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Communication between Modern Film Media and its Audience

By: Hannah Malugen

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Credibility

  • Movie fanatic
  • Follower of movie culture
  • Outside Sources

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What we will learn:

  • Intended messages portrayed through modern film
    • Two types
  • Unintended messages portrayed through modern film
  • How audiences absorb messages given by films

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Two Types of Intended Messages

Hidden Messages vs. Themes

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Hidden Messages (Intended)

  • Messages that are not directly stated
  • Usually involve easter eggs or hints
  • Requires thought and analysis

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Example for Hidden Messages

  • “Us” directed by Jordan Peele
  • Hidden Messages used by metaphors and symbols
    • Hands Across America
    • Scissors (Duality)
    • “Darker Doppelgangers”

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Themes (Intended)

  • Messages that are explained either verbally or nonverbally.
  • More “apparent”
  • Require little thought or analysis

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Example for Theme

  • “Her” directed by Spike Jonze
  • The message of finding out what is real
  • The ending and how it portrays the theme

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Unintended messages portrayed through modern film

  • Messages that are not intended to be communicated by the creators, but are absorbed by the audience.
  • Usually offensive or controversial

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Example of unintended messages

  • UNC Chapel Hill study on PG films of the late 2000s.
  • Outrageous Statistics

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Another example of unintended messages

  • Grease (1978) directed by Randal Kleiser
  • Sexist themes
  • Aimed at teenage audience

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How audiences absorb messages portrayed by films

  • Personal vs. Societal
    • Personal: What an individual takes away from a film or message
    • Societal: What a multitude of individuals take away from a film or message

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Personal Experience

  • Discovery of A24 productions
  • Indie films and their messages
  • Watching explanations of movies and realizing the power of storytelling through cinema

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Summary

  • Today we learned about:
    • Two types of intended messages
    • Unintended messages and the danger that they hold
    • How audiences absorb messages portrayed by film
    • Personal experiences

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Bibliography

Hildebrand, J. (2018, June 15). Sexist, racist and offensive: Why Grease is copping it 40 years on. Retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/40-years-on-grease-is-copping-it-for-all-the-wrong-reasons/news-story/bbd10d7f703051a7619edb702e238cd2.

Kids' movies deliver mixed messages on eating, obesity. (2013, Dec 26). Asia News Monitor Retrieved from ProQuest Central.

Malitz, D. (2013, December 20). Spike Jonze talks what's real and what's a relationship with 'Her'. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/spike-jonze-talks-whats-real-and-whats-a-relationship-with-her/2013/12/19/2253da8c-6745-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_story.html.

Newby, R. (2019, October 23). Looking at 'Us' Through Black Identity and Trump's America. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/us-movies-hidden-meaning-black-identity-explained-1196687.

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