Martin Scorsese says streaming services are ‘devaluing’ films by reducing them to ‘content’ in blistering essay

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Martin Scorsese has claimed that streaming services are “devaluing” cinema by reducing films to “content”. Scorsese claimed that “the art of cinema is being systematically devalued, sidelined, demeaned, and reduced to its lowest common denominator” by the streaming system which sees film “content.” “As recently as 15 years ago, the term ‘content’ was heard only when people were discussing the cinema on a serious level, and it was contrasted with and measured against ‘form,’” he wrote. “Then, gradually, it was used more and more by the people who took over media companies, most of whom knew nothing about the history of the art form, or even cared enough to think that they should.” Scorsese’s last film, The Irishman, was released on Netflix Under the new system, Scorsese wrote, “all moving images” are seen as equal, “a David Lean movie, a cat video, a Super Bowl commercial, a superhero sequel, a series episode”. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free He continued: “We can’t depend on the movie business, such as it is, to take care of cinema… Those of us who know the cinema and its history have to share our love and our knowledge with as many people as possible… They are among the greatest treasures of our culture, and they must be treated accordingly.”