Vocabulary:
- reminiscence /rem-uh-NIS-uhns/
- retention /ri-TEN-shuhn/
- induce /in-DOOS/
- nostalgic /no-STAL-jik/
- curtail /ker-TEYL/
[noun] to talk about pleasant things that happened in the past
When we were younger, we would listen to our grandmother’s reminiscence of her gleeful childhood.
[noun] continuing to keep something
Your retention of facts seems to be going bad.
[verb] to cause a particular condition
Consuming too much caffeine can induce palpitations and headaches.
[adjective] feeling both happy and sad when you think about things that happened in the past
Looking through our photos from the trip is quite nostalgic.
[verb] to reduce, limit, or stop something
I’m going to have to curtail my spending from now on.
Ginmaku Cafe has been showing classic films to their elderly patrons as a way to prevent dementia. Movies dating back to the 1940’s and earlier were edited to 20-minute long clips and shown on their 80-inch screen. This is a form of reminiscence therapy, which aims to maintain brain activity and memory retention. The old films, which are full of information and images from the past, induce nostalgic memories that keep the brain cells from dying and the brain from shutting down. This is said to counter dementia, a mental illness that usually afflicts the elderly and severely damages the intellect, memory, and other brain functions.
The Okinawa-based video production company Net TV Kaisou established the cafe in February 2018. There are plans to build cafes of the similar concept in other parts of the country. Moreover, the company aims to broaden the reach of its research by distributing copies of the edited films to hundreds of nursing homes in Japan. The company has also expressed the possibility of renting out the curtailed versions of the classics to customers.
The Okinawa-based video production company Net TV Kaisou established the cafe in February 2018. There are plans to build cafes of the similar concept in other parts of the country. Moreover, the company aims to broaden the reach of its research by distributing copies of the edited films to hundreds of nursing homes in Japan. The company has also expressed the possibility of renting out the curtailed versions of the classics to customers.
True or False:
- The films shown in Ginmaku Cafe are shortened versions of newly-released movies.
- The elderly are able to reminisce about their past when they watch classic films.
- Dementia is a mental illness common among infants and toddlers.
- Reminiscence therapy relies on bringing up memories of the past to keep the brain active.
- Net TV Kaisou plans to rent out shortened versions of the films shown in Ginmaku Cafe.
Discussion Questions:
- What are some of the good ways to enhance one’s brain activity and memory retention?
- Do you think Ginmaku Cafe’s approach to dementia has its merits? Please elaborate.
- Are films only for entertainment? Why or why not?
- Are mental illnesses as bad as physical diseases? Please elaborate.
- In your opinion, how can illnesses like dementia be prevented?
Express Your Opinion:
- “Dementia is our most-feared illness, more than heart disease or cancer.” – David Perlmutter
- “Movies are like an expensive form of therapy for me.” – Tim Burton
- “We can alleviate physical pain, but mental pain – grief, despair, depression, dementia – is less accessible to treatment. It’s connected to who we are – our personality, our character, our soul, if you like.” – Richard Eyre