Ideology in Film - blog

1.What is ideology and how can it be implicit vs. explicit?

Ideology is the narrowing perspective of an individual/ a secret message that is being conveyed to the audience through media. Ideology could also be the study of their origins and nature of ideas. There are two forms of conveying to the audience and they are implicit and explicit.

Explicit is the use of character in film, and he/she declares themselves to be the subject of the film. Through them the audience forms their opinions through his/her actions.
Implicit is highly opinionated, meaning that the film is generally supposed to be argued about and it involves intense analysis of the different compositions of a film.

2. Ideology and Expectations;Give an example of an a actor that presents a predictable ideological package that studios are quick to use. List as many of their film roles as possible – noting the particular actions/dialogues associated with the character that they play. Make a list of the five adjectives that you think best capture their typical role. Produce a detailed description of what you think their next role will be like.

Dakota Fanning

- Lilo and Stitch – Young girl, who is tasked with befriending an alien and through him learns compassion and true friendship.

- Coraline – Young unloved daughter, learns how to fully appreciate her family.

- Charlotte’s Web – Fern, hardworking girl at the farm and the story of her innocence and her willingness to protect a small little runt.
- Dr. Seuss: The Cat In The Hat – Playful child, who meets the cat and learns to have fun instead of being completely organized the whole time.
- My Neighbor Totoro – A sister, the wandering troublesome little girl who runs away from home because she’s worried about her mother. Finds that all the family she truly needs is with her.
5 Adjectives – (adolescent, charming,, friendly, heartwarming, adorable.)

Probably her next role would be something that involves the innocent little girl role, as where the audience feels attached to her as a character and begin to get attached to her. However this mainly was due to the fact that she was young at the time, so she might want to branch out and take on a more adult role in a film. Maybe the innocent girl gone bad, or somewhere daring.

3. Personal Ideologies and the Enjoyment of Film: Think of a film that you enjoy and know well. Consider which characters you like. Analyze your favorite character using these useful questions to bear in mind when considering ideology are: 
A film that I had watched recently was “Taking of Pelham 123” (despite negative reviews, I found myself entertained by the film) and was very intested in it afterwards so I did research on the film itself. What I liked about the film was portrayal of one of the villains “Ryder” (John Travolta). Essentially he’s hated in the beginning, since he’s kidnapping a train and forcing ransom for their safety. However, the audience appreciates him to be the strategic mastermind. He isn’t naturally gifted, he used to be in jail and knew a lot about politics, adding to the realism.

 The director does very little to reveal his character, as his true character is revealed the deeper in trouble he goes. The values of patience and simplicity is being taught, showing how an everyday underdog could save the day. 

The story does not follow one character and instead shows multiple viewpoints to retell the story, and the use of parallel actions cause the audience to be not sure of exactly who will prevail in the end.
Another interesting point is that John Travolta had been undergoing personal problems (the death of his son) and that ultimately led to him not advertising the film or showing any interest in seeing it. This greatly effected the movie and it's profit.

All movies have an intentional viewpoint, and sometimes the audience may misinterpret the film resulting in the dissatisfaction of the film. Also meaning, the film itself isn’t that appealing to others. And if people aren’t willing to watch it, they won’t pay to see the movie meaning that movie for all it’s efforts and production will not gain money.

4. Changing Ideologies: Why would the ideologies of a given era or time period change the way a narrative is presented to its audience? Can you give an example of a film narrative that has changed over generations?

Society is an ever-changing collection of different ideas and fundamentals. What may be viewed upon as acceptable today, could have been blasphemous to those of another era.  Cultural ideologies are developed though beliefs that are embedded in politics, religion, education, and media.  For example American audiences enjoy violence and action and are anti-anything promiscuous. Meanwhile in various parts of Asia, sex can be viewed as acceptable while extreme gore and violence must be censored. Depending on the audience’s beliefs, their views on a certain film will not relate to that of another set of people who have personally experienced the film and others' interpretation of films differ.

5. Ideology and the "Effects" Debate: Do you feel that films can affect you and your behavior without being conscience of it?

Yes I feel all films can affect your behavior without being thoroughly aware of it. When one goes to watch a movie, they are allowing their ideals and morals to bend to that of the film. In other words, they are going along with a film, accepting their ideas and beliefs and holding it as their own for the duration of the film. It Is after the film, when we compare the film to our own ideals that we form critics and begin to make opinions based on the effects of the film.

6. Ideology and Realism:Define Suspension of disbelief and give an example from a recent film you have watched.

Suspension of Disbelief is allowing the changes and accepting what cannot be seen to be real. For example, no one has truly seen a dinosaur in real life, and knowing that we still  have so many films about dinosaurs. (The Jurassic Park) It’s the unknowingness that makes films that follow the suspension of disbelief so prosperous. This isn’t the only example, there are Alien movies that deal with the paranormal idea. The audiences are attracted to the film, because they want the to know more about what they know nothing at all.

7. Ideology & ownership: Does the financial support of a film or the ownership of a production company influence the ideology represented in a film? Explain with an example.

Yes the financial support of a film influence the ideology represented in the film.  Large corporations own most film companies, and most corporations want to make themselves well known and spread advertisements. For example one can win an election due to the massive amounts of propaganda filled commercials that either bash other representatives or glorify themselves as an individual. By directly using themselves, it’s a great form of influential advertisement and filling the minds those that cannot be reached except though media.