Movies are Literature

"Luke, I am your father."
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get."
"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

These quotes are well recognized in contemporary society, more so than "Classic Literature," such as Forrester, Shakespeare, and Homer. As our views of society are constantly changing, so must our definition of what literature truly encompasses. Literature has been previously defined as being textually based with artistic merit, often being considered a classic; however, as technology, people, and even culture change, the definition of literature must be cast aside for a new model to arise. Literature cannot be bound by words on the page. Stylistic choices such as musical score, directorial cuts, dramatic lighting, and countless other cinematic effects add to the experience that accompanies this form of media. True literature adds value to those who read it, broadening their views, challenging their preconceptions of the world, and describing the human condition. Literature is not about the act of reading, but the overall journey through the mind of the author and the events in the story. Real literature should have new ideas that challenge the audience to think and question their standing on one or more issues. Movies such as Pi, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Schindler's List are held in such high critical esteem that it would be insanity not to classify them as literature. Shakespeare wrote commercial fiction, designed for  the lower class English citizens who were his crowd. It is ridiculous to think that innovative movies such as The Matrix, Fight Club, and Inception aren't literature considering that even some commercial literature is. Literature at its base (and sometimes best) is based upon the quality work produced, not the form in which it is delivered.