2. Auteur Theory
The auteur theory states that the director of a film is the “author” of a film. The theory
suggests that a film is a reflection of the director’s artistic vision. Movies that are directed by
the same filmmaker will usually have recurring themes and techniques that can be spotted
across all of their work. This can allow the audience to see who the film director is and
shows consistency within their work.
Steven Spielberg always uses
similar shots when it comes to
characters reactions – a close
up of the faces without seeing
what they’re looking at.
3. Reception Theory
The reception theory was developed by Stuart Hall. It suggests that media texts are
encoded and decoded. The producer encodes messages into their media to then be
decoded by the audience. When decoding the messages different people will decode them
in different ways, some in the way the producer intended, others in a completely different
way.
4. The Hypodermic Needle Model
The hypodermic needle theory suggests that
messages from media go directly into the
brains of a passive audience. It suggests that
we all respond to media in the same way
without thinking about any actual facts and if
it is true or false.
5. The Male Gaze
The male gaze is where women are overlly
sexualised and objectified for the male
audience. Women will be dressed and
positioned in certain ways for this reason.
6. Auteur Theory – Source 1
The french filmmaker, Alexandre Astruc wrote an essay in
1948 called "Birth of a New AvantGarde: The camera-pen"
which paved the way for auteurism. He claimed that "the
director was no longer merely the servant of a pre-existing
text, but a creative artist in his/her own right". Auteurism
came to dominate the film industry in the late 1950s/early
1960s. After this others then followed such as Truffaut who
said that a film should represent the personality and style of
the director.
Robert Stam (2017). Film Theory:
an Introduction. 2nd ed. n/a: Wiley.
n/a.
7. Auteur Theory – Source 2
I have discovered that auteurism can be
achieved not only by repeating techniques
and style, but also by using the same actors
multiple times as described in screenshot 1.
I have also found out that directors will often
use the same subject that they're passionate
about or have had personal experiences
with.
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 1
Ruth Doughty, Christine
Etherington-Wright
(2011). Understanding Film Theory.
n/a: Macmillan Education UK. 4-5.
8. Auteur Theory – Source 3
I discovered from the text that in Sarris' essay
he states that an auteur needs to be
technically competent as well as adding a
personal look and feel to the film. Later on,
he released a book which was a guide on the
work of two hundred film directors. This
became the bible of auteur studies.
Aneek Chauduri. (2013). Auteur Theory and its implications. International Journal
of Advancements in Research & Technology. 2 (11), 5.
9. Auteur Theory – Source 4
I have learnt that with the auteur theory the main
idea is that a film will become identified by the
director alone, instead of it being seen as co-operative
piece with a certain director's values. It is common for
people to use the directors name when referring to a
new film release for example: 'the newest Spielberg
movie', 'the latest Tarantino release'. Using their
name alone will make people interested in viewing
the film, some may even go and watch it purely
because of the director and their credibility.
Anon. (N/A). Auteur Theory. Available: https://brianair.wordpress.com/film-
theory/auteur-theory/. Last accessed 15 Sept 2021.
10. Product/Person/Studio Research
Sir David Attenborough
Quick Facts:
Sir David Attenborough was born on the 8th of May 1926 in Isleworth, Middlesex. He is a 95 years
old. He was raised on the campus of the University College, Leicester where his dad was principal.
David is one of 3 children, he has two brother one older, Richard Attenborough who died in 2014,
and one younger, John Attenborough and during the Second World War his parents took in two
Jewish refugee girls from Germany. David had an early love of nature and enjoyed collecting fossils,
stones and bird eggs as a child. When leaving grammar school, he was awarded a scholarship
to study natural sciences at Cambridge University. He has the most honorary degrees from
universities all over the UK with 32 in total. In 1947 he did two years of national service in the Navy.
David does not have a driver's license as he never took a driving test and learnt to drive.
David is a British media personality best known for his nature documentaries. Over the course of his
career, David has taken part in the making of over 100 documentaries, taking part with all different
roles such as producing, writing, narrating, and presenting. Although he is best known for is animal
and planet documentaries, David doesn't consider himself to be an animal lover. He says his work
comes from interest and fascination in the animals instead. As a result of his work with animals and
nature, David has at least 20 species named after him alive and extinct. Most of his documentaries
require him to travel around the world, because of this he is the most travelled man in history. David
is the only winner of a BAFTA Award in black and white, colour, and 3D broadcasting.
16. Micro Analysis
Seven Worlds, One Planet – Episode 7 based in Africa
The first screenshot shows the last to living northern white rhinos and the protection they are under. The camera shot itself consists of a 'birds eye
view', and slow forward movement. This 'birds eye view' shot of the animals is commonly used in Attenborough's work with the purpose of showing
either the vast number of animals he is discussing, or the small number of animals he is discussing, in this case it is the second one, and it has
been done for a more dramatic and saddening effect empahsising that there are only two of these wonderful creatures naturally left on the whole of
earth.
The second screenshot is showing a graveyard of some of the white rhinos that were killed in that area by potchers. The camera shot itself
consists of a medium shot type at an eye level angle with a deep focus. For the shot's composition, David Attenborough is placed higher in frame,
as he is stood up, and closer to the camera with the gravestone he is looking at close by just slightly in the background with the text still visible.
The third screenshot shows the two rhinos in more detail. The camera shot consists of a medium shot placed at a low angle with shallow focus.
The use of a shallow focus in this clip is to make the two rhinos the main subject to the audience, the background is slightly blurred out so there is
nothing that could distract them from the main subject allowing them to truly focus on what they are seeing. These types of clips are also very
common in Attenboroughs work, no matter what the focus is, animals or plants, this shot will be there to give the audience an indimate and detailed
look at the subject.
17. Micro Analysis
Here are some more examples of where these types
on shots are used through his work. Some of these are
from 20 years ago, showing this is something he has
done for a long time and is a part of his signature style.
18. In all of David's work he will travel from country to country to film and be near the subjects he is disccusing out in the wild. Due to
this, the lighting that is shown in each clip is mostly all natural apart from the clips at night where he will often use night vision
equiptment to view the subjects. With the sound in each clip, the footage itself will be quiet, apart from the natural sounds made by
the subjects and just nature in general, alongside a voiceover done by David himself and his voice has become recognisable
worldwide overtime. He uses subtle music in the background of the simpler clips where he would often be talking the most, and in
more action-packed clips of the animals hunting or a herd of animal running, more excting music will be played with less voiceover.
Micro Analysis
These two shots appear one after the other (top first, bottom second). They are
both very similar as they are taken during a chase between the cheetah and the
animal herd. They are both fast paced shots that have been edited together with a
simple jump cut. During scenes that feature activity like this, or multiple animals in
the same area, David will use this same style of editing to clearly show it. When
these clips are played, animals have started running, the cheatah chasing and the
herd running away, flicking between the two animals in such a sudden way shows
both of the different animal's actions during the same event and keeps up the
exciting and dramatic energy given off by each clip. All of this is accompanied
by music that is fast paced to add to the more dramatic scene.
19. Bibliography
• Andy Simmons. (2016). Explainer: what does the ‘male gaze’ mean, and what about a female gaze?. Available: https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-
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• Aneek Chauduri. (2013). Auteur Theory and its implications. International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology. 2 (11), 5.
• Anon. (N/A). Auteur Theory. Available: https://brianair.wordpress.com/film-theory/auteur-theory/. Last accessed 15 Sept 2021.
• Anon. (n/a). Reception Theory. Available: https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/media-studies-level-revision/reception-theory. Last accessed 9th
Sept 2021.
• April Hautea. (2017). 10 things named after Sir David Attenborough. Available: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/10-things-named-sir-david-
083000622.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9yLnNlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20vX3lsdD1Bd3JJUVpJYW9ucGhRRklBandGM0J3eC47X3lsdT1ZMjlzYndNR
WNHOXpBelFFZG . Last accessed 29th Sept 2021.
• Brett Lamb. (n/a). The Hypodermic Needle Theory. Available: https://lessonbucket.com/media-in-minutes/the-hypodermic-needle-theory/. Last accessed 9th Sept
2021.
• Indie Film Hustle. (2021). What is Auteur Theory? – Definition and Examples. Available: https://indiefilmhustle.com/auteur-theroy/ . Last accessed 9th Sept 2021.
• Marc Chacksfield. (2019). 21 little-known facts about the legendary Sir David Attenborough. Available: https://www.shortlist.com/news/david-attenborough-facts.
Last accessed 22nd sept 2021.
• N/A. (N/A). Biography Sir David Attenborough. Available: https://www.biographyonline.net/scientists/david-attenborough.html. Last accessed 29th Sept 2021.
• N/A. (N/A). David Attenborough. Available: https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/david-attenborough. Last accessed 22nd sept 2021.
• N/A. (N/A). SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS. Available: https://www.wwf.org.uk/council-of-ambassadors/sir-david-attenborough. Last accessed
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• Robert Stam (2017). Film Theory: an Introduction. 2nd ed. n/a: Wiley. n/a.
• Ruth Doughty, Christine Etherington-Wright (2011). Understanding Film Theory. n/a: Macmillan Education UK. 4-5.
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