Cinema and active aging: the image of physical activity in the movies

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the image movies present of older people engaging in physical and sports activities. A review of the literature showed that although the topic was addressed in broad terms, there was a specific gap regarding physical activity. Thus, we descriptively and analytically explored this topic, beginning by reviewing two main concepts: physical activity and sports/older people. Subsequently, we reviewed all the films advertised on Spanish billboards in 2012 in order to select those whose central theme was related to older people. Finally, we applied a content analysis coding frame to films that include scenes in which such activities occur. Early findings indicate that older people are not a subject of interest in movies (barely 4% address this theme). Furthermore, when movies focus on older people and physical activity, a high percentage show them practicing the type of sport expected of an older person, which suggests that the movies continue to offer a biased image of today's older people. Nevertheless, we have also found data suggestive of a positive change toward breaking this biased image of older people in movies.