Cinema as a Medium of Communication

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“Cinema is the ultimate pervert art. It doesn’t give you what to desire — it tells you what to desire,” according to Slavoj Zizek, a Slovenian Marxist philosopher. Just like in the article “The MP3 as a Cultural Artifact” by Jonathan Sterne, where an MP3 is said to be promiscuous, Cinema; according to Zizeki — said to be the same. This point will be further discussed later in the paper. This paper aims to show cinema as a medium of communication by explaining what cinema is, and relating it to different theories by notable authors and philosophers. The definition of cinema, how it is a medium of communication, relations to theories, and brief case studies will be explored. What is Cinema? Cinema can be taken to mean very different things at different times —a physical space (“I am going to the cinema.”), a medium of entertainment (“Casablanca is a cinema masterpiece!”), or even an entire industry with all the connections and entanglements that entails (“I am studying Bollywood cinema.”). (Gordon Gray, x) Although, in this paper cinema will not be referred to as one of these in particular, but in general, the different meanings will be selected to portray different aspects of cinema, both new and old. Cinema is a medium of communication because it sends a message. A film has a reason for being made. For example, Crash; a movie by Paul Haggis — aims to show the role of race and class in the average society. The movie sends a message by showing that it is essential to wipe out racism in our communities because it fosters unnecessary hatred for people who may be helpful to us sometime. Cinema communicates to us in ways other mediums can’t. It uses visual, and audio (sometimes) to stimulate our minds, and make us aware of things t... ... middle of paper ... ...ma." (86 Quotes). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. . Taras, David, Maria Bakardjieva, and Frits Pannekoek. How Canadians Communicate: Media, Globalization, and Identity. Calgary: University of Calgary, 2007. N. pag. Print. "The Medium Is the Message." Prezi.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. . Thornham, Sue, Caroline Bassett, and Paul Marris. Media Studies: A Reader / Edited by Sue Thornham, Caroline Bassett and Paul Marris. New York: New York UP, 2009. Print. "TV IS THE NEW CINEMA: Putting 2013 Behind Us." Thompson on Hollywood. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. . Youngblood, Gene. "Synaesthetic Cinema: The End of Drama." Expanded Cinema. New York: Dutton, 1970. N. pag. Print.

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