WJEC A2 Film StudiesUnit FM4 Section B

Spectatorship Studies

Popular Film and Emotional Response

Spectatorship Studies are interested in the relationship between spectators and film

Spectatorship theories are based on the belief that film is an affective medium – that spectators are affected by watching films

The nature of that affect can be:

• Short term (the length of the film)

• Medium term (a few hours or days after the film)

• Long term (years after the film)

The nature of that affect can also be psychological, intellectual, emotional or physical, for example …

Psychological – embedded in the subconscious in ways that might drive behaviour at a later date

Intellectual – providing knowledge and information

Emotional – generating feelings, like sadness or happiness

Physical – causing physiological responses such as crying or laughing

Is Film an Affective Medium?

• Film was designed to be a powerfully affective medium – especially through the development of continuity editing which persuaded audiences to suspend disbelief when watching a film and accept fantasy as reality

• Continuity editing enabled film makers to create believable reality by establishing cause-effect logic

• The persuasive power of film was recognized very early in its history and it was used as both an overt propaganda tool in Tearing Down the Spanish Flag (Vitagraph, 1898), Triumph of the Will (Leni Reifenstahl, 1935) and The Birth of a Nation (D.W. Griffiths, 1915) and a more subtle one in Hollywood even prior to WW11 Confessions of a Nazi Spy (Warner Bros, 1939)

Is Film an Affective Medium?

• The use of film as propaganda continued during and after the war:

• The Great Dictator (1940, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Chaplin Film Corporation, Distributed by United Artists, Distributed by Universal)

• In Which We Serve (David Lean and Noel Coward, 1942, British Lion Film and United Artists) 1:34

• In many ways propaganda is very difficult to separate from persuasion or even, simply, an opinion or a point of view. If that point of view is commonly held by the majority of a society, and reinforced through its media then it is called an ideology:

• Kramer versus Kramer (Robert Benton, 1979, Columbia)

Is Film an Affective Medium?

If we accept that film is an affective medium with the power to affect our emotions then we need to consider the ways in which it does that:

• Director Intentions• Screenwriter’s Intentions• Star Performance• Narrative Structure• Film Language• Historical/Political/Social Context

Is Film an Affective Medium?Director’s Intentions

• A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1972, Warner Bros/Columbia) - The Ludvico Treatment

• Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick, Warner Bros, 1987) Opening

• Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick, Warner Bros, 1987) Scene 2

• Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg, 1993, Universal) A Small Pile of Hinges

• The Pianist (Roman Polanski, 2002, Studio Canal/Focus) Trailer

Is Film an Affective Medium?Star Performance

• Sophie’s Choice (Alun Pakula, Universal, 1982) The Choice

• Good Morning Vietnam (Barry Levinson, 1987, Touchstone/Buena Vista) Robin Williams

• Good Will Hunting (Gus Van Sant, 1997, Miramax) Robin Williams and Matt Damon

• The Deer Hunter (1978, Michael Cimino) Russian Roulette – Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken

• Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976 ) You Talkin’ To Me?

• The Brave One (Neil Jordan, 2007 ) Jodie Foster

Is Film an Affective Medium?Narrative Structure

Life is Beautiful (Robert Benigni, 1997, Italy/Miramax) Trailer

Life is Beautiful (Robert Benigni, 1997, Italy/Miramax)Full Film 1.35

This Boy’s Life (Michael Caton-Jones, 1993, Warner Bros) Ending

Shawshank Redemption (Frank Darabont, 1997) Ending

The Graduate (Mike Nicols, 1967)Ending

Hannibal (Ridley Scott, 2001) Penultimate

Hannibal (Ridley Scott, 2001) Final Scene

Inglourious Basterds (Tarantino, 2009) Opening

Popular Film and Emotional ResponsePrevious Exam Questions – Themes

• Identification with characters• Emotional manipulation• Performance• Film Techniques• Filmmaker’s Intentions• Soundtrack• Narrative versus Style• Spectator Response/s - Variations

Popular Film and Emotional ResponsePrevious Exam Questions – Themes

• Visual Elements• Spectator’s Prior Knowledge as Fans

and Informed Filmgoers• Key Elements• Intense, Dramatic Situations• Viewing Situation (Context)• Genre (Predictable & Unexpected)