<p> From Schafermeyer’s “Film Criticism”</p><p>Semiotic Approaches</p><p>Approach quick description Schaefermeyer example Realist True to life “…focuses on the use of film to Blair Witch Project – shaky represent reality based on the camera, long shots, power of photography’s ability to “homemade,” supposes the render the real world objectively” (507). characters are “real” people, not actors. Formalist Form, montage, “Meaning in film, then, evolves Think of reality TV, the construction, from the juxtaposition of film juxtaposition of shots creates a combining shots that manifest conflict… [it different event, feeling, mood, is] how the shots of a film are combined to ‘mean’” (508). or tone Rhetorical Persuasive, message “…examines the film as a Platoon - overtly lets ya know rhetorical artifact that exhibits that war is bad news… intentional meaning and structure…deals with the communicative potential of film” (509). Mise-en-scene Environment “…the environment of the film, Blade Runner – Ridley Scott’s which is created by its lighting, depiction of a futuristic urban sets, costumes, movement, and environment constructed of a any other features that comprise the scene as photographed by the variety of filmic devices. camera” (509). </p><p>Structuralist Approaches</p><p>Approach Quick description Schaefermeyer Example Mythic Thematic, myth- “…asserts the presence of one Oh Brother Where Art Thou - based, archetypal or more specific myths that, by follows the mythic story of virtue of their preeminence, are Homer’s Odyssey. found in a society’s aesthetic artifacts” (510). Political Interest-based, relies “…focuses on films and their One might use Marxian of theorist in their relationship to the areas of economic theory to discuss respective fields history, ideology, economics, and Erin Brokovich. social criticism” (510). Feminist Concerned with “…analyze the treatment of One might look Sigourney power, pursues the women as they support or negate Weaver’s character in Aliens breakdown of the role of women in and discuss the way it reifies contemporary society” (511). oppressive [What an awful description! – bk] woman as the stereotypical hierarchical social sacred mother, although it structures overtly depicts her as warrior. Psychoanalytic Application of No sufficient quote available. One might use Freud and his psychoanalytic theory theory of the “Oedipus to film complex” to discuss the relationships between characters. Sociological The intersection of “…uses sociological concepts, One might look at American art and society, how such as class, status, interaction, History X to examine the roles they impact each organization and culture” (511). of socialization and deviancy [This one’s bad, too!] other. in American culture. Phenomenological Viewer (audience) “…is concerned with the One might examine the perception of film or manner in which viewers spectators’ perception of the journey into the perceive the film and/or its Being John Malkovich. images (always, however, in interior of the mind relation to the whole)” (511)/</p><p>Contextual Approaches</p><p>Approach Quick description Schaefermeyer Example Auteur (author) Directorial style “…assumes a certain amount of Hitchcock, Lynch, Potter, directorial autonomy in film etc…and so on… production…focuses on film directors and the style manifested in tow or more of their films” (512). Genre Common narrative “…focuses on the narrative Western, war, and horror structure, conventions structures common to film: films. They are easily westerns, war films, musicals, categorized by recognizable gangster films, and so on… categorizes films according to features. specific characteristics” (512). Historical studies Production issues “…analyzes the entire scope of One might study the corporate the film’s development…In structure of huge $$ addition, studies of particular Hollywood blockbusters… studios analyze the film industry from economic, political, or corporate perspectives” (513).</p>