Key Findings on Film Spectatorship
In my journaling about different films, I delved into how various aspects of filmmaking enhance the experience for viewers. This includes exploring themes, narrative techniques, character development, and sensory elements. These are the main findings, I have chosen to discuss the films I found the most engaging and why.
"American Beauty" (1999):
The film delves into the struggles of suburban life, midlife crises, and the search for happiness, making these themes highly relatable and engaging for viewers. The characters in the film, particularly Lester Burnham, undergo a profound transformation that encourages viewers to contemplate their own lives and the expectations placed upon them by society.
Visual Symbolism: The inclusion of visual motifs, like the red roses that appear repeatedly, adds depth to the storytelling by representing themes of longing and suppression. The visual engagement enhances the viewer's connection to the story.My connection
In my journaling about different films, I delved into how various aspects of filmmaking enhance the experience for viewers. This includes exploring themes, narrative techniques, character development, and sensory elements. These are the main findings, I have chosen to discuss the films I found the most engaging and why.
"American Beauty" (1999):
The film delves into the struggles of suburban life, midlife crises, and the search for happiness, making these themes highly relatable and engaging for viewers. The characters in the film, particularly Lester Burnham, undergo a profound transformation that encourages viewers to contemplate their own lives and the expectations placed upon them by society.
Visual Symbolism: The inclusion of visual motifs, like the red roses that appear repeatedly, adds depth to the storytelling by representing themes of longing and suppression. The visual engagement enhances the viewer's connection to the story.My connection
I discovered a profound connection to this movie. It's possible that my own journey towards fulfilment has influenced my perspective, but the characters' disillusionment with their lives and their relentless pursuit for more deeply struck a chord with me. I noticed that my peers didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about this film, which highlights how individual differences greatly impact one's experience as a viewer. Personally, I found this film to be incredibly captivating, despite its dark subject matter. The characters' dissatisfaction and desire for a better life really struck a chord with me. Additionally, I was deeply moved by the emotional score, which added an extra layer of engagement to the film.
"Six Feet Under" (2001-2005):
The series has an episodic structure that centres around the Fisher family's funeral home. It provides a contemplative exploration of life and death. The dynamic between the characters' work and personal livescreates s a captivating story that keeps viewers engaged on an emotional level.
The way the characters develop throughout the seasons creates a strong emotional connection with the audience, who also grow alongside them.
The series has an episodic structure that centres around the Fisher family's funeral home. It provides a contemplative exploration of life and death. The dynamic between the characters' work and personal livescreates s a captivating story that keeps viewers engaged on an emotional level.
The way the characters develop throughout the seasons creates a strong emotional connection with the audience, who also grow alongside them.
One thing that stood out to me about this searies was the impressive character development and captivating storylines. Every episode begins with a gruesome death, followed by a deep exploration of the deceased's life and the profound impact it has on the connected families and the Fisher family. I found this series to be incredibly captivating as it delved deep into the lives of a dysfunctional family, exploring their perspectives on life, death, and the afterlife. The character development was excellent, allowing me to truly understand their thoughts and emotions. Personally, I've always had a fascination with death and the afterlife, even considering a career in a funeral home at one point. However, I'm grateful that I've discovered a more fulfilling and less morbid path in design. This series was a significant part of my late teens and had a profound impact on my perspective of life and death. It prompted me to contemplate my own mortality from a young age and consider how I wanted to live my life.
"A Beautiful Mind" (2001):
I discovered that this film had a strong emotional impact. The film effectively portrays John Nash's schizophrenia by utilising subjective cinematography and narrative twists, enabling viewers to gain a deeper understanding and connection to his experience. This interaction i found is crucial for understanding and empathising with the importance of his challenges. I watched this during my late teens in the cinema with a family member. I'm not sure if anything has changed, but I often find myself thinking that films these days just don't have the same impact. This was quite an emotional rollercoaster to experience, starting from Nash's hallucinations all the way to his path towards wellness. I watched this film before being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and even then, it was emotionally resonant. The portrayal of hallucinations and delusions was done exceptionally well, and the storyline kept me completely engrossed. The revelation at the end, that it was all his delusions, was a surprising twist that kept me engaged throughout. Watching this film after receiving my diagnosis was incredibly powerful. It accurately portrayed the emotional numbness, loneliness, indifference, and loss of sensation that I experienced. There's a scene where Nash hides his medication in an attempt to regain a sense of energy, which resonated with me deeply. I often found myself doing the same thing with my own tablets, trying to combat the emotional numbness caused by their side effects.
I discovered that this film had a strong emotional impact. The film effectively portrays John Nash's schizophrenia by utilising subjective cinematography and narrative twists, enabling viewers to gain a deeper understanding and connection to his experience. This interaction i found is crucial for understanding and empathising with the importance of his challenges. I watched this during my late teens in the cinema with a family member. I'm not sure if anything has changed, but I often find myself thinking that films these days just don't have the same impact. This was quite an emotional rollercoaster to experience, starting from Nash's hallucinations all the way to his path towards wellness. I watched this film before being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and even then, it was emotionally resonant. The portrayal of hallucinations and delusions was done exceptionally well, and the storyline kept me completely engrossed. The revelation at the end, that it was all his delusions, was a surprising twist that kept me engaged throughout. Watching this film after receiving my diagnosis was incredibly powerful. It accurately portrayed the emotional numbness, loneliness, indifference, and loss of sensation that I experienced. There's a scene where Nash hides his medication in an attempt to regain a sense of energy, which resonated with me deeply. I often found myself doing the same thing with my own tablets, trying to combat the emotional numbness caused by their side effects.
"Baby Reindeer" (2024):
The character development, storyline, and colour grading of this show were excellent; they kept me glued to my seat and I found myself recommending it to everyone even though I couldn't fully relate to the characters' dark situation. I found this show to be really rivetting and it left me with a lingering feeling long after I watched it. What made this show so amazing, in my opinion, was how well the writers explored the character Pyche and the reasons behind his emotions. This allowed the audience to connect with the characters and comprehend their motivations. Their depiction of the cyclical nature of abuse was also quite clever, and their exploration of the relationship between sexual abuse and sexuality was reminiscent of Black Mirror in its exploration of the human condition.Gadd enables spectators to enter his emotional world through intimate participation.
The character development, storyline, and colour grading of this show were excellent; they kept me glued to my seat and I found myself recommending it to everyone even though I couldn't fully relate to the characters' dark situation. I found this show to be really rivetting and it left me with a lingering feeling long after I watched it. What made this show so amazing, in my opinion, was how well the writers explored the character Pyche and the reasons behind his emotions. This allowed the audience to connect with the characters and comprehend their motivations. Their depiction of the cyclical nature of abuse was also quite clever, and their exploration of the relationship between sexual abuse and sexuality was reminiscent of Black Mirror in its exploration of the human condition.Gadd enables spectators to enter his emotional world through intimate participation.
"The Responder" (2024):
The series provides a realistic and immersive experience by portraying the night shifts of a crisis responder in Liverpool with grit and authenticity. The portrayal of city life and individual challenges evokes a powerful emotional connection.
The series provides a realistic and immersive experience by portraying the night shifts of a crisis responder in Liverpool with grit and authenticity. The portrayal of city life and individual challenges evokes a powerful emotional connection.
The show benefits from the incorporation of dark, moody cinematography and ambient soundscapes, which heighten the tension and create a more immersive experience.
I may be biassed in my assessment of this show, but I truly enjoy dark and gloomy material. The show's depiction of working-class poverty, its grim plot, and its colour grading all struck a chord with me. My family members didn't find this particularly interesting or enjoyable, but I thought it really captured the realities of certain people's lives. I thought its examination of a police officer who turns corrupt and gets involved in the drug scene was especially relevant. The character development was excellent, in my opinion, since you could relate to the police officers' decisions even though they were questionable.
"Black Swan" 2010.
Intense close-ups and a hallucinogenic visual style immerse viewers in Nina's rapidly worsening mental state as the film explores the depths of artistic obsession and psychological breakdown.
The film's use of mirrors and reflections draws attention to Nina's inner turmoil and metamorphosis while allowing viewers to delve into her delusions
I thought this show did an extremely good job of artistically depicting mental illness. It was intense and scary at the same time. The jump scares and the gloomy, melancholy setting kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt completely immersed and able to relate to the character. This depiction of mental illness struck me as both incredibly sad and incredibly entertaining. Together with her controlling mother, the character development was excellent, and I have attempted to include this in my own film. This movie was incredibly entertaining because of its twists and turns.
Intense close-ups and a hallucinogenic visual style immerse viewers in Nina's rapidly worsening mental state as the film explores the depths of artistic obsession and psychological breakdown.
The film's use of mirrors and reflections draws attention to Nina's inner turmoil and metamorphosis while allowing viewers to delve into her delusions
I thought this show did an extremely good job of artistically depicting mental illness. It was intense and scary at the same time. The jump scares and the gloomy, melancholy setting kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt completely immersed and able to relate to the character. This depiction of mental illness struck me as both incredibly sad and incredibly entertaining. Together with her controlling mother, the character development was excellent, and I have attempted to include this in my own film. This movie was incredibly entertaining because of its twists and turns.
"Saltburn" (2023):
I found the film's investigation of class dynamics and social privilege to be captivating because it challenges yourt assumptions and prejudices.
The narrative becomes more engaging as a result of the surprising twists that keep viwers interested and alert. I thought this was quite funny, a little strange, but also extremely artistically distinctive in the way it was recorded, shot, and told. I thought the first part of the movie was pretty interesting; it was entertaining and a little unpleasant at the same time. Although you felt like you were getting to know the people well and the character development was excellent, the twists at the end made you feel a bit disgusted and repulsed but neverthelss I see this as a positive response. A handful of the film's scenes had a strong shock value, and I believe those to be more captivating than gratuitous jump scares. Although the film's sexual content can be a little unnerving, it certainly had people talking. I thought this movie was excellent.
I found the film's investigation of class dynamics and social privilege to be captivating because it challenges yourt assumptions and prejudices.
The narrative becomes more engaging as a result of the surprising twists that keep viwers interested and alert. I thought this was quite funny, a little strange, but also extremely artistically distinctive in the way it was recorded, shot, and told. I thought the first part of the movie was pretty interesting; it was entertaining and a little unpleasant at the same time. Although you felt like you were getting to know the people well and the character development was excellent, the twists at the end made you feel a bit disgusted and repulsed but neverthelss I see this as a positive response. A handful of the film's scenes had a strong shock value, and I believe those to be more captivating than gratuitous jump scares. Although the film's sexual content can be a little unnerving, it certainly had people talking. I thought this movie was excellent.
Exploring Anhedonia and the Viewing Experience
Through my journaling, I discovered how anhedonia can impact the way we experience watching films.
People who have anhedonia may find it difficult to enjoy films that usually elicit strong emotional reactions. It may lead to a feeling of being disconnected or uninterested in the story and characters.
Engaging Films: To combat anhedonia, films that provide immersive sensory experiences can be more captivating.Methods like eye-catching visuals, immersive sound, and complex storylines have the power to captivate viewers and make them more invested in what they're watching.
Through my journaling, I discovered how anhedonia can impact the way we experience watching films.
People who have anhedonia may find it difficult to enjoy films that usually elicit strong emotional reactions. It may lead to a feeling of being disconnected or uninterested in the story and characters.
Engaging Films: To combat anhedonia, films that provide immersive sensory experiences can be more captivating.Methods like eye-catching visuals, immersive sound, and complex storylines have the power to captivate viewers and make them more invested in what they're watching.
Movies that really hit home, like autobiographical tales or ones that delve into universal themes, can help bridge the emotional gap caused by anhedonia. When we relate to characters or situations, it can help us form a stronger emotional bond.
Enhancing the viewing experience can be achieved by incorporating elements from holistic treatments for anhedonia, such as nature scenes or soothing music. These elements have a way of creating a soothing and enjoyable atmosphere, helping to counteract the negative effects of anhedonia.
Personal Preferences and Anhedonia
From my journaling, I also identified personal preferences and how anhedonia affects the film viewing experience:
Preference for Dark Themes: I found myself more drawn to darker stories that kept me on the edge of my seat. These films, often dealing with complex and intense themes, provided a compelling and immersive viewing experience that resonated deeply with me. They were not necessarily horror films but included dark themes and psychological depth.
Language and Cultural Disconnect: I noticed a significant loss of interest when watching films in different languages. The cultural nuances often went unnoticed, and I felt disconnected from the subtitled films. This disconnection hindered my ability to fully engage with the characters and the story.
Mood and Engagement: My mood played a crucial role in how engaged I was with a film. When I was in a better mood, I found myself more engaged and able to appreciate the narrative, characters, and overall experience. Conversely, during periods of low mood, my engagement and enjoyment significantly decreased.
While my final piece will be based on my research on anhedonia and horror, I would like to note that I found dark themes to be on the verge of horror in that horror doesn't always have to be gory and slasher films; in fact, I often find that horror is evolving and psychological thrillers are frequently more interesting than gory and standard horror films. Because I enjoyed the psychological swings and turns of shows like Black Swan, Black Mirror, and Baba Reindeer, I decided to centre my final piece on incorporating darker themes.