This document summarizes and analyzes several Filipino films in terms of communication theories shown in each film. It discusses the films Kabisera, Woman of the Ruins, Blue Bustamante, and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? and analyzes how each film portrays theories like the Elaboration Likelihood Model, Cognitive Dissonance, Expectancy Violation Theory, Interpersonal Deception Theory, and Social Penetration Theory through key scenes from the films. The document aims to demonstrate understanding of communication concepts by applying them to analyze how they are represented in different movie plots and characters.
1. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
College of Communication
Department of Communication Research
FINAL PAPER REQUIREMENT
COMMUNICATION THEORIES AND MODELS
Submitted by:
Rochelle L. Ibita
BACR 2-1
Submitted to:
Mrs. Kriztine R. Viray
Professor, Communication Theories and Models
2. KABISERA
Kabisera a film by Alfonso Torre III, is a movie about a father who will do anything for his family. Kabisera in the movie is the one side of the table where the head of the family which is usually the father usually sits. The story starts when the protagonist named Andres (Joel Torre) finds a styro box on the sea that has a meth inside. The story starts there until conflicts starts to take over.
The movie shows many theories. Three of which are the Elaboration Likelihood Model of Petty and Cacioppo, Cognitive Dissonance of Leon Festinger and Expectancy Violation Theory of Burgoon. These theories are shown in the movie with these three particular scenes: Scene #1: AJ the second child of Andres and his wife uses his peripheral route when his father said that he will not going to study in Manila for college. This scene shows the theory of Elaboration Likelihood Model because of his father said so and his father is an authority and also he doesn’t have any choice, this cue automatically leads AJ to his peripheral route and he automatically obeys his father. Scene #2: A scene where Andres and his wife are having a hard time deciding if they are going to sell the meth or not. They are having doubts of choosing which of which. In the end, they chose to sell it. They have their doubts because they know selling drugs are illegal, but they upplayed what they chose that it will turn out good as long as they are careful. This scene shows the theory of Cognitive Dissonance because as I’ve said Andres and his wife are having doubts of selling the meth. Andres and his wife are having conflicting beliefs with the decision they made. This dissonance creates tension and they reduce by focusing their minds only on the positive side which is earning money in selling the meth. Scene #3: An overall theory shown in the movie is the Expectancy Violation Theory. As I’ve seen in the movie many expectations were violated specially the expectations of Andres. He expected that their life would be much easier and wealthier because of what he did. But none of which happen. Yes, they had money, they earn money every now and then but their lives became miserable. Their family crashed. As he expects his son to be sensible, but he finds out that his son uses drugs so got angry. His wife needed to get away for her own safety. And also because of what happened their friendship of her very closest friend Jose have been torned, until Andres killed Jose. And because of money Andres turns out to be demon, because he ordered Pablo to kill the husband to be of his daughter Ana. At the end of the movie as he expected everything to gone right, this expectation were violated. Only Andres is happy but the rest of the family were sad, depressed and downhearted.
3. WOMAN OF THE RUINS
Woman of the Ruins a film by Keith Sicat, is a film about a woman (Alessandra de Rossi) washes ashore in an island ruined by wars and storms, Pasyon (Art Acuna), one of the island’s resilient survivors, immediately claims her as his long-lost wife Maria. The woman, bereft of any memories from the past, hesitantly assumes the role. Her hesitation irks Pasyon, urging him to hold her captive, for him to easily claim from her marital obligations owed to him. Most of the island’s residents just ignore the atrocities, seemingly content with the religious implications of Maria’s dubious return. This movie also shows many theories. Three of which are Expectancy Violation Theory of Burgoon, Interpersonal Deception Theory of Buller and Burgoon and Social Penetration Theory of Altman and Taylor. Expectancy Violation Theory is seen in the movie. Expectancy Violation Theory sees communication as the exchange of information which is high in relational content and can be used to violate the expectations of another which will be perceived as either positively or negatively depending on the liking between the two people. As seen in the movie, this theory is shown in the particular scene when Pasyon talks to Sabel and as he expects Sabel to talk to him in a nice way like before but it turned out that Sabel talked to him sarcastically. Pasyon’s expectation was violated here. Interpersonal Deception Theory is also shown in the movie. Interpersonal Deception Theory or also known as the “Art of Lying” is shown in the movie in the particular scene when someone asked Pasyon where is Maria and how is she. Pasyon said Maria is doing good, well in fact, Maria is tied in their house and also as we observed his gestures in his eyes that he is not telling the truth. Interpersonal Deception Theory is seen in the scene because the sender Pasyon tend to manipulate the messages so as to be untruthful because of his gestures or inadvertent behavior which are mostly nonverbal and it helps to point out the deceit through a term called leakage. At the same time, that someone who asked Pasyon tries to unveil or detect whether or not Pasyon is being deceitful. Social Penetration Theory is also shown in the movie. This theory states that the more time we spend with others, the more likely we are to self-disclose more intimate thought and details of our life. This theory is seen in the movie in the particular scenario when Maria and Sabel are getting close through time. This theory also states that, as the relationship develops, the partners share more aspects of the self, providing breadth as well as depth, through an exchange of information, feelings and activities. As the friendship of Maria and Sabel develops, they share more aspects about themselves; they provide this breadth and the depth through sharing their feelings to each other and their activities together.
4. BLUE BUSTAMANTE
Blue Bustamante a film by Miko Libelo, is a film about George Bustamante who leaves his family in the Philippines and emigrates to Japan, where he finds work as a stunt double in the famous TV series, Force Five.
This movie also shows many theories. Three of which are the Social Penetration Theory of Altman and Taylor, Expectancy Violation Theory of Burgoon and the Interpersonal Deception Theory of Buller and Burgoon. Social Penetration Theory is seen the movie. This theory states that the more time we spend with others, the more likely we are to self-disclose more intimate thought and details of our life. This theory is seen in the movie in the particular scene when Roger the friend of George and also the one who offers him the work of being an stunt double in Force Five, tend to shares his secrets to George maybe because he thinks that it is okay to disclose something to his friend because they were friends for such a long time since they were in Japan. As time passes by, their relationship develops, communication moves from relatively shallow, non-intimate levels to deeper, more personal ones. Next theory is Expectancy Violation Theory. Expectancy Violation Theory sees communication as the exchange of information which is high in relational content and can be used to violate the expectations of another which will be perceived as either positively or negatively depending on the liking between the two people. This theory is seen in the movie in the particular scene when, the son of George had his birthday and he expects his father to arrive but it didn’t happened.
Third theory is the Interpersonal Deception Theory. This theory states that communication senders attempt to manipulate messages so as to be untruthful, which may cause them apprehension concerning their false communication being detected. Simultaneously, communication receivers try to unveil or detect the validity of that information, causing suspicion about whether or not the sender is being deceitful. This theory is seen in the movie with the particular scene when George talks to his son on the phone, George asked his son if he is ok , his son said yes but as we observed on his face and the way he says yes is seems like he says the opposite. The theory of Interpersonal Deception is shown in this scene because the sender, which is his son tend to manipulate the messages so as to be untruthful because of his gestures and emotions or inadvertent behavior which are mostly nonverbal and it helps to point out the deceit through a term called leakage. At the same time, George tries to unveil or detect whether or not his son is being deceitful.
5. GANITO KAMI NOON, PAANO KAYO NGAYON?
A movie which tries to unveil who is worthy to be called “Filipino”. “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” tries to explore the greatness of this Filipino question “Who/What is a Filipino?”. “Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” is a 1976 Filipino romantic musical drama film set in the era of Spanish colonization in the Philippines. It was directed by Eddie Romero and starred Christopher De Leon, Gloria Diaz and Eddie Garcia. Set at the turn of the 20th century during the Filipino revolution against the Spaniards and, later, the American colonizers, it follows a naive peasant through his leap of faith to become a member of an imagined community. This film tries to unveil who is worthy to be called a Filipino. Nicholas Ocampo also known as Kulas (portrayed by Christopher De Leon) was somehow confused about this. All the years of his life he believes that someone who was born and grows up in the Philippines is worthy to be called a Filipino, that’s it. But a Visayan lawyer named Tibor says that in order to be called a Filipino, one must be willing to serve and willing to accept responsibilities. This film represents the Filipino people by Kulas’ naivety. The innocence and simplicity brought up the Filipino’ traits that are the same as his. On the other hand, this film shows that Filipinos are not the only the ones who are born here and grow up here, true Filipinos are those kind hearted, gullible, responsible and valuable. The theory that was evidently portrayed in the movie is the Elaboration Likelihood Theory of Petty and Cacioppo. This theory states that there are two routes to persuasion -- the central route and the peripheral route. The central route uses message elaboration, and can produce a major positive attitude change, while the peripheral route uses six different message irrelevant cues to illicit a quick response with a minor shift in attitude. As we’ve seen in the movie, Kulas is always using his peripheral route which provides him a quick accept or reject decision without deep consideration. Because of his innocence he just do whatever they tell him to. He is also frequently carried by his emotions that block him from elaborating messages, scrutinizing his ideas that results to responding quickly of whatever they tell him. Every now and then, from past to present and until to the future, the one who was born and grows up in the Philippines is called a Filipino. But with a kind heart that is inside us and the love for the country and for our countrymen, being responsible and valuable persons as we are, each one of us that attributes these are worthy to be called a Filipino.
