WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES CAN BE AN UNDERRATED FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT, BUT IT HAS SOME REALLY GREAT BENEFITS. IT’S A CHANCE FOR YOU TO LEARN ABOUT SOMETHING IN-DEPTH, TO HAVE YOUR VIEWS CHALLENGED BY SOMEONE WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, AND TO FILL ANY HOLES IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
With the right documentary on hand – or just one that resonates with you – you could also find yourself feeling more informed than most people around you!
And if all that wasn’t enough, there’s no denying that some documentaries are super entertaining too. So today we’re going to explore why it’s worth picking up the remote control and placing some time aside for these types of TV shows.
So, why is it good to watch documentaries?
- Help you to learn something new
Whether you’re a voracious reader or you prefer the sound of your own voice, it’s difficult to know everything. And even if you do, there are always new facts and ideas coming to light all the time. So, if you’re keen on expanding your knowledge base and filling in any knowledge gaps, then documentaries are a great way to do just that.
Whatever topic is of interest to you – from military history to civil engineering – there will be a documentary out there that can give you an insight into it.
- Make you better informed
As an effective counter-argument, your partner may nag you that you don’t need to watch documentaries. How can they know what they’re talking about? But if you know a little about any topic, then you’ll be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each documentary available.
This means you’ll be able to filter the rubbish to find the good stuff, and come out feeling like you’ve done better research than most.
- Show you a different side to an issue
A documentary can give you a really insightful perspective into a topic that you thought you knew inside out. Because many documentaries are well researched and put together, it’s not uncommon for them to tell a story differently or show a different side of the issues they cover.
For example, if there is some kind of scandal in your industry or sector, it would make sense to take a look at one of the documentaries on it rather than just reading second-hand articles about it online.
- Open your mind and help you think differently
If you’ve spent a lifetime held within the comfort zone of a particular opinion or ideology, then you might not always be open to the idea that your view could be wrong. But if you watch enough documentaries, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll have some of your opinions challenged.
This can make for an uncomfortable notion but it’s often a good thing as it helps us to open our minds and think in more interesting ways. This is healthy for both your intellect and mentality!
- Filter through the rubbish
Despite all of the benefits listed above, it’s important to remember that there are a lot of bad documentaries out there. On the flip side, there are also a lot of really good ones too.
The only way to find the good ones is to come into watching a documentary with a critical eye. Try not to allow yourself to be swayed by biased opinion or flashy editing. Instead, look for documentaries that stand up in terms of research and have something new and interesting to say on their subject matter.
So, in conclusion, documentaries can be a great way to consume media. They’re not brain dead entertainment and there are a heap of benefits that come with them. So, if you’ve got the time – or the ability to cut down on other things – then why not give one a try?
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