This qualitative study addresses the relationship between film reception and the formation of social identity related to the nation in reference to two evocative films used for intergroup comparison purposes. Two American films were selected to facilitate the task of intergroup contrast. Five focus groups were created, and were composed of four to six persons each. Each group saw both films. Results indicate the presence of in-group favoritism after viewing both films. A common core identity related to the nation was built after viewing both films; however, differences arise in the description of social identity attributed to the narrative frame of each film. Results contribute to the study of social categorization processes associated with film reception. / Este estudio cualitativo aborda las relaciones entre la recepción fílmica y la construcción de la identidad social asociada a la categoría nación ante filmes evocadores de comparación intergrupal. Se seleccionaron dos películas estadounidenses que facilitaron la tarea de contraste intergrupal. Se organizaron cinco grupos de discusión de cuatro a seis personas. Cada grupo observó los dos filmes. Los resultados indican la presencia de favoritismo endogrupal luego de la exposición a ambos filmes. Se distinguió un núcleo común de la identidad asociada a la categoría nación. Sin embargo, se presentan diferencias en la descripción de la identidad social atribuibles al encuadre narrativo de ambos filmes. Las evidencias aportan alestudio contextualista de la categorización social asociados a la recepción fílmica.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-26T11:14:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brisa Evangelista de Queiroz - 2015.pdf: 1574397 bytes, checksum: 57079155b6f52e967a7b4426b2a9b9c6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-05-26T11:18:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brisa Evangelista de Queiroz - 2015.pdf: 1574397 bytes, checksum: 57079155b6f52e967a7b4426b2a9b9c6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-26T11:18:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Brisa Evangelista de Queiroz - 2015.pdf: 1574397 bytes, checksum: 57079155b6f52e967a7b4426b2a9b9c6 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-10 / This research proposes an anthropological study, based on the analysis of film reception with groups of children and adolescents, of a picture that tells us a story of children who deal with issues of gender and sexuality. The intention was to reflect about childhoods and their dynamics in terms of sexuality and gender, using film as a stimulus for discussions. The movie Tomboy (2011) was chosen as the object of study and mediation of this research. To dialogue with that film, students of a drama school and, in comparison, students of two elementary schools were invited, all of the schools located at Setor Pedro Ludovico, south area of Goiânia. The film deals with issues of gender and sexuality from the point of view of the main character who is a child. This process of exhibitions and discussions was aimed at stimulating the participants to reflect on how they interpreted the events that the main character deals with and give them an opportunity to express their opinions about similar situations in their daily lives. In addition it was intended to observe whether there was and which were the differences between the perceptions of a film reception experiment in school environment and in another one that encourages a more active stance by the participants. / Essa pesquisa propõe um estudo antropológico, a partir da análise da recepção fílmica, com grupos de crianças e adolescentes, de uma obra cinematográfica que aborda crianças que lidam com questões sobre gênero e sexualidade. A intenção foi a de refletir sobre as infâncias e suas dinâmicas em termos de sexualidade e gênero, tomando o cinema como vetor das discussões. Como objeto de estudo e mediação desta pesquisa foi escolhido o filme Tomboy (2011) e, para dialogar com tal filme, alunos/as de uma escola de teatro e, em comparação, alunos/as de duas escolas de ensino fundamental, todas elas localizadas no Setor Pedro Ludovico, na região sul de Goiânia. O filme trata de questões de gênero e sexualidade do ponto de vista da personagem principal, que é uma criança. Com esse processo de exibições e discussões, objetivou-se levantar reflexões por parte dos/as participantes sobre como eles/as interpretaram as situações pelas quais a personagem principal passa e dar a abertura para que opinassem a respeito de situações semelhantes em seus cotidianos. Além de observar se há e quais são as diferenças encontradas entre as percepções de uma experiência de recepção fílmica realizada em ambiente escolar e outra realizada em um ambiente que incentiva posturas mais ativas por parte dos/as participantes.

This study utilises a variety of research methods in order to investigate aspects often overlooked within Scottish film criticism, and indeed film studies more generally, namely: pre-production, production experiences, marketing and distribution, and reception. To date, Scottish film criticism has exhibited a preoccupation with questions of nation, national identity and national cinema, and overwhelmingly scholars have privileged almost exclusive analysis of the film text. Spurred by Jonathan Murray’s (2007, 2011, 2012) questioning of the continued relevance of the national framework, this thesis goes beyond the frame of the film text in order to consider new ways in which a national framework might be of relevance when analysing Scotland’s cinematic output. Concurrently, the chosen case study is also used as a means of critiquing existing literature on collective identity and national cinema. As the title of this thesis suggests, analysis centres on the Dogma-inspired Advance Party initiative and its resulting films, Red Road (Arnold, 2006) and Donkeys (McKinnon, 2010). Devised by Glasgow-based Sigma Films and Denmark’s Zentropa, the cross border collaborative dimension of the Advance Party framework initially appears to challenge the appropriateness of the national framework. As this thesis demonstrates however, such a simplistic conclusion is reductive and overlooks the complexities of the film industry. Throughout this thesis, questions as to the intended and eventual function of the Advance Party framework arise, and these are revisited by means of the thesis Conclusion.

The present study explores the reception of historical feature films in history education. It is concerned with how pupils experience the films as well as the significance of the feature film for their understanding and interpretation of history. The study incorporates empirical data from classroom projects in two different Swedish upper secondary schools where film was used as an educational tool. Observations of classroom activities were made and interviews with twelve pupils and their history teachers were conducted. The study applies a phenomenological approach. The lifeworld of the pupils is in focus, specifically the aspect of the lifeworld they live and experience in history class when film is used as a means of understanding the past. The phenomenon studied is thus how the pupils experience the film, and through the film, history itself. Theoretical notions from film reception studies and history didactics are used as analytic tools. The study shows how emotional and cognitive processes converge in the pupils’ meaning making of the films. The embodiment of the films’ narrative is an important factor that contributes to both the understanding of the film as well as of history. The pupils experience the films emotionally, feeling both empathy and antipathy for the various characters, physically through sight and sound as well as embodied reactions, and cognitively through an understanding of the film’s narrative. Embodied experience is fundamental for history to become materialized. The audiovisual portrayal and materialization of the past becomes embodied in the pupils so that the experience of the film and of the historical lifeworld presented therein becomes part of their lifeworld. Generally, pupils consider the films to be trustworthy, though this perceived accuracy depends on how authentically the narrative is performed and the pupils’ previous store of historical knowledge.  A didactic dilemma to consider when using historical feature film in the classroom is the contradiction between the aesthetic experience of a feature film and its use as a tool for understanding the past. The captivating character of feature film evokes empathy and engagement with the films’ characters regardless of the degree of historical accuracy. This is a critical issue for teachers; there needs to be balance between respect for the pupils’ aesthetic experience of the film and the need to guide them to develop for example the skills of historical empathy, where distance is necessary for the pupils to be able to consider different perspectives.

The present study explores the reception of historical feature films in history education. It is concerned with how pupils experience the films as well as the significance of the feature film for their understanding and interpretation of history. The study incorporates empirical data from classroom projects in two different Swedish upper secondary schools where film was used as an educational tool. Observations of classroom activities were made and interviews with twelve pupils and their history teachers were conducted. The study applies a phenomenological approach. The lifeworld of the pupils is in focus, specifically the aspect of the lifeworld they live and experience in history class when film is used as a means of understanding the past. The phenomenon studied is thus how the pupils experience the film, and through the film, history itself. Theoretical notions from film reception studies and history didactics are used as analytic tools. The study shows how emotional and cognitive processes converge in the pupils’ meaning making of the films. The embodiment of the films’ narrative is an important factor that contributes to both the understanding of the film as well as of history. The pupils experience the films emotionally, feeling both empathy and antipathy for the various characters, physically through sight and sound as well as embodied reactions, and cognitively through an understanding of the film’s narrative. Embodied experience is fundamental for history to become materialized. The audiovisual portrayal and materialization of the past becomes embodied in the pupils so that the experience of the film and of the historical lifeworld presented therein becomes part of their lifeworld. Generally, pupils consider the films to be trustworthy, though this perceived accuracy depends on how authentically the narrative is performed and the pupils’ previous store of historical knowledge.  A didactic dilemma to consider when using historical feature film in the classroom is the contradiction between the aesthetic experience of a feature film and its use as a tool for understanding the past. The captivating character of feature film evokes empathy and engagement with the films’ characters regardless of the degree of historical accuracy. This is a critical issue for teachers; there needs to be balance between respect for the pupils’ aesthetic experience of the film and the need to guide them to develop for example the skills of historical empathy, where distance is necessary for the pupils to be able to consider different perspectives.

Nous exposons dans ce mémoire les principes qui fondent, au sein de la discipline des études cinématographiques, une conception théorique de la réception d’images animées reposant sur la modalité de consommation spécifique du cinéma en salle. Notre analyse d’un ensemble représentatif d’approches théoriques et historiographiques de l’expérience cinématographique permet de relever les principes qui orientent la conception de différentes formes de médialité conférées à l’expérience du cinéma en salle. Les théories du dispositif et du signifiant imaginaire de Jean-Louis Baudry et Christian Metz proposent une conception de l’expérience du cinéma en salle qui met l’accent sur les effets de transparence médiatique de certaines composantes des salles de cinéma sur les spectateurs ainsi que sur le caractère imaginaire, symbolique et institutionnel de ces médiations. La sémio-pragmatique de Roger Odin et l’approche historiographique de la New Cinema History telle que présentée par Robert C. Allen et Richard Maltby proposent une conception de l’opacité médiatique de l’ensemble complexe des effets de médiation sensorielle, relationnelle, sociale et économique de l’expérience du cinéma en salle et dont les spectateurs font l’épreuve sur toute l’étendue de ce type de site d’exploitation et sur toute la durée de son occupation spectatorielle. Au terme de notre analyse, les différents principes relevés permettent de formuler la notion d’expérience hétérotopique du cinéma pour désigner la conception de l’expérience du cinéma en salle qui caractérise la compréhension de la réception d’images animées dans le cadre des études cinématographiques. / This thesis explores how theories of moving image reception that have or have had a significant impact on the development of film studies as a discipline are centered around the movie theater and on “movie-going” practices. The analysis of a representative set of theoretical and historiographical approaches to the cinematic experience allows for the definition of key principles that unearth various forms of mediation at play in the movie-going experience. Jean-Louis Baudry’s “apparatus theory” and Christian Metz’s notion of the “imaginary signifier” both suggest a theory of movie-going experience stressing the transparency effects on spectators of the mediation of certain architectural and technological aspects of movie theaters and focusing on the symbolic and institutional nature of this form of mediation. In contrast, Roger Odin’s semio-pragmatic approach and New Cinema History’s critical historiography (as theorized by Robert C. Allen and Richard Maltby) conceptualize the opacity of a complex set of sensory, relational, social, and economic mediations occurring in movie theaters, which last during the entire experience of the audience in these exhibition sites. By unspooling the complexity of the theoretical stances above mentioned, this thesis moves towards the definition of a heterotopic cinema experience formulated from within the context of film studies.