Films – Page 2

Category: <span>Films</span>

Darcy for my Elizabeth (of all the Bennets)!

October 21, 2021October 21, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

“No. No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn. Makes it all so much more enjoyable, don’t you think?” As I listened tot he dialogue when Elizabeth Bennet spoke to Mr. Darcy, I laughed to loud. Oh how I loved that girl! She makes me want to have a daughter just like that. I told my pregnant self. She wa so cheeky and proud, almost like me, rude to the core, I smiled. When I got pregnant with my baby, I used to think about a probable girl or boy. I realise now that whenever I used to think about raising my daughter, I always thought of her to be like Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. I wowed that if and when I will see her face, I would not change her body and soul. Her lips, laugh, eyes all will have a spark of self-acceptance.

Almost each night when I saw her in my dream I would say, ‘you are perfect and will be amazing just the way you will be’. I wanted her to be brat, fighter, fearless, a being for whom the world will stop when she reaches out to grab her dreams! Of all the beautiful Bennets in the story I wanted to be Elizabeth who could stick by her own side. She would not be worried about having somebody to be there at her worst. I wanted her to keep herself as first! She would not want anyone to hold her hand or make her dream of seeing what the perfect future can be. I wanted her to be her own future. She would not be afraid to do the worst. I would be there for her to love her at her lowest and at the peak. She was my Elizabeth, and I would want her to fight her own battle. A well-read crackhead, with dreams that need to begin and end with her dreaming those dreams. My Bennet would have full freedom to be sharp edged knife that has a razor edge quick wit. Without a fear she would be in-the face of all those for whom perfection has a personification! By any means she could be playful and utter ridiculous in her free will. I would allow her to be confident about her insecurities and she could be ready to laugh at her own self with any guilt or shame plastered to her end name.

Like the novel I feel she would have the full capacity to believe that love comes after respect. From afar I can see still feel her telling anyone standing opposite that she has the courage and strength to punch her revenge right in the face. Let as many Darcys come and keep pushing her aside, but there will be her who unregretfully can stand eye to eye. I knew before my Elizabeth would not shy away from moving on or feeling strong. she would make sure that her Darcy realised that she could feel her insides screaming her vigour and valour. She may want him but would never have to need him. The Elizabeth Bennet of our family will care yet not care enough to hamper her own flight. I wished that her Darcy can very well be rude, harsh, crude, but never for her. He can have spats with her but not against her. He can love and respect all but not above her. Whether my Elizabeth be 2, 12, 20 or 40, age must be just a number for her! Her greys and whites will just be a matter of colour. She would be choosing her own shades. The barriers of her own novel with not be determined by the society she lives in. I wanted to be her Jane Austin because this author will help her write her own story. My Elizabeth will not be the one to become odd one out because her oddness will be seen in all such other Elizabeths around her and it will all be normal! She will not have to wish for being someone special because she will be the proudest creep that can witness her belongingness. For me her imperfections will be the real perfections because she, my Elizabeth will be her own weird self. She will not have to run out of way but i thought I would let her run her race. Her happiness will need to be her priority. Her feeling of feeling funny need not hide because if she would want, she could live with her Darcy and they together will have their own song to sing. How wonderful their life can be, they will decide themselves! Among all the difficult daughters around, she may be the most difficult one, but then I would want her to be so, would need her to be the same. Her Darcy needs that. He would not be the one to tackle her, in fact he will be someone who can embrace what she has to offer in her totality.

Alas after so much of rambling and detailed dreams I never had my Elizabeth. I had a Darcy instead! A Darcy that I created in my own novel with enough Pride and Prejudice! He may have a stiff coller for that will be his own trait special and specific to him, but hopefully he will be able to bend over for that one special Elizabeth of his own! Do not worry I would wait for the day when my Darcy meets his Elizabeth. I have my arms open for her to hug her with genuine welcome as wide as they would have been for my own flesh and blood. I wish my Darcy does himself, me and his Elizabeth proud. He has bif shoes to fill for my Darcy is already at home, with his own flaws ans imperfections. He has a strong presence to guide and look up to. I hope many such Darcys come up for all available Elizabeths. They need to have their own story so that of all the Bennets each time such Elizabeth can feel the freedom to choose their own Darcy without having a fear of repeating their Pride and Prejudices!

Films

How do Films Relate with Women?

October 20, 2021October 21, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

As I was snoozing while watching Independence Day (1983), in my slumber my ears perked up on the dialogue between Nancy Morgan (Dianne Wiest) and Mary Ann Taylor (Kathleen Quinlan)! I addictively peeled my eyes open an Nancy Morgan said, “I feel tired all the time“. to this Mary Ann Taylor replied, ” it’s the Valium”. But Nancy said, “No. It’s a different sort of tired. It’s…um…inside my bones. And it’s real deep. Inside my bones.” My sleepy mind woke up enough to relate her condition to my current pace in life. I dozed off with the thought only to dream of the same. For me the dawn of today was like any other. With my tired being after last night’s slumber, I woke up after innumerable failed attempts of shutting off my phone alarm. I dragged my drooped soul towards my morning rituals and like a repetitive mechanism I did what all I had to do. While I was trying to tie the threads of my life with a monotonous coup of honey-lemon warm water, cradled in my hand, it suddenly dawned upon me, how many things I have been doing the same way, every day. They have been my ‘one thing’ that I do each time every 24 hours. The lukewarm darkness coated its pain upon me and once again and here I am writing about so many ‘one thing’ that we women do every day of our unique life given to us.

We wake up everyday with the baggage of responsibilities that we so-readily mistake to be our duty (the sense of duty has been so well-engraved in our x chromosomes even before we are born!) Work, home, kids, husband/partner/better half/another half and many more. For once there is weak-dying and dependent wish to do away with these titles, then we are awake again! Then we move ahead through the day checking the tick-boxes so that our stupid self-massaging ego gets satiated and those ever-so powerful so-called invisible others can open that ‘acceptability door’ that is almost like an ever-sucking suction hole that drains in it every possible ego from us. As we move forward there are droplets of smooth moments that if or when trickles towards us, have our utmost gratitude that we guise under the garb of gratification of being a woman and identifying it with our essence of existence. What we forget to ask is why we, why us? If women are categorised still as ‘weaker sex’ by quite a few according to the convenience, then why the double standards? It is as if we are bestowed upon with the title of carer, and someone who can do it all, at the same time our invisibly visible demons in various shapes and genders unconsciously or subconsciously are pulling us down to that rock bottom where the value of women is nothing more than that figment of imagination which totally downsizes their existence. According to “wise men” women are genetically made physically weak yet they are made in a way that they are emotionally strong. It is such a narcissistic declaration. We are being empowered by keeping a strict check on our list of do’s and don’ts! We are supporters for all the possible people who are in a different capacity than us provided we stay in our unimaginably complex boundaries drawn by so-called significant others.

Why not take ‘her’ out on a merry-go-round of our glamorised and idolized world of cinema that claims to give a panoramic canvas to the representation of women. Be it the role of mother, wife, lover, vamp, sister and many more, there is always a justification for her reserved representation. We see her in one role or the other in almost all the movies, still it feels that her representation is like just another projection of any minority. We applaud the strong roles that have come up today for her and feel so proud that at least those roles have strength to earn the moolah or critical acclaim at the box office. However, if we look deeper, we will realize that the underline bed of truth speaks the same old tone, maybe a little sugar-coated but still the same. The opportunities have increased but are there enough of them to give a justifiable representation? According to Judith Mayne in her article ‘feminist film theory and women at the movies’, pub. (1987), there is no easy fit between ‘real’ women and their cinematic representation. In fact, sometimes it does not fit only. This fit is what brings about the point of contradictions that hover over her reality. The line almost always blurs when we realise that what we see on the screen, the ideal or could-have been ideal woman is what we are wanting in our daily life. Someone who must fall under a certain parameter of societal acceptability. On screen, if a woman is been shown as a strong character that has human traits of being capable of negative personality of having a downward graph, then either she meets her negative end or she returns to her true hypothetical identity of goodness and purity. The yardstick is so fictional in itself that when women in real life look at ourselves or like our own, we start justifying our doings or otherwise we are considered the rebellious few with no real respect or self-worth on others’ or our own eyes!

Tired Woman Stock Illustrations – 12,216 Tired Woman Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart - Dreamstime

The concepts of morality, duty, happiness, selflessness, and everything that is respectful according to the social norms and constructs, has a concentration of muddy puddle in the core of their construction. The never-ending expectations and trickling down of women empowerment as charity to her, need to be realised that it is not something that is or should be given to her, even as support. The right to own her own being is like her skin that ha its own blemishes and scars. She should be proud of herself as a separate entity and must be alright if and when she does not confirm to the rules of society because in the end it is ok to be wrong, it is ok to flunk, it is ok to not just care and keep on giving and giving. It is perfect to not feel the guilt of being that idolised perfection of figment of human reality. It is ok to be a mere human.

Films

Literary Supplements and Films

October 15, 2021October 18, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

The film Pride and Prejudice has a quiet humurous yet reflective dialogue that explains character of Elizabeth Bennet’s father in terms of his opinion and respect of her decisions and self-worth. He said, ” Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.” The same dialogue in the film gave a very visual perspective of the written lines when we as audience watched the film. The character had so much of body and voice expressions as-well-as body language on screen, in the same film to assist the imaginative power during reading the novel. This definitely increase the interdependence and infuence capacity of the literature and cinema manifold. Viewers can identify with the script while being able to place themselves in the same position. Man has been a storyteller since the beginning. We have our inspirations to impart our thoughts, views, philosophies, beliefs, and opinions though various form of literature. But the moment we talk about use of literature in films, we attain an entry into the world of that is creatively so bifurcated that here the films become the text themselves. This line of thought has its own area of study where if one goes deep within, we will see that cinema borrows openly as well as subtly from the field of literature. Characters are built from the text consciously and many times subconsciously by film makers and actors give life to them with the aid of technology of film making for the productive consumption by the audience.

Cinema has been carrying art in its womb since its inception. Art, be it in any form has been a soul sibling of movies as it opens the doors for film makers to venture into the creative mind of writers. They have chance of entering make the audience at large see through their own point of view, the concepts and imagery that the authors have tried to pen down. Films have been able to spread the creative outlook even without literature however, if the latter enters in movie making arena than the view and genre take an altogether a different panoramic view. Even though literature and cinema are two separate aspects of art, still they carry equal weightage since their spread during 18^th-19^th and 20^th century respectively. They both can take viewers and readers and make them escape into a different world full of thought-provoking ideas and creativity.

The strong aspect that can make films take somewhat of a precedence over literary body is its capacity visualize and the character, situations, scenes, and the script. It has a greater reach towards creating a relation with the audience who can resonate with the moving images way better then literature because there is limitation with reading capacity of individuals too. Where literature has the power to carry its readers into the world of imagination while films have its own strength to be able to bring that imagination of words back to its viewers!

This literature and cinema both have a disconnect in their language majorly because of their difference in the platform. There is difference the occurrence of events due to the placement of time where a particular incident happened. In cinema there is the currency of that incident, many times even borrowing those from the literature where the acts have already occurred. Despite this disconnect literature is a strong supplement to these films because they most of the times become a base to the script, screenplay, and character sketch of these moving images with substance and content. These films may not be a replica of the books as far as its visual representation is concerned, but the kind of explanation and meaning that both these strong aspects of art portrays as they intermingle with each other, the resulting factor justifies the importance of each and clarifies literature to be a strong supplement to cinema!

Films

Can ‘She’ be next 007 – Are we Asking…

October 14, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

Bond girl has travelled through the years with her hands full. In being created as a character who according to the director Terence Young is ‘the sort of woman that men dream about, but don’t exist’. Shas been a bond girl who has throughout been the love interest of the invincible James Bond. She has been shouldering a fantasised responsibility of being a physical fantasy for the audience, who has in one way or the other been rescued by Bond. By the end of the film, she has fallen for him for he has become her saviour and ideal man that she supposedly has been unconsciously waiting for all her life! She is supposed to be in dire need of rescue as her earlier association with men have made her alienated from because infliction of some sort of sexual violence. And this is where Bond comes in and help in come out of her misery during whole film. Her roles have changes with time, there is no doubt, but one thing has remained constant – the significant presence and aura of Man of the hour James Bond! He has been one constant character throughout the series.

However, the question now arises that with the change in cast of 007 to be a female, are we ready to accept the new arrival? Or is it also a one-off the rack incident of churning in more moolah for the makers to bring about this deliberate change to match up with “society trying to change”! Since Bond films very well tracked the changing times and have kept pace with changed culture, politics, and geographical outlines, do they feel there need to be a change in the over-sexualised representation of women in the industry since Bond films have been carrying the flag loud and proud since long!

What needs to be thought about is, despite bringing a vague sense of positive change in character development of bond girls, these has been not a single talk about bong being a woman up until now where the British actor Lashana Lynch is being roped in to be new 007 after Daniel Craig. Surprisingly she is an actor of colour as well which will fill the thirst of gap revolving around gender and race under representation in Bond movies! But the question here is there even a need to become the next female 007, whoever it is? Will it be sufficient to close this gap? Will there be any less discrimination or under representation by hyping this decision? Is it the only parameter for a woman to reach where she again will have to be asked a question that, was she able to fill the shoes of ‘male’ 007 efficiently! If no, then we are back to square one of woman being unable to do justice to the absence of ‘real’ 007. If yes, then we all she ends up will be becoming a good replacement to the real 007! The comparisons will always be there.

The real worry is the possibility to lose the cause behind the publicity and glamor chaos. The question of basic discrimination of peaceful development of gender, colour, race and identity! One movie and one character swapping will not change the course of tide. It may or may not bring the acceptance in the eyes of people watching, however will be able to bring a lasting change in the overall perception? Do we agree that diamond are forever? This by far is way deeper thought to question and study further for there are so many different writings on the wall before the skyfall!

Films

Existentialism of Films

October 13, 2021October 14, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

When ( Javier Bardem) Anton Chigurh character is projected in the film “No Country for Old Men”, he is shown to be a hitman who was remorseless. However he had a strange concept to perhaps justify his act of killing. That involved his belief in chance and destiny. During the span of whole film, he is shown to decide the fate of his victims by ‘flipping the coin’. The desined flip decides whether the person dies, even if the he is told in the movie by one of his client, “you don’t have to do it.” The movie which is based on the bool of same name, written by Cormac McCarthy, is infact a powerful example that seeps deeper into the psyche of audience and people at large and manages to stay alive long after the show is over.

Those who are in luck to have the capacity to decide, may not use the same for doing good. When we try to talk about the concept of existentialism in any form, we need to make sure that we lay down the basics of the philosophy clearly Then we can apply this idea in any possible field. When and person is free as well as responsible to take care of self-development keeping in mind the point of freedom, choice, individuality, responsibility and consciousness towards self, the boundary of this philosophy is understood to be covered conveniently. This has been forte of thinkers like Soren Kierkegaard and Jean Paul Sartre. Many others have followed the suit and have become a great help to peep into its relationship with other fields.

When we talk about other fields, the one that comes to mind is cinema because it is one medium that is persistent and consistent most of the individuals’ life. One way or the other we all are consuming, and synthesising the ideas, thoughts, beliefs, views depicted via this channel. Philosophy of films agrees with Deleuze that film has power to provoke the thought process Coming of Sartre into it provides an opportunity to explore cinema in a different philosophical context. His idea of existentialism has developed a very productive working boundary while interpreting a film. The early forties and early fifties need to be given visible credit for bringing the idea of existentialism in film upfront. The pallet of shooting these films was majorly in black and white with a rich texture to it, with dark shadows hindered with the neon light dribbling through blinds. The characters were evolved to be hard hitting with deep and hitting dialogues. Their character sketch was drawn to be almost living on edge surrounding with deep sexual tension. This was even termed as ‘film noir’. The genre which even today has the capacity to rise a feeling of emptiness and unrest in the audience watching and experiencing it. Since the budget was low and had its own set of complications while releasing due to the censorship restrictions regarding the deep depressive projection of life. However, despite these drawbacks, the films used to end up profiting and bad backing from the historical and political situations of the times. With the economy of the time being down the drain and people drowning further into the aftermaths of World wars and bombings and emerging and existing racial discrimination, that was the perfect timing for film noir to prevail and thrive over the bodies of broken political and human existence!

Amazon.com: 2001: A Space Odyssey : Douglas Rain, Frank Miller, Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick,

Writers, actors and directors like Joel and Ethan Coen, John Turturro, Steven Soderbergh and Woody Allen and many more have credibly taken the idea of existentialism forward in their own very creative formats. These films have made existential not just due to them catering the theme but also because of the prevailing culture all around at the time which have touched not only the elite but in fact even the common man, thus resonating with population at large. So, by concerning the happenings around, the tradition has still the capacity to flourish and become a stable part of cinema to understand the idea of philosophy of ‘existentialism’. Another movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) which was an experimental venture of Stanley Kubrick. Herebthe dialogues and the plot of the film takes a back seat because the audience is awestruck by the powerful effects and visuals which dispalys the travel in space and its mysteries that are ready to unfold. For writer Pedro Blas Gonzalez this movie philosophise his idea of an “existential odyssey” Where the character Dr. David Bowman (Keir Dullea) tries to quench his thirst to explore space thus representing the neverending search for knowledge. Such movies may have wierd and sensless endings, however they make the viewers find their own logical meaning to it, justifying the concept of existentialism in a way. These are just few snippets of what the films hold and what is their actual capacity to impart a particular understanding that can enlighten, develop and even challenges the viewers so that they can move further as far as their understanding of different concepts and theories are concerned, even if unconsciously!

Films

Justifying Impact of Film in Spreading Philosophy

October 12, 2021October 12, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

Where we put Films in the bracket of Arts, we cannot dent its strong backing from the field of Philosophy. Films have capability to strongly contribute to philosophising a thought. If we end up appreciating or criticising any film, we must be able to simultaneously justify one of strong reasons behind to be that whether the philosophy for creating that body of visual work, has been justified or not. The questions that tend to rise are what is the actual importance of films as far as its philosophy is concerned? Also do the film hold strength enough to make the audience and people in general comprehend and synthesize the standing philosophies that revolve around ideas, ideologies, morals, emotions, perceptions, concept of consciousness and understanding etc? instead of beating around the bush and start the conversation with film representations and illustrations of ideas and conflicts or film being the base of existing and developing philosophy; why don’t we digress a little and try to hold the bull by its noose? How about if we divulge the concept that films carry the capacity to themselves spread the ideas, methods, difficulties, and views that further develop the process of concept of philosophy!

By now we know that film help in spreading the existing emotions and encourage emergence of new concepts, views, and thoughts. The socio-political, cultural concepts a raised and developed further through this medium are way easier to get transcend in everyday life of people at large. These films further explore the discourse available, though now freely available for consumption. They then have the power to express and explain the thought which in turn can make a significant impact on the society.

The philosophy written in books tends to interest only the selected few. However, once it comes alive on screen with right characters, relevant props, strong script, impactful shots, scenes and dialogues, the thoughts take a complete U-turn! The same boring, tedious words come alive for most who end up watching their favourite cast and in turn idolizing their image and actions! The relevance and popularity of any given philosophy increase manifold. The general population gobbles it up because of their virtual resonance with the idea. It becomes incredible easy for the thought makers to bring about any change in society with the aid of this industry full of glitz and glamour. All this is because we as audience are ready to spend a substantial amount of money over the next new release. Film as carrier of philosophy is way justifies as ‘food for thought’ because the impact and difference that it can make in our society is way beyond human perception!

Films

‘Her’ through the lens…

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

‘She’ has been talked about time and again. Media has a great impact on the social, cultural, political and even psychological behaviour of society. Our emotions as part of society acquire a particular thought flow because of the ideas that are made concrete in our minds but media. It has been praised as well as criticised innumerable times because of the power it holds! Be it television, radio, social media, or films; when we look at the representation of women, we end up running in circles because even though they are many changes that can be seen but they don’t seem to be enough! The images that is seen stay with us for a long time. Many times they even become a part of real life persona. Many social scientists asserts that these imaged have the power to change the perception of people in real and has the capacity to stimulate their everyday behaviour. In fact according to Manatu (2003) the various images that we see on screen on any pretext has a grave part to play in insinuating various behaviours they carry negative energy around like crime, violence and even to the extent of delinquency in people around us. Similarly in media portrayal of women is constant and majority of times she gets objectifies in male gaze. However hard the image is being tried to break through, the stereotypes around her never cease to exist. Even though the characterization may show her to be a at par and many times way above that, still in most situations we see her in need of that male approval, recognition to reach her happy end. In fact in whatever way her character is showed in a particular show, it simply projects the social view and the political thought revolving around her.

Even the written aspect of media constructs similar ideas. For instance the magazines that are not catering to male population, adhere to similar stereotypes. For instance if we consider women magazines, the most part of them are written by women and their target audience is women as well. But the idea imparted through these is same. Either they concern mostly home-oriented or related to childcare or even if they show careers, fitness or individual success for them, the journey of the magazines is towards enabling women to reach the parameters set by male population.

Be it the content, page layouts, camera angles, or the scripts and characterizations, ‘her’ representation every time end up leaving a vast gap among the genders. The artificial modifications in their representation has become so obscure that many times it is just impossible for those who live in real life to fall in line with the reel world. There is such a focussed generalization in female representation that the logical parameters can hardly ever be met! And they ideally should not meet too because each individual id different and unique. Just like there is a difference between men and women, there is a major difference between each woman. Trying to measure them with a single yardstick is insane for each has her own existence and purpose and trying to merge them will only bring hindrances to their capable self because as we say ‘to each his/her own’!

Films

How the Audience Take it all in!

October 10, 2021February 15, 2022
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

When a filmmaker starts creating the framework of his concept so that a film of his perceptions, aspirations, and opinions can come to life. However, they need to keep in mind the audience that plays a big part in bringing the dreams to think a certain way about life. With every increase in technology the world has come closer, the barriers have started disintegrating. Languages have started merging and thoughts have begun to collide. So has the gap between the filmmakers and the intended audience. Where on the side the film is made keeping in mind the target audience; on the other hand, many times the views or concepts and thoughts are created in such a way that the desired audience is created and tailor-made.

Today movies have captured not only their original arena, in fact, but they also end up having a major hold on the media, in turn further enhancing their control over the audience. Their impact on the audience and vice versa are so visible that we cannot deny the amount of power both hold in each other’s lives. Where some changes in the audience’s perception can be witnessed right after the film is over. They are more of temporary nature that tends to gradually fade away. However, others are visible and develop over a period. Ever in certain cases. They are more serious, and many times occur to stay for a longer span and even stay forever. Even though the audience understands the difference between reality and fantasy, the way they absorb a thought through a visual medium is quite overwhelming. Many times, they feel it is a confirmation of their belief and thus is a sign to follow what they see.

Even though there is no harm in creating the film based on individual views, beliefs, or thoughts, many times the lack of research or biased views ends up in misinformation. The problem arises when the audience forgets the difference between fiction and reality and tries to merge the two in real life. They end up making the content true even though it may just be an opinion or even a figment of imagination. Thus, there is a major responsibility on the shoulders of opinion makers to create content that is authentic or that has credibility attached to it. The fake, shallow, or fluff need to be categorized, and the real need to be re-checked to bring credible support to the whole concept! So, how the audience views it all is directly related to the type of intention that the maker of the content has. There is a huge weight of credibility attached to the whole process of filmmaking for the audience to be able to absorb the rightness in it because in dreams begin the responsibilities…

Films

The Science of Signs in Films

October 9, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

When Henry Stubbs first used the word and spelled it differently as Semeiotics in 1670-75, he probable never would have thought in weirdest of his imaginations that his concept of using the idea of signs in the field of medicine would take a whirlwind turn and boggle the minds of so many social thinkers as well. The word that has been in almost continuous usage since 17^th century and has changed its form including the change in spelling from semeiotics to Semiotics is able to spread its roots from linguistics to a vast canvas! The various discourse and number of narratives expand and contract because of the angle that is taken by the concept of Signs and semiology. Because of this there comes a strong point connection where some feel the need that man needs to be handles and thought about in idea od signs.

Since communication is of even according to Chandler (2013) is of extreme importance as it involves a variety of signs, the society thus consciously or unconsciously survives and thrives on the omnipresent idea of Semiotics. One way or the other each one of us is living our life under codes and involving signs. All that varies is the medium of their organisation. Constructing then, deconstructing, and arguing their existence and importance is the core of reality that is required to support and get the support from these signs.

In films the language of semiotics is so natural that the interdependence has become almost independent to any form of forced existence. The audience has matured over the time enough to comprehend the deliberate use of signs, symbols, language, and idea of semiotics. For them the study of sighs even more assist in their better understanding of the idea that is behind the whole script and the intention or inclination of the movie makers. The social understanding, cultural projection, developed perception are all elaborated through the means of semiotic in the field of cinema, be it props, particular shot, scenes, character sketch, dialogue delivery, body movement/stance, colour scheme, music or even editing; is very well affect the general as particular behaviour of an individual as well as in a group Caroll (1999:3) because according to her concept end up creating our behaviour and practices.

So The Science behind the idea of Semiotics has a deep connect with the societal as well as cultural behaviour of people at large and this is further engraved deeply through the medium of films! For Signs have the power as strong as the objectivity of science to construct society and stimulate various scholars of varied fiels to engage further in discourse of cinema and its impact on the outside world!

Films

Media as Industry

October 8, 2021October 8, 2021
by Sameera Khan Rehmani

Radio TV, videos, cinema, magazines, comics are all part of Cultural production. We can hate it or we adore it, whatever the case may be but we cannot deny the importance and forcefulness of Media i today. Everyone talks about it. We need it like air. Even if we don’t want it in our lives but it has become like an omnipresence in our lives which tags around our existence. Some sees its relevance while others have their own bias. We tend to politicise it thus in turn publicising the very aspect. It is the current flow that looks to keep its foothold for a long time. Various aspects of media contain meanings, thoughts, values, ideas that work at different levels unlike regular productions of things and items. But the similarity between them is also striking. Like these mundane products, cultural production is also developed in mind its mass reachability and access. So they also need to be developed cheap and in abundance. The reason being, there is a constant thirst for new production as there is ever growing market for new content. The new idea will always have more currency and acceptance. Moreover in current scenario there is a strong mergence between the technological and economic aspect of the industry that in turn help it in thriving in it full potential!

In Television, mostly ratings and the advertising rule the content available for the viewers. This give birth and nurtures well the concept of drama, scandal, propaganda. In fact it has become the fuel driving majority of economies. It has power strong enough to deviate from the more important issues and has the capacity to stay focus on the non-important topics due the the hype and uproar created in its favour. In films since they have wider money backings and support from investors, banks etc. so they have more choice and leverage to control their content and production. How far and strong they go about doing it is all together a different matter.

Newspapers, magazines and Alternative news have a more cut-throat competition an they have more number of mergers and acquisitions. Due to this there are more 24 hr. news channels, n obnoxious level of increased competition. This results in point-to-point marketing, target-oriented advertising and sales to engage variety of more and more viewers and consumers. So media studies focus on different perspective of of media industry. For instance what is produced, how is it done. What does it imply. Who controls the production. What is its impact, who all are represented here. What ideologies are promoted. Who are the consumers and how do they consume any product or content etc. There are so many more questions attached to this ever growing industry and we know that the answers lie very well inside this rabbit hole as well. What is further more important is are we going to deliberately look for them and try to break the vicious cycle of Media behind an industry and vice versa?