Exploration in Mass Communication: Analysis of Fast & Furious 7 Movie

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of the movie "Fast & Furious 7" through the lens of mass communication theories. It explores the application of Auteur Theory, viewing director James Wan as the author, and examines the film's portrayal of Zeitgeist, reflecting the spirit of the times. The essay delves into Cultural Imperialism, analyzing how the film's characters interact with different cultural backgrounds, and discusses the concept of the Chilling Effect, observing how the film discourages certain actions. Participatory Culture is examined, highlighting the active involvement of the characters in the film's narrative. Finally, the essay addresses the film's Homage to Paul Walker, discussing how the movie paid tribute to the actor. The analysis provides valuable insights into the film's narrative, themes, and communication strategies.

Running head: EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE MOVIE
“FAST & FURIOUS 7”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Auteur Theory
The auteur theory emerged in the nation of France in the 1940s and is generally
considered to be an outgrowth or for that matter an extension of the cinematic theories
propounded by Alexandre Astruc, André Bazin and others. The auteur theory of film making
views the director of a movie or a film as its author and the camera that the director holds as his
or her pen through which he or she is being able to write the story or the plot that would be
presented before the audience. This particular theory of film making as a matter of fact had tried
to offer an artistic outlook to the work which is being performed by the directors of the movies
by considering them as the authors of the story which the movie narrates. The different precepts
of the auteur theory become more apparent when the movie “Fast & Furious 7” directed by
James Wan is being taken into account. For instance, it is seen that Wan had tried to offer a
creative outlook to the entire just like an author does to the novels or the works that they write
through the effective usage of camera angles, pauses, dialogues and others. The effective usage
of the camera angles becomes apparent from the different fight scenes, the scenes in which the
cars are being driven at full speed and others. The last parting scene of Dom and Brian where
they go into separate paths is another important scene which shows the effective usage of camera
angles. Finally, the line of Dom “It's never goodbye” when asked whether he wants to leave is an
important example wherein the director had used brevity of words and also pauses effectively.

2EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Zeitgeist
The term “Zeitgeist” became popular within the cannon of philosophy in the 18th century
when the different German philosophers started to use the concerned concept to refer to the
“spirit of the age” or the “spirit of the times”. Furthermore, the Zeitgeist theory suggests that the
human beings are heading towards a unification path and while this path exists for all the
individuals it is seen that the majority of them are busy with plebian things. The resultant effect
of this is that the Zeitgeist movement tried to overcome the intellectual irrelevancy of the
individuals through the usage of the concepts of social action and education. A critical analysis
of the movie “Fast & Furious 7” reveals the fact that the concerned movie is redolent with the
effective usage of the concept of Zeitgeist. For instance, the movie in a subtle manner indicates
the fact that peace is the essential spirit of the time in which Dom, Brian and other important
characters of the movies resided. However, their indulgence in adventure and violence and also
coming out of retirement to indulge in the same actions over and over again clearly indicates
their intellectual irrelevancy. More importantly, at the end of the movie Brian is being able to
realize the fact that he needs to lead a peaceful life for the sake of his family and thereby declares
his retirement however at the same time it is seen that Dom is still not being able to embrace the
same.

3EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Cultural Imperialism
Cultural imperialism is the process through which a politically or economically dominant
community imposes the different attributes or for that matter the aspects of its culture onto the
culture of another community especially a non-dominant one. This particular process is also
called by the name of cultural colonization through which in turn had given rise to the situation
wherein it is seen that the cultural values, traditions and other aspects followed by the non-
dominant communities or groups are increasingly being hybridized through their integration with
the same of the dominant communities. In the particular context of the movie “Fast & Furious 7”
it is seen that the characters are being shown as hailing from different cultural backgrounds and
each of them tries to follow their own cultural tradition. However, it is seen that Dom is the
unanimous leader of the group and thus it is seen that gradually the different members of the
group under discussion here start to follow the attributes of the culture to which Dom belongs.
This can be explained through in the particular context of the concept of cultural imperialism as
the imposition of the cultural attributes of Dom on the lesser dominant members of the group
upto the point that they come to display a cultural homogeneity wherein the unique cultural
identity of the individual members have been completely eradicated.

4EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Chilling Effect
Chilling effect in simple terms refers to the discouragement or for that matter the
inhibition of the legitimate exercise of the natural as well as the legal rights of the individuals. In
this regard, it needs to be said that the usage of the concept of chilling effects had become
extremely popular within the different movies wherein they are being ingrained within the plot to
make it more interesting or for that matter captivating for the audiences. As a matter of fact, it is
seen that the movie “Fast & Furious 7” is redolent with the effective usage of the concept of
chilling effect. For instance, in the second part of the movie it is seen that the characters Dom,
Brian and the other members of his team act as the agents who hinder or for that matter
discourage the different plans or the intentions of the antagonist of the movie, namely, Deckard
Shaw. This action on the part of Dom and his friends while creating the chilling effect within the
movie under discussion here also enhance the pleasure of watching the concerned movie as well.

5EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Participatory Culture
Participatory culture is the kind of culture wherein it is seen that the private individuals
who belong to the concerned culture rather than simply assuming the role of consumers of the
culture also actively participate in the process of production of the same. In this relation, it needs
to be said that the concept of participatory culture is drastically different from that of the
consumer culture wherein the sole focus is on the aspect of consumption rather than production.
The movie “Fast & Furious 7” actively takes the help of this particular concept for enhancing the
quality of its narrative or for that matter the story which is being portrayed by it. For instance,
within the movie under discussion here it is seen that the team of Dom while being an active
consumer of the bohemian and the violent culture which they are a part of are also actively
involved within the production of the same. This finds ample amount of evidence from the
different action or adventure scenes within the concerned movie, the rivalry which the team of
Dom share with Deckard Shaw and others. These aspects or for that matter the scenes of the
movie while enabling the director of the concerned movie to effectively utilize the concept of
participatory culture had also helped him to significantly enhance the pleasure of watching the
movie under discussion here as well.

6EXPLORATION IN MASS COMMUNICATION
Homage
An interesting trend seen within the contemporary movies or the films can be attributed
to the fact that a significant number of them pay homage to some reputed stars, the cast or the
crew associated with the movie, some heroes and others. Thus, it is seen that in the majority of
the movies or the films paying homage to someone the dedication comes either at the end of the
movie or at the beginning of the same. However, at the same time it needs to be said that there
are many individuals who rather than appreciating the emotions of the movie makers because of
which they are paying homage through the movie consider the same as a cheap publicity act that
is used for influencing the behavior of the movie goers emotionally so that they would watch the
movie multiple times. This in turn substantially enhances the revenue generated by the movies
and thus the movies are actively taking the help of the construct of homage for enhancing their
viewership through the emotional exploitation of their viewers. The movie “Fast & Furious 7” is
an important one in this connection since the concerned movie pays homage to one of its leading
actors Paul Walker who plays the part of Brian in the movie. As a matter of fact, Walker died in
2013 after completing only half of the movie and thus the script had to be rewritten so as to
retain the last recorded moments of the life of Walker wherein he had indulge in professional
acting. In addition to these, an emotional tribute was also given by the entire team of the movie
under discussion here during the promotion of the movie and also a song was played in the honor
of Paul Walker in almost all the movie theatres when the concerned movie was being launched.