuable than basic household items.

Again, people are using the arts as a way to escape from their lives rather than as a way to enrich and appreciate their lives.

Many times in my life, and I hope at least once in most everyone’s, I have had the good fortune of seeing a particular movie, or hearing a particular piece of music that really helped me sort out something I was having trouble dealing with.

At it’s best, any art form can provide us with the wonderful feeling that we’re not the only one dealing with problems.

Who hasn’t heard a certain song after the breakup of a relationship that made things a little easier?

When you’re really down like that, it’s important to be reminded that you’re not alone.

But you don’t need to be on the precipice of hell before you look to pop art for some understanding. Why not look there more often?

Instead of going to see “American Pie” this weekend, why not see something that is going to be interesting and challenging? Instead of flipping on MTV tonight, why not explore blues or jazz?

If you do a little looking, you’ll find that art can be a lot more than just entertainment.

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Ben Godar is a senior in sociology from Ames. He is arts and entertainment editor for the Daily.