9.3 Identification and subject positioning in film viewing
2 min read•july 24, 2024
Psychoanalytic approaches to film spectatorship explore how we connect with characters and stories on screen. This involves , , and that shape our viewing experience. Techniques like and guide our .
Spectator positioning in narratives uses , editing, and sound to align viewers with specific perspectives. This can reinforce or challenge cultural values and construct gendered or racialized viewpoints. explains how we're "stitched" into the film's world.
Psychoanalytic Approaches to Film Spectatorship
Process of film identification
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- Identification in film viewing activates psychological alignment with characters or situations prompts emotional investment in narrative events (Harry Potter, Frodo Baggins)
- Psychoanalytic significance reveals unconscious processes at work during film viewing triggers projection of personal desires and fears onto characters
- Mechanisms of identification employ:
- Point-of-view shots simulate character's perspective
- Close-ups of character reactions emphasize emotional states
- on specific characters guides viewer attention
- Significance in film theory challenges notion of passive spectatorship highlights of viewers
Spectator positioning in narratives
- Spectator positioning techniques utilize camera angles and movements (low angle, tracking shots) manipulate (cross-cutting, montage) leverage (diegetic vs non-diegetic)
- within narrative aligns with protagonist's perspective shifts identifications among multiple characters (Pulp Fiction, The Godfather)
- Suture theory describes process of "stitching" viewer into film's symbolic order employs shot/reverse shot technique to create continuity
- reinforce or subvert dominant cultural values construct gendered or racialized viewing positions
Psychological Processes in Film Identification
Mirror stage in character identification
- Lacan's concept describes infant's recognition of self in mirror leads to formation of
- Application to film viewing treats screen as metaphorical mirror presents characters as idealized self-images
- in cinema involves viewer's temporary adoption of character traits reinforces or challenges self-concept
- Cinematic techniques facilitating mirror stage dynamics incorporate within film frame (Black Swan) showcase and makeovers (The Devil Wears Prada)
Identification and cinematic subjectivity
- Subjectivity in cinema shapes individual's sense of self through film experience intersects with cultural narratives
- Identification's role in subjectivity construction allows temporary adoption of multiple expands viewer's experiential repertoire
- Cinematic devices for constructing subjectivity employ (Fight Club) utilize (Lady in the Lake) present dream or (Inception)
- Critical perspectives on identification and subjectivity include 's critique of explore to cross-cultural identification
- Ethical considerations weigh potential for and understanding against risks of or stereotyping
Key Terms to Review (33)
Active psychological engagement: Active psychological engagement refers to the mental and emotional involvement that viewers experience when interacting with a film, where they consciously process and interpret the narrative, characters, and visual elements. This engagement allows audiences to identify with characters and position themselves within the story, facilitating a deeper connection to the film's themes and messages.
Camera Angles: Camera angles refer to the specific position and orientation from which a camera captures a scene in a film. They play a crucial role in shaping the visual storytelling, influencing how audiences perceive characters, emotions, and narrative dynamics. By varying camera angles, filmmakers can manipulate viewer engagement and emotional responses, as well as highlight important thematic elements within a film.
Character transformations: Character transformations refer to the changes and developments that characters undergo throughout a film, reflecting their growth, challenges, and experiences. These transformations can occur on emotional, psychological, or moral levels and are crucial for driving the narrative forward. Understanding how and why characters change can enhance viewer engagement and lead to deeper identification with the characters' journeys.
Cinematic subjectivity: Cinematic subjectivity refers to the perspective of a character as depicted through the film's visual and auditory elements, allowing viewers to experience the narrative from that character's point of view. This concept emphasizes how films can create a sense of intimacy and connection between the audience and characters by aligning their perceptions with those portrayed on screen, often through techniques like point-of-view shots, voice-over narration, and selective focus. By immersing viewers in a character's thoughts and emotions, cinematic subjectivity shapes their understanding and emotional response to the story.
Close-ups: Close-ups are a type of camera shot that tightly frames a subject, often focusing on a person's face or a specific detail within a scene. This technique enhances emotional connection and draws attention to significant elements, making it a vital tool in storytelling within the cinematic medium. By isolating the subject, close-ups can create intimacy and intensity, impacting how viewers perceive characters and events.
Cultural appropriation: Cultural appropriation refers to the act of taking or using elements from one culture by members of another culture, often without permission and typically in a way that does not respect the original context or significance. This practice can lead to the commodification of cultural symbols, misrepresentation, and perpetuation of stereotypes, raising ethical concerns about power dynamics and the exploitation of marginalized cultures.
Dream sequences: Dream sequences are cinematic representations that depict a character's dream or altered state of consciousness, often characterized by surreal imagery and disjointed narratives. These sequences serve as a powerful storytelling tool, allowing filmmakers to explore themes of the unconscious mind, emotional conflicts, and characters' desires while creating a unique viewing experience that invites personal interpretation.
Editing patterns: Editing patterns refer to the recurring techniques and structures used in film editing that help shape the narrative and guide the viewer's emotional and cognitive engagement. These patterns influence how audiences identify with characters and their experiences, allowing for varying levels of subject positioning throughout the film. Understanding editing patterns is crucial for analyzing how filmmakers manipulate time, space, and rhythm to create a specific viewing experience.
Ego formation: Ego formation refers to the process through which an individual develops a sense of self and identity, often influenced by external factors such as social interactions and cultural contexts. This process is crucial in understanding how individuals relate to narratives and characters within film, as it shapes their perceptions and emotional responses during viewing experiences. The construction of ego is also tied to the viewer's ability to identify with characters, creating a complex interplay between self and screen.
Emotional investment: Emotional investment refers to the degree to which an audience engages with and feels attached to the characters, narrative, or themes in a film. This concept is crucial as it influences how viewers respond to the story and characters, affecting their overall experience. When viewers form emotional connections, they become more engaged, which enhances their understanding and enjoyment of the film.
Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, allowing one to connect emotionally with characters or situations. This connection enables viewers to engage with narratives on a deeper level, facilitating a sense of shared experience and emotional resonance. By fostering an emotional response, empathy plays a crucial role in how we perceive characters, their struggles, and the overall themes of a film.
Feminist film theory: Feminist film theory examines the representation of women in film and the ways that cinema contributes to the construction of gender identities. This approach critiques traditional film narratives, visual aesthetics, and audience engagement to highlight how films can reinforce or challenge societal norms regarding gender roles and expectations.
Ideal Ego: The ideal ego is a concept in psychoanalytic theory that represents an individual's idealized self-image and aspirations, embodying the qualities that a person wishes to possess. This notion connects deeply with the idea of identification in film viewing, as audiences often project their own desires and aspirations onto characters, leading to a complex relationship between the viewer and the narrative. The ideal ego serves as a bridge between personal identity and cinematic representation, influencing how viewers position themselves in relation to the films they watch.
Identification: Identification in film theory refers to the psychological process where viewers connect emotionally or psychologically with characters or situations presented on screen. This connection often influences how audiences experience narratives, shaping their understanding of characters and events through personal feelings and memories.
Ideological implications: Ideological implications refer to the underlying beliefs, values, and assumptions that are presented or reinforced through film and media. These implications shape how audiences understand and interpret narratives, characters, and themes, ultimately influencing their views and behaviors in relation to societal norms and issues.
Male gaze: The male gaze refers to the way visual arts and literature depict women from a masculine, heterosexual perspective, objectifying them and presenting them as passive subjects for male pleasure. This concept highlights the power dynamics in gender representation, revealing how film and media create a specific viewer's experience that centers on male desire, often marginalizing female perspectives and experiences.
Memory sequences: Memory sequences are moments in film that evoke memories or flashbacks, allowing viewers to connect with characters’ past experiences and emotions. These sequences can create a deeper understanding of a character's motivations and shape the audience's identification with them. They serve as a powerful narrative device that enriches storytelling by bridging the present and the past.
Mirror stage: The mirror stage is a concept from psychoanalytic theory introduced by Jacques Lacan, describing a phase in human development where an infant first recognizes their own reflection in a mirror. This recognition is crucial as it signifies the beginning of the formation of the self-identity and is connected to feelings of wholeness and alienation. In film theory, this concept helps explain how viewers identify with characters and positions themselves within the narrative, influencing their emotional and psychological experience.
Narrative focus: Narrative focus refers to the perspective or viewpoint from which a story is told, influencing how audiences engage with characters, events, and themes. This focus shapes the viewer's emotional and cognitive experience by determining which elements of the narrative are highlighted or downplayed, guiding their identification with characters and their understanding of the storyline.
Personal identity: Personal identity refers to the concept of what makes an individual unique and defines their sense of self over time. This includes the psychological continuity, memories, beliefs, values, and experiences that shape an individual's understanding of who they are. In film viewing, personal identity plays a crucial role as it influences how viewers identify with characters and narrative situations, impacting their emotional engagement and interpretation of the film.
Point-of-view shots: Point-of-view shots are a cinematic technique that allows the audience to see the action from a specific character's perspective, effectively placing them in the character's shoes. This approach not only enhances the emotional connection between the viewer and the character but also plays a crucial role in shaping how the narrative is experienced. By providing insight into a character’s thoughts and feelings through visual representation, these shots can engage themes of gaze, voyeurism, and audience identification.
Postcolonial approaches: Postcolonial approaches refer to critical frameworks that examine the effects of colonialism on cultures and societies, especially in the context of representation and identity in media, including film. These approaches focus on how narratives are shaped by historical power dynamics and how they influence the way audiences understand themselves and others, particularly in terms of race, ethnicity, and cultural identity.
Psychoanalytic Theory: Psychoanalytic theory is a framework for understanding human behavior and mental processes that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts. It examines how these elements affect the way individuals identify with characters in film and how their personal histories shape their viewing experiences, ultimately influencing subject positioning and emotional engagement with the narrative.
Psychological Alignment: Psychological alignment refers to the cognitive and emotional connection that viewers establish with characters in a film, impacting how they perceive and interpret the narrative. This alignment allows viewers to feel empathy or identification with characters, influencing their engagement and emotional responses throughout the viewing experience. By aligning psychologically with characters, audiences can better understand their motivations and experiences, enhancing the overall impact of the film.
Reflective surfaces: Reflective surfaces in film refer to visual elements that bounce light back, creating reflections that can enhance the storytelling or visual composition. These surfaces, whether they are mirrors, water, or glass, serve as tools for filmmakers to convey deeper meanings, such as self-reflection, duality, or a character's emotional state. They can also influence how viewers identify with characters and shape their subject positioning within the film.
Sound Design: Sound design refers to the process of creating, recording, and manipulating audio elements in film to enhance the storytelling and emotional impact. It encompasses dialogue, sound effects, ambient sounds, and music, all of which contribute to the overall atmosphere and narrative structure.
Spectatorship theory: Spectatorship theory examines the relationship between the viewer and the film, focusing on how audiences interpret and engage with cinematic texts. This theory explores concepts such as identification, empathy, and subject positioning, showing how viewers relate to characters and narratives, as well as how their social identities influence their film experience.
Subject positioning: Subject positioning refers to the way viewers are situated in relation to a film's narrative and characters, influencing how they identify with or feel about those characters and events. This concept highlights the ways in which a film's structure, visuals, and storytelling techniques shape the audience's emotional and cognitive responses, ultimately determining the perspective from which they experience the film.
Subject positions: Subject positions refer to the ways in which viewers identify with or relate to characters, narratives, and visuals in a film. These positions shape the viewer's perspective, emotions, and understanding of the film's themes and messages. The way a film constructs these positions influences how audiences interpret characters and their motivations, which can vary based on cultural background, personal experiences, and the cinematic techniques used.
Subjective camera techniques: Subjective camera techniques refer to filming methods that present a scene from a specific character's point of view, allowing the audience to see and experience events through that character's eyes. This technique is essential in creating empathy and emotional connection between the viewer and the character, influencing how audiences interpret the narrative and engage with the film's themes.
Suture Theory: Suture theory refers to a concept in film theory that explores how films create a seamless viewing experience by 'suturing' the viewer into the narrative. This process involves various techniques that align the viewer's perspective with that of the characters, making them feel engaged and immersed in the film's world. The theory highlights how editing, camera angles, and other cinematic devices work together to create a sense of identification and connection between the viewer and the on-screen action.
Unconscious processes: Unconscious processes refer to mental activities that occur without conscious awareness, influencing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In film viewing, these processes play a crucial role in how viewers identify with characters and interpret narratives, often guiding emotional responses and shaping the overall experience of the film.
Voiceover narration: Voiceover narration is a storytelling technique in film where a narrator's voice is heard over the visual elements, providing context, insights, or commentary. This technique can shape the viewer's understanding and emotional connection to the narrative, influencing how they identify with characters and themes. By utilizing voiceover narration, filmmakers can position audiences to perceive events and characters in specific ways, effectively guiding their responses and interpretations throughout the viewing experience.