Spectatorship Analysis of Captain Fantastic and La La Land (2016) PDF

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC-MATT ROSS -2016 Spectatorship Theories AO2-Application and Ana...

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC-MATT ROSS -2016 Spectatorship Theories AO2-Application and Analysis-key scene analysis-remember to include any theories here-put any theories Stuart Hall- in bold text. encoding/decoding preferred, negotiated and Film form and director Active and passive Characters and alignment oppositional encoded meaning spectatorship Opening The film opens with a striking image of a deer being hunted, accompanied b y the soun d of a bo wstring and the score’s The opening scene encourages active spectatorship through its visceral imagery and sound design. The The opening establishes strong character alignment with the Cash family, particularly with Ben, the father. The close-ups Murray Smith- haun ting melodies. This juxtaposition of the serene forest audience is not merely passive observers; they are drawn of his face as he hunts convey his determination and skill, environment and the act of huntin g immediately estab lishes a theme of su rvival. The director, Matt Ross, emp loys a into the tension of the hunt, prompting them to consider the inviting the audience to empathize with his role as both recognition, alignment implications of such a lifestyle. The emotional weight of the protector and provider. The initial portrayal of the family’s combin ation of handheld camera movements and natural lighting to create a sense of immediacy and realism, drawing the deer’s death, coupled with the haunting score, invites interaction with nature positions them as noble yet complex and allegiance audience into the Cash family's wo rld. Th e u se of close-ups on viewers to engage with the moral questions surrounding figures, prompting viewers to question their values and the the characters' expression s reveals their intense focus and survival and the cost of living outside societal norms. This sacrifices they make for their lifestyle. commitment to their lifestyle. The mise-en-scèn e is active engagement fosters a connection to the characters meticulously crafted; the rugged cloth ing and makesh ift camp emphasize their self-sufficiency and contrast sharply with the and their struggles from the very beginning. Blumler and Katz-uses conven tional n orms of society. This encoding of mean ing presents th e family as bo th idyllic and primitive, setting up the and gratifications- thematic exploratio n of th e b alance between freedom and societal expectatio n. entertainment, information/ education, Ben leaves Thi s i s done through sad, non diegtic melancholic music when Ben feels sad which transmitt ed the audience the same feeli ngs. Age Past experiences I think the director wanted to align the audience with Ben and feel emphatic towards him. personal identity, social the kids And also through close up which create a very intimat e moment Whether they are parents or not may affect whater they are Wants to feel bad for the kids too. and because he i s also sad the audience wil l feel bad for him Acknowldege is through di alogue which creat es the forced active or passive. interaction response Wanted an passive audience that can feel sorry for him and Performance- them being sad, Ben crying is innevitable. Active audience tho could realise his personal Looking away from camera- gaze journey where he realised what is better for his children. But Si t around- see Ben from the kid's perspective, align u more with the kids also want the active audience to question if this is for Christian Metz-Mirror consequences for his own actions or he's been done wrong. Shallow focus – back ground is not noticeable makes us focus only one Ben theory Loads of shot reverse shot when speak ing with jack- get perspectiv es from loads of charact ers Empty bus- POV- insert shot- aligns us wit h hi m and we know how he feels High angle, wide shot of bus and hi m sitti ng Daniel Chandler-The Gaze Theory-spectators Funeral High lights issu es with Chr istian fun eral Wants balance – active audience- choose and search Religious beliefs will affect alignment – as for examples if they Religion as metaphor for establish and contro l Cinematography- reaction s- equal reactions, shots Active audience might question religious practices Passive- follow Ben alignment, narrative is set up to dislike are religious they might feel offended by Ben and align with the other characters gaze, cameras gaze, Intra Sh ot reverse shot- see d iff side and audience cho ose where they fit Dialogue ' flushing ashes d own th e to ilet'- every one is shocked- Jack+ Harper- binary opposition diegetic gaze, extra- clo se ups- replicate audience's reaction Close ups of jud emental faces diegetic gaze, text within No middle grou nd- jack an d ben wh ich are two extr emists Close up on Ab igal makes th e au dience question Ben's a text. morals+b eliefs as she is cry ing- spectator gaze- emphaty for her. Normal day This scene employ s rapid ed iting an d montage techniques to In this montage, the audience is invited to actively In this scene, the diverse skill sets of the family members are Multiple spectating depict the family's daily rou tines, sh owcasing th eir uniqu e participate in the narrative by experiencing the family's showcased, with each character contributing to their for the Cash appr oach to education, exercise, and surviv al skills. The use of jump cuts creates a rhyth m th at mirrors the energy o f the unique routines. The quick cuts and lively pacing mirror the collective identity. The use of medium shots and group selves –social, cultural, excitement of their lives, encouraging viewers to appreciate compositions emphasizes their unity and collaboration, family family’s activities, highlighting their interconnectedness and th e joy th ey find in their un co nvention al lifestyle. The the values of creativity and resilience. The contrast between reinforcing the theme of family as a support system. The private, desiring cinematography featur es wide sho ts that capture the expan sive the Cash family's joyful, fulfilling activities and the potential audience aligns with the characters through their joyous wild erness, emp hasiz ing the family's isolation from mainstream mundanity of conventional life prompts the audience to interactions, particularly in moments of shared laughter and society. The so und design in cludes natural amb ient sou nds reflect on their own choices and aspirations. This playful competition. This alignment deepens as viewers mixed with the family’s laughter, creating an immersiv e atmosphere that allows the aud ience to experience their engagement promotes a deeper understanding of the witness the nurturing environment Ben has created, Laura Mulvey-Male Gaze family's philosophy, making viewers more invested in their contrasting sharply with the external pressures of happ iness and camaraderie. Th e v ibrant colors of their surroun dings contrast with th e mu ted tones of urb an life, journey. conventional society, thereby enhancing emotional investment in the family's dynamic. further en co ding th e family's r ejection of societal norms. Jacqui Stacey-Female Gaze Jill Soloway-Female Gaze. LA LA LAND-DAMIEN CHAZELLE -2016 Spectatorship AO2- Example questions AO2-Application and Analysis-key scene analysis-remember to include any theories here-put any theories ‘Film spectatorship is a passive experience’. How far do you agree with this statement in in bold text. relation to each of the films you have studied? Film form and director Active and passive Characters and alignment encoded meaning spectatorship Explore how far the two films you have studied demonstrate the filmmakers’ attempt to control Opening I think his intentions is for active audience to learn about the American Dream. The gratification they might get is being entertained from the cheerful song- passive audience The scene introduces multiple characters, but the focus is primarily on Mia, who is eventually revealed as the the spectator’s response. The opening scene, titled "Another Day of Sun," is a The scene encourages active spectatorship by immersing protagonist. Through her expressive reactions and musical number featuring a diverse group of viewers in the energy and rhythm of the performance. The passionate involvement in the performance, the audience characters stuck in traffic on a Los Angeles freeway. combination of music, dance, and visuals engages the aligns with her ambitions. This alignment fosters empathy as Director Damien Chazelle uses vibrant colors, dynamic audience's emotions, prompting them to invest in the viewers witness the collective hope of those in the traffic Explore some of the reasons why spectators choreography, and a lively musical score to encode a characters' aspirations. As the characters share their jam, each with their own dreams and struggles, establishing may respond in very different ways to the same sense of hope and ambition. The wide shots and dreams through song and dance, viewers are invited to a thematic connection that resonates throughout the film. sweeping camera movements create a grand, almost connect with their experiences, reflecting on their own The diverse array of characters also reinforces the film’s character. Refer in detail to at least one cinematic spectacle that reflects the larger-than-life hopes and challenges. This engagement contrasts with message about the multitude of stories and dreams present character from each of your chosen films. aspirations of the characters. This use of film form passive spectatorship, where viewers might simply watch in Los Angeles. emphasizes the contrast between the characters' without emotional involvement. Instead, the dynamic Factors if they like musicals might influence the alignemnt dreams and their current realities, inviting the nature of the opening scene fosters a deeper connection, audience to consider the sacrifices and struggles urging the audience to reflect on the themes of How far do your chosen films demonstrate a inherent in pursuing one's ambitions. perseverance and the pursuit of dreams. constant shift between passive and active spectatorship? Refer in detail to at least one Argument Gaze- look at camera- holds both equally Intimacy of camera- close up to them/ Chazelles new gaze Personal experince might affect if they are active or passive because if they have been through something smilar they Audience- spectators to have a neutral view/ see both side of the audience sequence from each film. is almost cameras way might react to the scene and judge whose right or not. Or don’t align with either bc don’t don’t agree with any POV Elements such as the mise-en-scène, close-up shots, and In La La Land’s argument scene, the audience is Active audience- alignment- up to spectatpr to decide- no the use of lighting help to convey their emotional states encouraged to take an active role. The scene’s film FORM perception of who is right or wrong- switch aligment and growing disconnection. For example, tight framing creates an emotional depth that invites viewers to analyze Same argument Mia' vulnerability that she is crying so the “A spectator’s own beliefs and attitudes affect keeps both characters in the same space, yet increasingly and empathize with both characters, Mia and Sebastian, audience are more on her side- POV isolated, highlighting their individual frustrations. The rather than passively observe. Individuals spectators might take of POV- shot reverse shot how they respond to films.” Explore this shift from warm to cool lighting tones mirrors the statement in relation to each of the films you emotional distance forming between them, and long takes let viewers linger in their discomfort. Additionally, have studied.[40 the script’s dialogue reveals personal conflicts about dreams and sacrifices, prompting the audience to How far do your chosen films demonstrate the consider the cost of ambition. These elements, combined, importance of visual and soundtrack cues in invite an active engagement as viewers piece together each character's perspective and motivations. influencing spectator response? Refer in detail to at least one sequence from each film Someone in Conflicted- lack of objection- she denies who sits next to her- however the song 'standi ng out in crowd' - not being someone in The scene encourages active spectatorship, as viewers ar e d rawn to inter pret Mia’s subtle discomfort and hesitation amidst her the crowd the crowd- Chazelle, classical/traditional sytle- ideology Lycrics- dual meaning- take where you want to go- interpretion of friend s’ en thusiasm. The clo se-ups on Mia’s face and her reaction shots in vite viewers to qu estion whether th is glamoro us world truly Ground p erspectiv e- strong aligment/allegiance wh en fr iends leave- arial sho t- not objecty- spotlight- places us into her mental state- lycrics- active spectatorship- either way about acceptance and aligns with her identity an d dreams, encouraging a d eeper fully aligned- Mia's perspective NO MALE GAZE ( fem ale) How important is sound in shaping spectator being liked. St eadicam- costume- rejects the male gaze as we are pl aces into reflection on ambitio n versu s authenticity. Female pr esence in development of film responses to the two films you have studied? scene rather than watching voyeaustically- we became a female- Refer in detail to one or more sequences from strong alignemnt for females? Direct adress- extra diegetic gaze- sel f-awareness each film. Know they are wtached- enjoying t hat- performance and they hav e control over i t. Discuss how important cinematography is in Mia’s Lighting-makes Mia in the subject-soft low key- spotlight-key light- forces focus on Mia- recognition- In La La Land, Mia's audition scene encourages the audience to be active participants. The film language in We align with Mia and her emotion s. Mia’s char acter is crafted to align the audien ce with her dr eams and creating a powerful response in the spectator. audition alignment- focuses on her emotions Eye level camera- aligmment- Dolly in- towards her this scene invites viewers to engage emotionally and intellectually with her story. The long, unbroken take aspiration s. The clo se-ups durin g her perfor mance emp hasiz e h er emotio nal expr essions, allowing viewers to empathize with h er Refer in detail to at least one sequence from jou rney. As she begins to sing, the camera captures her vulnerability face bring audience closer to her and her emotions places the camera in close proximity, intensifying the and sincerity, forging a connectio n between Mia and the audien ce. each of your chosen films Extra diegetic gaze- camera is audience, and they are connection with Mia's vulnerability and passion. She sings This align ment is heightened by th e way she interacts with the off- judges and Mia looks at camera directly which places about dreams and aspirations, but her tone and expression scr een judges; her hopeful demeano r jux taposed with their us in the scene. reveal a layered sadness and hope that ask the viewer to impassive reactions creates a tensio n that invites the audience to Composition- framming which focus on her isolated interpret her emotions beyond the lyrics. This emotional roo t for h er success. The scene's framing, with Mia often po sitio ned in the center of the sh ot, visually un derscor es her significan ce and How important is mise-en-scène in generating aligment ambiguity compels the audience to actively reflect on her journey and invest in the outcomes of her dreams, aligning draws th e v iewer 's focus. Th e shift in lighting—from dim to spotlight spectator responses? Refer in detail to one as she gains confiden ce—further r eflects her emotional arc, makin g with an active viewing experience rather than a passive the audience invested in her journ ey. sequence from each film you have studied. one.