Ideology's Impact on Film: A Critical Analysis and Evolution Study

This essay delves into the critical discussions surrounding ideology in film, examining how filmmakers portray societal ideas and values. It explores the evolution of these portrayals, referencing the film "All That Heaven Allows" by Douglas Sirk (1955) as a case study. The essay discusses how films reflect and shape societal views on gender, class, and other social constructs. It highlights the changes in film production and the depiction of ideology from the silent era to the modern day, including the influence of World War II, the rise of television, and the impact of different film movements. The conclusion emphasizes the continuous evolution of the film industry and its role in reflecting and influencing societal norms. The essay also includes a reference list with books, journals and online resources.

FILM ANALYSIS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
How has the notion of ideology been used in critical discussions of films?...............................1
How has it changed over the years?............................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCE...................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Film and theatres are a kind of storyline or any event which is recorded by cinema
including the set of moving image which is either shown in cinema, TV or any online sources as
well. In all the times from the beginning of this it was noted that there is set of ideology stating
ideas and thinking of particular group or individual that is been portrayed into visual sense. So in
this current report we would be including about how has this notion of ideology which is been
used in critically discussing films. This would also be including that what are the changes which
are made over the past years. This essay would be covering the ideology and how films explore
different sets of message with the reference of All That Heaven Allows by Douglas Sirk (1955).
MAIN BODY
Ideology could be included as the ideas of individual or group of society which would be
based on their thoughts and views stating the relationship of on self with the others into society.
As films would be made so that they could showcase the correct and both side of society which
is positive and negative underlining in true sense of entertainment (Vighi, 2012). This would be
defining the world view of society or that of country over certain period so that others who are
having no knowledge about topic could know basic of that. Films are from the starting of their
era is been portraying their linkage with that of society or one particular group within it like that
of issues related to women, or lower and middle class society. Both the sides which include the
positive and negative must be included within any film only then the audience could be able to
get clear insight of this problem. The pre and post World War era has given the films of all
country and that of every language its own touch and new purpose which is including various set
and notion of ideology with films.
How has the notion of ideology been used in critical discussions of films?
Films are always presenting certain type of behaviour to the audience who are then
adopting that behaviour either positive or negative depending upon the characters of that films
and the way they are portraying it (Vaughan, 2014). So it is always argued by audience who are
critically watching that particular film in order that they need to show or depict the reality
whether it is cruel or good. But this is the responsibility of that film-maker that he or she is
showing not what the viewers would be wanting from them but they should be showing the
actual reality of particular class of society. As there are chances that person who is watching that
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film would b adopting the characters that are been played on screen by their favourite film
actors. If the message which that particular film or the sequence of it is showing could be
including wrong awareness by various means of misinformation that is given by film-makers. In
one of the film which was made by Douglas Sirk in year 1955 namely All That Heaven Allow
this was formed into the melodrama showing the society through the eyes of women and their
domestic condition as well. This film was showing the plot or characters which are depicting
their emotional and societal influence on their life (Mosse, 2018). As it was a melodrama and
this is in particular showcasing genre which is enforcing the stereotypes of gender, class and race
of groups that are into society.
As per this film it was showing the internal and external influence of thoughts and the
views which society is having onto the love life of widow named Carey Scott. As she fell into
love with her gardener Ron Kirby who was usually regarded to as lower class according to the
work which he was doing (The Notion Of Film And Ideology Film Studies Essay, 2018). All what
film and its scenes has depicted that of community referring to usage of colour, reflection and
characters as per the theme of gender stereotype. But her friends and both the children rejected
their proposal of love and that of marriage stating his class into their society would not be
matching with that of hers. Society was also not accepting their relationship so under this sever
pressure Cary calls off her relationship with him.
All the scene and several shots of film was clearly depicting Cary and her state of mind
after meeting Ron and then after their breakup. Like all the windows and photo frames in her
house which was of triangular shaped reflected her been prisoner into any cell of the jail which
was her own house. All the furniture that was depicting her and her earlier relationship with her
husband who was a well settled businessman of the town. The flowers in house which was white
represented her mental state of mind and also her beauty. All this and her relationship with Ron
was clearly stating what is her expression or psychology that even he been lower in class she
loved him and was ready to leave him only due to thoughts and views of society about their
relationship (Dee, 2018). As after the 2nd World War majority of the films was showing place of
women into society and into their home. As it was into the view of bourgeoisie which talked
about that a woman must always be setting and waiting for their right men to come and then
build up their dream home even if they are self made into the society. The idea of having gender
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roles as the main essence of films all the time when they are been shown into there could be seen
into this film as well.
How has it changed over the years?
Cinema is always looked up to as the vehicle of ideology as they are carrying and
portraying what is happing into society and how people of various classes or gender are reacting.
Its history backed in the era of silent films which lacked sound and were black and white
duration was short which ended in year 1929. Before this in 1913 Hollywood was born with the
efforts of American Film-makers Cecil B. De Mille and Oscar C. Apfel (Fairfax, 2017). This
silent era was ruled out be the greatest comedian of all times Charlie Chaplin who used to make
his audience both laugh and cry with his acting. After the violence and destruction which was
caused during the time of World War 2nd film-makers began to showcase this violence on screen
dealing with corruption, crime and cruelty. This was mainly portrayed into Noir film which was
including crime friction emerging within US during Great Depression. After this period it also
included threatening of cinema by introduction of television into market this marked close down
and bankruptcy of many cinemas during that particular time. So many film-maker and studios
started searching for innovative ideas including to widen up their appeal with the new and better
screen format.
So in 1956 they began to make the new big screen Film which considered successful
example of Bible and other historical events Julius Caesar was one of the best example for this.
Till 1960 the films were based on the family audiences and known to be more of that old
fashioned films producing the biggest successful films. Then this evolved with the ideology of
individual producers and actors in order to decline the traditional Hollywood studio production.
Then they started taking up the projects which was leading by the group of realistic and
innovative drams like that of A Kind of Loving and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Film
and Ideology, 2018). During this time the sexual appearance films and having causal violence
was commonly seen so many films like that of Repulsion and Georgy Girl was made which
helped in reducing prohibition on sex and nudity on screen. Then after this film-makers started
using the innovative ideas which was reflecting social revolution taken into the western world
which included films like that of Easy Rider and The Wild Bunch.
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During the time of 1970 films that were made was including content and ideology based
on sexual content showcasing battle scenes and flights which were all graphically made images
of bloody bodies. Then this involve the changes into the storylines with having twisted ending of
many films and portraying lead actors like that of morally ambiguous way. This time was
majorly showcasing the sexual and pornographies like that of Deep Throat these were also called
to as adult cinema. Then after the introduction of Bruce Lee the martial arts films began to gain
much popularity which was based on the ideology of artistic style of traditional Chinese martial
arts (Fairfax, 2017). Then in 1980 period the animation type of films started to showcase which
was primarily originated in Japanese cinema. This then lead the increased the special effects
films like that of Terminator 2 and Titanic was two most successful films of all time. In the most
recent times documentary films are gaining higher popularity which is based on extraordinary
concept of educating people about certain traditions and rituals that are all across the world.
CONCLUSION
All these things which are noted hereby that film industry is that which is been evolving
throughout the time when it was started. There are many films that are portraying their own
storyline including that of showcasing women as just the domestic slave to the high rated
successful model.
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REFERENCE
Books and Journals:
Dee, L., 2018. Artistic License: The Catechisms of Art/Culture. In Against Art and Culture (pp.
87-130). Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.
Fairfax, D., 2017. Questions of montage and filmic space in L’Amour fou and Out 1 by Jacques
Rivette. Studies in French Cinema. 17(2). pp.182-197.
Mosse, R., 2018. Thinking Theatres beyond Sight: From Reflection to
Resonance. Anglia. 136(1). pp.138-153.
Vaughan, H., 2014. Critical theory and film: rethinking ideology through film noir.
Vighi, F., 2012. Critical theory and film: rethinking ideology through film noir. Bloomsbury
Publishing USA.
Online:
Film and Ideology. 2018. [Online] Retrieved from:
<https://public.wsu.edu/~hughesc/film_and_ideology.htm>.
The Notion Of Film And Ideology Film Studies Essay. 2018. [Online] Retrieved from
<http://www.ukessays.com/essays/film-studies/the-notion-of-film-and-ideology-film-studies-
essay.php?vref=1>.
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