Theme and focus

1. Theme and focus

2. Definition • Theme refers to the unifying central concern of the film, the special focus that unifies the work • Focus can be broken into five different types • Plot • Emotional effect (mood) • Character • Style • Ideas

3. Plot • Final outcome is all-important, but only within the context of the specific story being told • Many summer blockbusters and action films focus strictly on the plot • These films tend to employ straight forward and flat characters

5. Emotional effect (mood) • Possible to identify a single mood or emotion that prevails throughout the film • The individual steps in the film lead to one single powerful emotional moment • Horror films, suspense thrillers, and some romance movies fall into this category

7. Character • The film focuses on a single unique character • The major appeal of the character are the traits that set him/her apart from the rest of society

9. Style • Films that are set apart because of a unique look, feel, rhythm, atmosphere, tone or organization • Such films are usually not commercially successful because some audience members will not like or understand the unique characteristic of the film

11. Ideas • This film tries to clarify some aspect of life or the human condition • Many times the central idea or theme of the film can be summed up in a single word or phrase (usually some human emotion like jealousy or some human condition like injustice or prejudice)

12. There are seven different categories that this theme might fall into: • Moral implications • Truth of human nature • Social problems • Struggle for human dignity • Complexity of human relationships • Coming of age • Moral or philosophical riddle

13. Moral implications • These films are intended to convince us of the wisdom or practicality of a moral principle and thereby persuade us to apply the principle in our lives • Don’t mistake a moral implication for a moral statement • The film should take a clear stand on the moral issue not just address the issue and allow the viewer to decide

15. Truth of human nature • Films that focus on universal or representative characters • The characters are representative of humanity in general, and they serve as cinematic vehicles to illustrate some widely or universally accepted truth about human nature

17. Social problems • Films that expose social vices and follies or criticize social institutions • Usually they concentrate on defining the problem and emphasizing its importance instead of suggesting reform for the problem

19. Struggle for human dignity • Portray a basic conflict or tension between two opposing sides of human nature • Conflict may be external or internal, and while victory can occur it is not necessary for the film • The conflict and how the character deals with it becomes the central focus of the film

21. Complexity of human relationships • Focus on problems, frustrations, pleasures and joys of human relationships • These relationships can include family, love, marriage, etc.

23. Coming of age • Major characters are usually young people going through experiences that force them to become more mature or to gain some new awareness of themselves in relation to the world around them • This concept can be treated comically, seriously, or even tragically • The central character is dynamic because we will see them as different at the end of the film

25. Moral or philosophical riddle • Film develops around a riddle or some puzzling quality • This type of film communicates through symbols or images so analysis is essential for understanding

27. In addition to themes, some films contain motifs (images, patterns, or ideas that are repeated throughout the film and are variations or aspects of the major theme) • Once we have identified the theme of the film we want to evaluate its effect on the audience • If a theme has universality it is one of lasting interest, of interest to all people in all places and times • Some themes are localized to a place or time