A P P R O A C H E S T OP O P U L A R F I L M

C R I T I C A L F R A M E W O R K S

Y O U R C R I T I C A L S T U D Y

One focus film

Two related films

One critical framework

I T ’ S A T O O L K I T…what is a critical framework?

A S E T O F C R I T I C A L T O O L S W I T H W H I C H T O “ U N PA C K ” T H E M E A N I N G S C O N TA I N E D W I T H I N A F I L M

Y O U C A N U S E O N E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G A P P R O A C H E S …

S TA R / P E R F O R M E R S T U D I E S G E N R E T H E O R Y A U T E U R T H E O RY

S O C I A L P O L I T I C A LCULTURALS T U D I E S G E N D E R I S S U E S E T H N I C I T Y I N S T I T U T I O N T E C H N O L O G Y

S TA R / P E R F O R M E R

Stars are central to the concerns of both the film

industry and the audience

stars can be ideological images that communicate dominant

values

T H E S TA R C O M M U TAT I O N T E S T

does the meaning of a film change with a different star in the main role?

stars in context: not just their films, but their publicity materials and

other media texts

stars are objects of desire – audiences view films to complete

the puzzle of the star’s image

P R E T E N D I N G R E S E M B L I N G I M I TA T I N G C O P Y I N G

D E V O T I O N

genre theory

Similarity and Difference

Genre refers to groups of texts which share a pattern of

similarity and difference.

Are genres “out there” in the world, or do they get defined by critics?

The pleasure for the audience often lies in the experience of difference within the similarity (or vice versa!).

The most important aspect of genre is this relationship between media institutions, texts, and audiences.

As an audience, we gain mastery over genre texts by “reading” them — we feel good about doing this

When considering genre, you should think about socio-historical context, ideology & politics, and historical development.

A U T E U R T H E O R Y“ Y O U R C I N E M A I S I N VA L I D ”

film as a form of individual expression

a concern to elevate film as an art form

valuing directors with powerful personalities, because they can make themselves felt through an

industrial process

S O C I A L , P O L I T I C A L & C U LT U R A L S T U D I E S

a cultural studies approach looks at films in their contexts and is

especially interested in the behaviour of the audience

film as a popular art form - reflecting working class experience and values?

film as a means of spreading the social values of the

dominant class?

different audiences have different responses to films

G E N D E R & F I L M

the bechdel test?

the male gaze

cultural resistance

images of masculinity and femininity

E T H I C I T Y & F I L M

representations of people of colour

blaxploitation movies

stereotypes, messages & values

resistance to the dominant culture

I N S T I T U T I O N A L

studios, producers, finance – the economics of the film

industry

T E C H N O L O G I C A L

the use of digital cinematography

the use of CGI

movies made at the time of key technological

developments