Thomas Jacobs is an avid writer, Cinema aficionado, and filmmaker. He graduated with Dean’s Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in Film and Digital Media. His passion is directly tied to the appreciation and creation of film and television, and this fact is reflected in his intent to be a writer for the acclaimed entertainment journal, The Hollywood Insider.His beliefs mirror the core goals and mission statement of The Hollywood Insider by sharing an admiration for quality entertainment as well as bolstering a sense of positivity and equality among all humans. Thomas believes that Cinema is an advantageous promoter of civil and social empowerment, and he shares a mutual societal view with The Hollywood Insider, that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.
Aug 4, 2022
Table of Contents
Photo: ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’
‘Who Do You Think You Are’ is a series where celebrities explore their own history through the help of the organization Ancestry.com. This business employs the aid of learned scholars and historians, who are versed in smaller, more particular periods in history. This includes occurrences that date back to somewhat recent times in the past, mostly concerning the last two or three centuries of humankind’s reign. This series is built essentially from a few specific questions of an individual who is the focus of any given episode.
It is incredible how the series is able to create an entire story based on a single question, which then branches out into a multitude of curiosities. The relevance of this series is paramount to the period that humanity now exists within. This series, which is foremost about the past and heritage that has led to the creation of a person, is now combined with the miracle of technology and its close tie to convenient access to information. Never before in time have humans had such a profound integration with information and technology. This assimilation is what has led to the current existence and unbelievable wealth of knowledge that the series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ utilizes. ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ is revolutionary as it offers the guest star, who is the focus of the episode, the chance to learn more about their family’s history than they ever could have imagined.
The depths of exploration the experts in this series go through to discover everything they can about the individual that is featured in the series is completely unbelievable. Every piece of history pertaining to the ancestry of the guest star is scoured in order to inform the featured celebrity about their heritage. This is an aspect of the show that is one of its greatest strengths, and the way that such information is shared is as skillfully delivered as it is accurate. ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ is a series that has clearly learned from its time on air, and the newest season, which is just starting to release, utilizes not only a vast bank of knowledge, but also reflects a clear direction that the show is headed.
This show is fundamentally aimed at informing not only the guest, whose history a particular episode covers, but the audience of the series as well. The goal of ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ is to surprise both the viewer and the star. There are aspects of human’s lives that are so heavily influenced by their heritage and yet many people have been unable to understand or meet the very ancestors they come from. This unfortunate side of life is heavily intertwined with the mortality of humanity. Recently, with the advent of technology and information, people are now able to discover facts and details about their genealogy that might have been impossible to find in earlier times.
Understanding one’s history, in a way, gives clarity to who the individual is, and that is exactly the value and insight that the series ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ provides to its guests and viewers.
Overall Critique and Analysis
‘Who Do You Think You Are,’ in its 12th season, appears certain in the message that it attempts to illustrate. That message is that humans are not quite as enigmatic as they might first appear. The understanding that ancestral history provides about an individual is quite revealing towards not only the character of that person, but also the environment that shaped their future long before they were even born. This is something that is clearly depicted in the first episode of season 12 with guest star Billy Porter. Porter who is a Tony Award winner, singer, writer, and actor is able, through the show’s assistance, to uncover the turbulent history of his past family ancestors.
His grandfather was murdered in cold blood by a police officer, a crime which was left unpunished as the officer was cleared of any wrongdoing despite witnesses. Porter also learns in that same episode that his great-great-grandfather purchased his family’s freedom in the mid-1800s from savings he made as a barber. Porter, after learning the adversities and horrors that his family was forced to endure, broke down into tears. This reaction by Porter reflects the true nature of his character, as well as the effect of the knowledge of learning one’s familyhistory and what that does to an individual. Human lives are affected by a multitude of factors, but upon learning how those events have shaped one’s life, it is almost as if this knowledge allows the individual to better understand themself. This is the power of the series ‘Who Do You Think You Are,’ and although at times certain reactions within the show feel performance-based, the idea behind the series is what gives the show its true value.
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
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Thomas Jacobs is an avid writer, Cinema aficionado, and filmmaker. He graduated with Dean’s Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in Film and Digital Media. His passion is directly tied to the appreciation and creation of film and television, and this fact is reflected in his intent to be a writer for the acclaimed entertainment journal, The Hollywood Insider.His beliefs mirror the core goals and mission statement of The Hollywood Insider by sharing an admiration for quality entertainment as well as bolstering a sense of positivity and equality among all humans. Thomas believes that Cinema is an advantageous promoter of civil and social empowerment, and he shares a mutual societal view with The Hollywood Insider, that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.
Thomas Jacobs is an avid writer, Cinema aficionado, and filmmaker. He graduated with Dean’s Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in Film and Digital Media. His passion is directly tied to the appreciation and creation of film and television, and this fact is reflected in his intent to be a writer for the acclaimed entertainment journal, The Hollywood Insider.His beliefs mirror the core goals and mission statement of The Hollywood Insider by sharing an admiration for quality entertainment as well as bolstering a sense of positivity and equality among all humans. Thomas believes that Cinema is an advantageous promoter of civil and social empowerment, and he shares a mutual societal view with The Hollywood Insider, that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.
Thomas Jacobs is an avid writer, Cinema aficionado, and filmmaker. He graduated with Dean’s Honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a major in Film and Digital Media. His passion is directly tied to the appreciation and creation of film and television, and this fact is reflected in his intent to be a writer for the acclaimed entertainment journal, The Hollywood Insider.His beliefs mirror the core goals and mission statement of The Hollywood Insider by sharing an admiration for quality entertainment as well as bolstering a sense of positivity and equality among all humans. Thomas believes that Cinema is an advantageous promoter of civil and social empowerment, and he shares a mutual societal view with The Hollywood Insider, that people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.
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