From Schafermeyer’s “Film Criticism”

Semiotic Approaches

Approach quick description Schaefermeyer example

Realist True to life “…focuses on the use of Blair Witch Project –
film to represent reality shaky camera, long
based on the power of
photography’s ability to shots, “homemade,”
render the real world supposes the characters
objectively” (507). are “real” people, not
actors.
Formalist Form, montage, “Meaning in film, then, Think of reality TV, the
construction, evolves from the juxtaposition of shots
juxtaposition of film shots
combining that manifest conflict… [it creates a different event,
is] how the shots of a film feeling, mood, or tone
are combined to ‘mean’”
(508).
Rhetorical Persuasive, “…examines the film as a Platoon - overtly lets ya
message rhetorical artifact that know that war is bad
exhibits intentional
meaning and news…
structure…deals with the
communicative potential of
film” (509).
Mise-en-scene Environment “…the environment of the Blade Runner – Ridley
film, which is created by its Scott’s depiction of a
lighting, sets, costumes,
movement, and any other futuristic urban
features that comprise the environment constructed
scene as photographed by of a variety of filmic
the camera” (509). devices.

Structuralist Approaches

Approach Quick description Schaefermeyer Example

Mythic Thematic, myth- “…asserts the presence of Oh Brother Where Art
based, archetypal one or more specific myths Thou - follows the mythic
that, by virtue of their
preeminence, are found in
story of Homer’s
a society’s aesthetic Odyssey.
artifacts” (510).
Political Interest-based, “…focuses on films and One might use Marxian
relies of theorist their relationship to the economic theory to
areas of history, ideology,
in their respective economics, and social discuss Erin Brokovich.
fields criticism” (510).
Feminist Concerned with “…analyze the treatment of One might look
power, pursues women as they support or Sigourney Weaver’s
negate the role of women in
the breakdown of contemporary society”
character in Aliens and
oppressive (511). [What an awful discuss the way it reifies
description! – bk] woman as the
 hierarchical stereotypical sacred
social structures mother, although it
overtly depicts her as
warrior.
Psychoanalytic Application of No sufficient quote One might use Freud
psychoanalytic available. and his theory of the
theory to film “Oedipus complex” to
discuss the relationships
between characters.
Sociological The intersection “…uses sociological One might look at
of art and society, concepts, such as class, American History X to
status, interaction,
how they impact organization and culture” examine the roles of
each other. (511). [This one’s bad, too!] socialization and
deviancy in American
culture.
Phenomenological Viewer (audience) “…is concerned with the One might examine the
perception of film manner in which viewers spectators’ perception of
perceive the film and/or its
or the journey images (always, however, in Being John Malkovich.
into the interior relation to the whole)”
of the mind (511)/

Contextual Approaches

Approach Quick description Schaefermeyer Example

Auteur (author) Directorial style “…assumes a certain Hitchcock, Lynch, Potter,
amount of directorial etc…and so on…
autonomy in film
production…focuses on
film directors and the style
manifested in tow or more
of their films” (512).
Genre Common “…focuses on the narrative Western, war, and horror
narrative structures common to film: films. They are easily
westerns, war films,
structure, musicals, gangster films, categorized by
conventions and so on…categorizes recognizable features.
films according to specific
characteristics” (512).
Historical studies Production issues “…analyzes the entire One might study the
scope of the film’s corporate structure of
development…In addition,
studies of particular huge $$ Hollywood
studios analyze the film blockbusters…
industry from economic,
political, or corporate
perspectives” (513).