Escaping the Echo Chamber: The Lyric Cinema is the Challenge You Need
This past year, we learned how social media feeds function more like “echo chambers” than reliable news sources. If you haven’t heard the term, do a little Googling— you just might be living in one yourself.
An echo chamber is a network, especially on social media, that repeats information and opinions those within the network already with, while minimizing exposure to conflicting perspectives.
You can install browser extensions to diversify the content in your feed, like Escape Your Bubble, which inserts positive posts about a group you self-reportedly don’t understand, or AdNauseam, which protects your demographic data by “clicking” on a wide range of ads in the background of your browsing session. But, like most things in life, the best solution doesn’t come with a one-click install. NPR’s Gene Demby suggests face-to-face conversations are the best way to expand your horizons because both people feel personally invested in the dialogue.
That’s where the Lyric Cinema comes in. The theatre exists as an alternative art scene that emphasizes community and dialogue.
Exploring movies and music that present alternative perspectives to mainstream culture offers an opportunity to challenge your existing beliefs. You gain even more from venturing outside your comfort zone in a space like the Lyric, where people are encouraged to discuss their reactions.
“Lots of really free thinkers come in to see the interesting movies and, to be honest, have a chat with us. Because it’s an independent place, we’re [as a staff] all independent thinkers. The people that this attracts are incredible and it’s a very different experience of Fort Collins.” -Will Banfield, Bartender
The Lyric isn’t a dying establishment patronized by four customers — their demand was so large, they relocated further north five months ago to expand. While the addition included another theater, it focused more on creating community space like a restaurant and rooftop patio.
Indeed, even the architecture was designed to facilitate conversation: a bar and cafe tables lead right up to a ticket counter, T-shirt kiosk, and wall of vintage pinball machines. Staff is accessible from all angles and customers engaging in each activity are never more than a few feet away from one another.
The theater plays a mix of local and international independent flicks, often telling stories overlooked by blockbuster film and theaters. For example, don’t assume a romance stars a white, heterosexual couple.
Watching movies makes you more empathic and understanding of others because it makes social issues more relatable.
The Lyric’s owner and leadership team takes public stances on political issues, too, like Donald Trump’s presidency. February 4-6 was the Shithole Country Film Festival, which showed a series of films from African directors in response to Trump’s infamous comment on January 11. The theater donated all ticket proceeds to the Colorado African Organization.
This political activity clearly leans left. There is a well-founded argument to be made that engaging with the Lyric might only offer exposure to liberal political ideas, the staff welcomes all kinds of discussion and dissent.
“We’re one of the few places in Fort Collins that’s going to take a stand, and I think our customers respect that. Whether they like what we say or not, they still respect that we’re going to say it and open a dialogue. If you don’t like it, come talk to us because we’re willing to hear why and explain why we took that stance. We’re always open to conversation.” -Banfield
Banfield is right; very few businesses do take public political stances, lest they risk losing customers or inviting controversy. Sure, those businesses may be appealing simply because they stray from political events that all too often have worn out their welcome consuming our leisure time, but are they really helping to make us better people? More informed or more tolerant?
The largely unexpected Trump victory is one example of how echo chambers shape, and to some extent distort, our reality.
While moderates and conservatives could certainly benefit from what the Lyric offers, they could also benefit the theater’s liberal-leaning community by helping them understand a broader set of perspectives.
The Lyric is also always looking to expand that community. It showed Disney’s Coco in Spanish, without subtitles, to offer a welcoming event for the Hispanic community, who are often viewed as a secondary market or ignored entirely. By remaining engaged with the Lyric, you can also interact with communities you may not see in your everyday life.
Not to mention, in a bit of a shameless, entirely unsponsored plug, all the social good you do with your $7 matinee ticket. The cinema recycles and composts, uses sustainable packaging for its treats, and donates all its tips to a filmmaker’s fund, while still incentivizing employees through a profit-sharing mechanism.
“I think it’s important people know we aren’t hoity-toity or anything. We’re regular people who just want to facilitate something more in this community. That’s the difficulty I’ve found, bringing people here. They have some weird expectation that the indie theatre will be a bunch of snobs who want to tell you about film and don’t really care what you think, but that’s not us at all. We just want to showcase some of the great art and film coming out from all over the world and to make you think. Just a great, welcoming community here.”
-Banfield
Even if movies aren’t your thing, you can still find plenty of ways to push your cultural and ideological boundaries through their digital art exhibitions, Magnolia Sessions concert series, or even grabbing a beer and chatting with the guests next to you. Be sure to grab its ‘zine, too: a compilation of poetry and prose submissions, blended seamlessly with their menu and changed every few months.
Order tickets, peruse events, and drool over the menu from the comfort of your own home before you make the big push to expand your ideological bubble.