--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the funny thing about cinema, it…" description: "\"That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual medium, but it's also sort of anti-intellectual.\" — Brit Marling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png" --- # That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual… ![“That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual medium, but it's also sort of anti-intellectual.” quote by Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png) > “That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual medium, but it's also sort of anti-intellectual.” [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cinema balances intellectual ideas with entertainment, often simplifying complex thoughts for broader appeal. **In simple terms:** Films mix thought and fun, sometimes diluting depth. Key Takeaway Recognize and critique the depth of media you consume. Themes media culture intellectualism Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - film reviews - media literacy classes - creative workshops Key Concepts film theory artistic compromise audience expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate substance from spectacle? - What role should art play in society? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures can limit depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-intellectual-304118/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Cinema Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema-intellectual-867279/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual Medium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-medium-867280/) [Mediums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediums/) ## Related quotes > [It only takes a day to change someone from an anti-intellectual to an intellectual by persuading him that he might be one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/it-only-takes-a-day-to-change-someone-from-an-anti-intellectual-to-an/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [We believe in cures; we're a quick-fix country, and we drive forward, and we eat up what we have extremely fast in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-means/we-believe-in-cures-we-re-a-quick-fix-country-and-we-drive-forward/) [David Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-means/) > [There's the anti-intellectual movement in society and I don't blame them entirely for feeling that way because we all know people, I have many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/there-s-the-anti-intellectual-movement-in-society-and-i-don-t-blame/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science, at bottom, is really anti-intellectual. It always distrusts pure reason, and demands the production of objective fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/science-at-bottom-is-really-anti-intellectual-it-always-distrusts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, if you can only talk about your stuff in a jargonistic way, you're not as smart as you think. You're alienating people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lopatin/i-think-if-you-can-only-talk-about-your-stuff-in-a-jargonistic-way/) [Daniel Lopatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lopatin/) > [I was anti-intellectual to the nth. Basically I liked to dance and paint, and that was about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-was-anti-intellectual-to-the-nth-basically-i-liked-to-dance-and/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [“R.C. Sproul has written that "we live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization." As far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/r-c-sproul-has-written-that-we-live-in-what-may-be-the-most-anti/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“And I wonder, therefore, how James Atlas can have been so indulgent in his recent essay ‘The Changing World of New York Intellectuals.’ This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/and-i-wonder-therefore-how-james-atlas-can-have-been-so-indulgent-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are many non-intellectual countries; Australia is one of the few anti-intellectual ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/there-are-many-non-intellectual-countries-australia-is-one-of-the-few/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [The species of anti-Enlightenment religion we find among evangelical protestants is far more impoverished, anti-intellectual and downright wretched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/the-species-of-anti-enlightenment-religion-we-find-among-evangelical/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I'm not interested in the fact that a writer may label himself as being intellectual or anti-intellectual. l'm really interested in the stuff he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-m-not-interested-in-the-fact-that-a-writer-may-label-himself-as/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“Anti-intellectual resentment is common in all of American life and it has many diverse expressions. Refusing to draft college players might have been one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/anti-intellectual-resentment-is-common-in-all-of-american-life-and-it/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-live-in-what-may-be-the-most-anti-intellectual-period-in-the/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Americans are genuinely and profoundly anti-intellectual. They are especially so in their pleasure-seeking, which is epically banal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ball/americans-are-genuinely-and-profoundly-anti-intellectual-they-are/) [Jesse Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ball/) > [I derided Christians as anti-intellectual bigots who were too weak to face the reality that there is no rhyme or reason to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-derided-christians-as-anti-intellectual-bigots-who-were-too-weak-to/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More by Brit Marling > [The litmus test for whether I want to take on a role or not is usually fear. If I'm afraid of it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/the-litmus-test-for-whether-i-want-to-take-on-a-role-or-not-is/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Maybe the best definition of what a great partnership or great love is when people make each other grow in a better direction than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/maybe-the-best-definition-of-what-a-great-partnership-or-great-love/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [It doesn't happen all the time, but in the moments where you really lose yourself and you fall into this character, it's like time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/it-doesn-t-happen-all-the-time-but-in-the-moments-where-you-really/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I used to be able to sit in a chair and for four hours straight in a very focused meditative way be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-used-to-be-able-to-sit-in-a-chair-and-for-four-hours-straight-in-a/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I never want to repeat the same thing. I always want it to be different from what I've done, and to be not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-never-want-to-repeat-the-same-thing-i-always-want-it-to-be/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think we're in this exciting moment of Internet streaming storytelling, and it's anybody's guess what that is or what it means. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-we-re-in-this-exciting-moment-of-internet-streaming/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think there is a general unrest or curiosity about what a human future is going to be like, and whether the way we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-there-is-a-general-unrest-or-curiosity-about-what-a-human/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Once you play with these scenes and you're outlining it, again and again, and telling each other the narrative, and telling it to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/once-you-play-with-these-scenes-and-you-re-outlining-it-again-and/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [So much of the world is being brought up on these stories that Hollywood is coming up with and exporting all over. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/so-much-of-the-world-is-being-brought-up-on-these-stories-that/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think sometimes big budget means explosions! CGI! CGI, the possibilities are so limitless that it begins to be impractical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-sometimes-big-budget-means-explosions-cgi-cgi-the/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I'm really into rocks. I have a really serious rock collection. Rocks and feathers and shells and strange found things in nature. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-m-really-into-rocks-i-have-a-really-serious-rock-collection-rocks/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Human beings are flawed and complicated and messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/human-beings-are-flawed-and-complicated-and-messy/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think I am looking as an actor to find ways to push myself into places I haven't been before as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-i-am-looking-as-an-actor-to-find-ways-to-push-myself-into/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think one thing for sure that you learn the more films that you make is how important it is to choose your collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-one-thing-for-sure-that-you-learn-the-more-films-that-you/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I always feel like the editing room is like coming into the kitchen. What kind of a meal do you make from there? It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-always-feel-like-the-editing-room-is-like-coming-into-the-kitchen/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) [Explore all 89 Brit Marling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual medium, but it's also sort of anti-intellectual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brit Marling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-is-an-intellectual-medium-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-is-an-intellectual-medium-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/brit-marling-7629_cinema_that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-i_2481466.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That's the funny thing about cinema, it is an intellectual medium, but it's also sort of anti-intellectual.” — Brit Marling", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Brit Marling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That's the funny thing about cinema,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-is-an-intellectual-medium-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/that-s-the-funny-thing-about-cinema-it-is-an-intellectual-medium-but/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```