To activate theories of media in my short film, I am going to study and see how other films have incorporated theories into their movies. Specifically, I am trying to see how films have directly used David Hesmondhalgh's theory on culture.
Since my film is specifically about the sexuality and mental health of teenagers, I want to express the culture of an American teenager along with the presence of their sexuality. Hesmondhalgh's theory specifically goes over the fact that major cultural organizations create products for different industries in order to maximize chances of commercial success. So, while I want success, I want my film to accurately represent the culture that this audience has.
Here are the movies that have cultural representation in them:
Coco:
This movie directly represents Mexican culture by centering on the traditions of Dia de los Muertos or the "Day of the Dead." The film shows cultural elements, like altars, spirit guides, and the significance of marigolds. This movie was targeted for a younger audience, but it can be enjoyed by all because of the significance that it can hold for people. Obviously, Disney Pixar wants to have all the views that they can get, so when a film with this much cultural representation and entertainment is put out there, it can be enjoyed by all audiences.
Black Panther:
This movie specifically represents an Afrofuturist vision of Africa while blending multiple African traditions with advanced technology. While Africa does not have the large amounts of high technology as the movies, the idea of Africans having it can celebrate Black identities and create a counter-stereotype for audiences who believe that Africa is "without water and technological advancements." The movie has a predominately Black cast along with costume design that shows the culture of multiple African tribes. Overall, the movie allows audiences to either feel represented, feel educated in a way, or both.
Call Me By Your Name:
This movie follows a Northern Italian life where an American tries to learn their ways as a teacher. However, this movie is not entirely about culture in relation to their ethnicity. The movie follows a teenager who tries to understand his sexuality. The movie represents the highs and lows of being queer, especially in a community that is full of people who may not understand or accept homosexuality. It also represents the religion of different people back in the 1980s. This movie can come off as significant to the queer community, and especially towards the queer community that has beliefs regarding religions.
I believe that David Hesmondhalgh's theory on culture and media is one of the most important theories about media out there. This is because culture is one thing that can be extremely diverse, especially when it comes to the entire United States. So, using this quick study session on David's theory will help me to represent the culture of my target audiences because I can see now that it's extremely important.
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