2. AuteurTheory
TheAuteurTheory is the theory that states that director is the
author of a film and that these films are a reflection of their
creative vision.This means that films directed by a specific
filmmaker will have recurring themes throughout which
makes them recognisable to the audience. Some examples of
directors that back up this theory are,Tarantino,Tim Burton,
Scorsese.
Examples of recurring themes that may be recognised are;
recurring themes, cinematography choices, lighting and
colour choices.
Anon. (2021). What is AuteurTheory.Available:
https://indiefilmhustle.com/auteur-theroy/. Last accessed 10th Sept
2021.
3. ReceptionTheory
The ReceptionTheory, developed by Stuart Hall, is the idea that even if a
piece of content has none or little meaning, the audience will still dissect
it and create a meaning.The meaning can be perceived differently
depending on the person.
In this theory, the audience is placed into 3 categories according to how
they perceive the work; dominant reader, negotiated reader and
oppositional reader. For dominant reader, this audience takes the work of
the director at face value with no other comments. For negotiated reader,
this audience will acknowledge that the actions in the film are wrong but
still accept it as there is meaning behind it from the author, even if it goes
against the audience’s own opinions. For oppositional reader, this
audience does not accept the authors take on the film concept if the
themes throughout are against their morals.
However, a single audience member can have a mixed reaction and fit in a
variation of these categories, and the audiences’ perception of the film
can also change depending on time or their circumstances.
Anon. (n.d). ReceptionTheory. Available:
https://www.communicationtheory.org/reception-theory/. Last accessed 10th Sept
2021.
4. The Hypodermic Needle Model
The Hypodermic Needle Model is the theory that media and the
messages they send out has a heavy influence on the audience.The name
comes from the idea that the media injects the message into the
audiences mind in order to change their behaviour in reaction to the
message conveyed. An example of this was the ‘War of theWorlds’ radio
broadcast that sent the whole country into chaos.
Anon. (n.d). Magic Bullet or Hypodermic NeedleTheory of Communication. Available:
https://www.communicationtheory.org/magic-bullet-or-hypodermic-needle-theory-
of-communication/. Last accessed 10th Sept 2021.
5. The Male Gaze
The male gaze is about how women are presented in media
and popular culture.They are presented through a lens that
sexualises women and centres on white, male, heterosexual
viewpoints. Examples of the male gaze in film is slow camera
pans of women's bodies or using the female body as a prop.
Anon. (2021). Understanding the Male Gaze. Available:
https://www.modernintimacy.com/podcasts/understanding-the-male-
gaze-hot-or-hurtful-episode-2/. Last accessed 10th Sept 2021.
