Image no.1

Image no.2

HNC in Creative Media Production 16 Gregory Doherty Unit 11: Film Studies Part 2

Task 2: Wider Film Reading shows the theme and style of message embedded in the film.

What Is Marxism?A Philosophy created by Karl Marx, based on the distribution of wealth in society.Linked to Communism, in that Marxism supports the dissolving of social classes and promotes social and economic equality.

MarxismKarl Marx was one of the most influential philosophers of all time and consequently his work has influenced a lot of films.

“Concentrating on the social and economic relations in which people earn their livings, Karl Marx saw behind capitalism's law and order through the two main classes: the capitalists, who own the productive resources, and the workers or proletariat, who must work in order to survive. "Marxism" is essentially Marx's analysis of the complex and developing relations between these two classes.”

It is from the German philosopher, Hegel, that Marx learned a way of thinking about the world, in all its fluid complexity, which is called "dialectics." Unlike Hegel's dialectic, which operates solely on ideas, Marx's dialectic is materialist.

“In the theory of alienation, Marx explains that the workers in capitalist society do not own the means—machines, raw materials, factories—which they use in their work. These are owned by the capitalists to whom the workers must sell their "labour

power", or ability to do work, in return for a wage.”1 https://www.nyu.edu/projects/ollman/docs/what_is_marxism.php

1 See Bibliography No.1

1

Image no.3

Image no.4

HNC in Creative Media Production 16 Gregory Doherty Unit 11: Film Studies Part 2

Through my research I came across this site which tells us the 10 best movies influenced by Marxist philosophy. One of the movies that caught my eye was;

Modern time (1936) by Charlie Chaplin “Chaplin was always sensitive to social problems. England has always been the land of socialist battles. Highgate cemetery is a sufficient proof of how deeply related England is to Marx’s life.This film could be seen as a social accusation toward industrialization. If one wants to better understand what proletariat alienation is, this is the film to see. This movie is based on a simple concept which it explains well through stereotypical and ironic characters.A society that works in a crazy context cannot be fit for man, who continuously searches to be free. If it is only a critical film more than constructive one, it reflects a particular aspect of industrial proletariat problems, a very old problem that is a socialist vindication but at the same time is the basis of Marx’s philosophy.”2

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/the-10-best-movies-influenced-by-marxist-philosophy/#ixzz4RtHKMVkm

Marxism focuses on the struggle between the rich (owning class) and middle classes (the bourgeoisie), and the working class (the proletariat). It states that the only way real equality can be achieved is through violent revolution and the sharing of all goods. 

This can be seen in the movie The Hunger Games Directed by Gary Ross

The Capitol has an overabundance of food and technology, with a small population and size when compared to the districts. This shows an inequality between the two societies. The proletariat is represented by the various Districts surrounding the Capitol. The districts are starved, oppressed, and must give all their goods to the Capitol. The societies also are closer to nature, and have less of an access to technology than the Capitol. Katniss knows that they must work towards a revolution to overthrow the Capitol, which shows the alienation and coincides with the Marxist theory.

2 See Bibliography No.2

2

Image no.5

HNC in Creative Media Production 16 Gregory Doherty Unit 11: Film Studies Part 2

Another great example of Marxism in films is in the movie Divergent - directed by Neil Burger

It shows that the power is spread throughout factions, but not spread out equally.The Abnegation makes up the government and is required to be selfless in all the actions they endeavour, which can be related to communism.

Dauntless are in charge of the military.

Erudite are the highly intelligent faction who makes all the technology and medicine, and can be connected with the capitalist ideals, as they want to obtain more control of the government, sell their own ideas, and reject the communist ideals of Abnegation. The Erudite want to have all of the power.

Amity is in charge of agriculture and food, and Candor is in charge of truth and law.

The "factionless" have no power and are looked down upon by the rest of society and the Divergents are treated just like the factionless, if not worse.

3

Image no.6

HNC in Creative Media Production 16 Gregory Doherty Unit 11: Film Studies Part 2

Divergent has a historical significance as it can be related to the revolutionary ideas of communism and capitalism.

“The factions were created with the hopes of eliminating future war and violence. It was believed that if each person selects their faction and focuses only on their faction’s morals everyone will be equal and there will be no conflict. This idea of creating a world in which all people are equal with the hopes of eliminating war, can be related to communism.”3

http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2014/10/25/diving-deeper-into-divergent/

Conclusion

So in conclusion, by reference to the examples I have highlighted using the films the Hunger Games and Divergent I believe I have demonstrated the usefulness of wider film readings as a critical tools for understanding and how meaning is created in a cinematic medium. I chose Marxism as the basis of this essay; however I could also have used the same films to bring out aspects of feminism in the leading ladies characters. Similarly the same films could be critiqued to bring out the psychoanalytical aspects.

Irrespective of the filmmakers intentions audiences will take away something different from the text. The demographic (age, sex, background) has a bearing on what way individuals will interpret the footage.

Bibliography

1. Marxism description https://www.nyu.edu/projects/ollman/docs/what_is_marxism.php

2. 10 Movies influenced by Marxist Philosophyhttp://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/the-10-best-movies-influenced-by-marxist-philosophy/#ixzz4RtHKMVkm

3. Divergent http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2014/10/25/diving-deeper-into-divergent/

Image Bibliography1. Karl Marx http://infed.org/mobi/karl-marx-and-education/2. Alienation https://www.nyu.edu/projects/ollman/docs/what_is_marxism.php

3 See Bibliography No.3

4

HNC in Creative Media Production 16 Gregory Doherty Unit 11: Film Studies Part 2

3. Charlie Chaplin-Modern times (1936) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/mediaviewer/rm3057823744

4. The Hunger Games https://www.google.ie/search?q=the+hunger+Games&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwijzLiP19vQAhWBAsAKHV6wCRAQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=fRPb4ac1vAe8wM%3A

5. Divergent https://www.google.ie/search?q=divergent&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjO3I3919vQAhUZOsAKHdyLAJ0Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=Cforc79o8kxurM%3A

6. The different factions in Divergenthttps://www.google.ie/search?q=divergent&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjO3I3919vQAhUZOsAKHdyLAJ0Q_AUIBigB#imgdii=FTVe85HHHcLGwM%3A%3BFTVe85HHHcLGwM%3A%3Bc3A6emHVQl5rgM%3A&imgrc=FTVe85HHHcLGwM%3A

5