Criticism...
- offers an independent decision on what makes a film good or bad; critics bring their own opinions and ideology to the film.
- is often directed at a certain audience, emphasising aspects of the film they think the audience will like.
Audience vs critics
- audiences have a negotiated response and do not just blindly accept what critics say about a film (well, duh!). If you're anything like me, even if you read a review that rubbishes a film you're about to see, you'll see it anyway and make your own mind up from there!!
- critics can also too often buy into the hype surrounding a film - like the latest Bond adventure Die Another Day. Hype = good. Actual film = bad. Result = mixed response from critics, Bond fans and regular cinema-goers alike.
Despite all this, bear in mind if you get a question on critics or fans in the exam that the publicity surrounding a film is intrinsically linked to the criticism it recieves.
Films do not just project ideas onto a passive audience that forgets them as soon as they leave the cinema. Whether people are audiences or spectators (as discussed on the previous page), audiences are active consumers of a film who participate in the meaning making process.
What is a fan?
A fan, by definition, produces an active response to the film which may be stronger than that produced by the average audience member.
A fan also identifies with the film's themes and "personality".
What do fans do?
Fans promote the film by organising appreciative behaviour (for example, conventions and collector's fairs) and, in the cases of Star Trek and Star Wars, create sub-cultures around the film.
Fan groups also often claim "ownership" of a film by
i) promote their viewpoint as the dominant reading / interpretation of the film
ii) identify the film as one which speaks primarily to them as fans
A great example of this is Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977). Why Star Wars, though? If you haven't seen these movies, where have you been for the last 30 years?! It's basically the age old tale of good vs evil and contains elements of many film genres such as the western, sci-fi, comedy, drama and action/adventure, all set in space! These films have become a dominant force (sic) in Western culture, perhaps shown through the great number of people who wanted "Jedi" to become an official religion through listing it on the census!! Such an impact has 2 significant results:
1. it has a broad impact on popuar culture
2. it also permeates to have a narrow impact on creating a fan subculture.
Incidentally, SW with it's far reaching ideologies and values has been "claimed" by social groups ranging from Rastafarians to born-again Christians.
Now, i know a few people who are SW and Trek fans and i myself am a bit of a fan of the Bond movies, but all the same I don't want to seem to be pigeon-holing anyone here...
Star Wars fans in particular tend to appreciate the world of the film rather than the film itself, placing emphasis on the film not as a piece of entertainment but primarily as a cultural artefact. Dressing up as their favourite characters and attending conventions are important for fans alike, demonstrating that the films are an important part of their lives.