Introductions: Theory: Examples: Summaries: Applicaitons: Process:
History
For your own analyses, it will be crucial for you to sketch out the historical/cultural contexts for the objects you analyze.
Example: Malcolm X
- Spike Lee's movie on MX presents him in a liberal light.
- But looked at historically, he was actually very conservative.
In investigating topics for writing, you will have to
- draw on your prior knowledge to sketch out historical contexts and
- do additional research to flesh out these contexts.
In the Malcolm X example, you'll need to ask, What changed in the historical context that made Spike Lee's image
change from History to Myth?
Media
In semiotics, the meaning of a thing lies in its relation to other things—both similarities and differences. When you identify these relationships, you are establishing the system that the object/sign functions within and derives its meaning from.
A movie should be examined in relation to other movies of its genre, the production system of filmmaking, the audience it caters to, the music on the sound track, the mythology behind the main characters—all this and more are important for your anaylses because they all come together to create the cultural sign and cultural meaning.
Ask, Would the form of film lend itself more to mythmaking than historical storytelling?
For more on various aspects of Film and Criticism check out this extensive
Links page.