What is the film analysis

What is the film analysis? Historical, symbolic, ethical. Outlines of classes: Media education and professionalization.

Image by freepik

Media education and professionalization. Historical, symbolic, ethical

Main concepts

Analysis of films and television series as media messages – a comprehensive research method based on a non-artistic study of cinematography and television production. It consists in establishing its historical context, the symbolism used, and the moral and existential problems presented. An original research proposal, which was created at the Institute of Media Education and Journalism of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.

What is the film analysis? Top content

  1. Multiple viewings of the film – grasping the meaning. Multiple viewing method. Narrative story – 1st viewing. Analysis of mise en scène. Grasping the meaning or fundamental message of the film – intellectual competence.
  2. Events, objects and characters – learning about the historical context. Determining the genre. Learning about the director’s achievements and motivations. The authenticity of characters, events and objects. Historical ideologization.
  3. Details and symbolism of the film image. Paying attention to details. Searching for symbols. Theoretical perspective. Establishing citations and intertextuality.
  4. Moral and existential dilemmas in films. Presentation of the main moral and existential dilemmas – ethical analysis. Ideological perspective in the analysis of the film image. Conscious choice of one’s own ideological direction in the interpretation of ethical issues. Questions about existential and religious problems.

Literature and discussion questions

  • Drzewiecki P., Film sportowy. Metoda i praktyka badań medioznawczych, Warszawa 2022, s. 37-55.

The author of the method of analyzing films and television series as media messages is prof. Grzegorz Łęcicki. I have refined its key elements. In the book Sports Film. Method and Practice of Media Studies (Film sportowy. Metoda i praktyka badań medioznawczych) I have written a separate chapter on this topic.

  1. What themes of contemporary films and television series are worth exploring?
  2. What existential dilemmas are experienced by the characters in the films and series?
  3. How to study the historical context and symbolism of the images analyzed?