When analyzing films, its quite common to find hints of various media theories if you keep an eye out. In my opinion, they are what gives the movie depth and can give it a more profound effect on an audience.
There are many theories that cover different aspects of the media sphere. Of the ones I've studied however, I would like to utilize/reference the active audience theory by Stuart Hall in my film opening, as I feel it is the most relevant for a coming of age film.
In simple terms, Stuart Hall, the developer of the active audience theory, argues that media consumers (in this case the person viewing a film) interprets its meaning through a "lens" that they create for themselves based on their personal experiences. In fact, because each person may interpret a film differently, the creator's intentions may not always be interpreted correctly as audiences film alternate meanings.
If you would like to learn more about its details, here's a nice website I found that explains active audience theory: Active Audience Theory
Obviously, all genres in the film world incorporate this theory to some extent because all films have a purpose and a message to them. In the coming of age genre, an example of active audience theory would be the different takeaways viewers can have from the movie "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. To some, the film may seem to be about a girl who's exploring her religion, while to others it be seen as the story of a girl who is navigating puberty or even a girl who is dealing with peer pressure and conformity.
In reality, we will never know if the intended message for this film was one , none of them, or a combination of these interpretations.
How I Will Include The Theory In My Opening?
My film opening, as I mentioned in my previous post, is about a teenage girl who dreams of traveling the world but feels held back by the expectations of others. While this is the opening's context overall, I will use the ideas of active audience theory to develop a story that encourages variations of interpretation over just passive consumption. To do this, I will make sure to utilize production elements such as lighting, editing, composition, and mise-en-scene to give subtle hints for different understandings. Essentially, I would like to encourage viewers to have their own opinions and viewpoint, even if they are slightly different than mine as everyone has gone through people pleasing moments, and the scenes I produce might spark different emotions.
That's all for today folks! I hope you found this theory as interesting as I did!
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