Film theory gives you the tools to analyze how movies create meaning. Whether you’re exploring narrative structure, semiotics, or the politics of representation, this section breaks down the frameworks that help us interpret cinema, shot by shot, sound by sound, symbol by symbol.
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What is Film Theory? Definition and Key Theories Explained
FILM THEORY DEFINITION & MEANING Film theory is the academic study of cinema through structured frameworks that analyze how films …
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What is the Diegesis in Film? Definition and Meaning
DIEGESIS DEFINITION AND MEANING Diegesis is the internal world of a narrative – everything that exists and occurs within the …
What is Immersion? Definition and Leading Theories
Immersion Definition & Meaning Immersion refers to the extent to which a user feels engrossed in a virtual world, detached …
What is Escapism? How Films Make Us Forget Ourselves
Escapism definition & meaning Escapism is a psychological concept that refers to the inclination to distract oneself from the realities …
What is Remediation? Definition, Meaning and Examples in Film
Remediation Definition & Meaning Remediation is the process of adapting content from one medium to another. Examples include adapting a …
What is Authenticity in Film? Meaning and Discussion of Walter Benjamin’s Thoughts.
Authenticity Definition & Meaning Authenticity is a multifaceted concept explored in philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies. It generally refers to …
What is The Uncanny Valley? Meaning & Examples from Film
The Uncanny Valley Definition and Meaning The Uncanny Valley is a term coined by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970 …
What is Anachronism? Meaning & Examples from Film
Anachronism Definition & Meaning An anachronism is something that doesn’t fit into the time it’s associated with, like seeing a …
What is Auteur Theory? Meaning and Examples
Auteur Theory Definition & Meaning Auteur theory is a critical framework used in film studies that attributes the director of …
From Homage to Plagiarism: Artistic Interpretations in Film
Filmmakers often try to honor filmmakers before them in many ways. From the subtle inclusion of an Easter egg as …
The Unreliable Narrator in Film. Meaning and Examples.
Unreliable narrator Definition & Meaning An unreliable narrator is a storyteller who isn’t truthful or accurate in a book, movie, …
Breaking the Fourth Wall in Cinema. Meaning and Examples.
Breaking the fourth wall Definition and meaning Breaking the fourth wall is a concept often used in film, television, theater, …
L’acousmêtre: Meaning, Definition & Examples from Film
Definition: The term “acousmêtre” was popularized by French film theorist Michel Chion and refers to a specific type of sound …
What is Satire? Meaning and Examples from Film
Satire Definition & Meaning Satire is all about using humor, irony, and over-the-top exaggeration to call out people’s stupidity or …
Repetition in Film. Definition, Meaning & Examples
Repetition is a literary device involving repeated use of words, phrases, or structures to emphasize a point, create rhythm, and …
Paradox in Film. Meaning, Definition & Examples
A paradox is a statement or concept that contains conflicting ideas yet often reveals a truth that challenges conventional wisdom …
Onomatopoeia in Film and TV. Meaning, Definition & Examples
Onomatopoeia is a literary device where a word phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound it represents. Fx words like …
Metaphor in Movies. Definition, Meaning, and Examples.
What is a metaphor? Definition & Meaning A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares dissimilar things, suggesting a …
Juxtaposition in Film. Meaning, Examples & How to Create It
What is Juxtaposition in film? Definition & Meaning Juxtaposition is a literary device used in various art forms, such as …
Foreshadowing in Film. Definition & Examples.
Foreshadowing Definition & Meaning Foreshadowing is a literary device used to give hints or clues about what will happen later …
Flashback in Film. Definition, Examples & How To Create It.
Definition: A flashback in film is a literary technique where the story transitions to a past event, providing context or …
Deus ex Machina in Film & Literature. Definition & Examples.
Definition: Deus ex Machina is a literary device where an unexpected power or event saves a seemingly hopeless situation, often …
What is a Theme in Film? Movie Themes Explained with Examples
Theme Definition & Meaning A movie theme is the central idea or concept explored throughout a film. It is the …
How to Create Subtext in Film (Including Examples)
Creating subtext in film involves conveying underlying themes, emotions, or messages that are not explicitly stated or shown on the …
Subtext in Film. Meaning, Definition & Examples.
Subtext Definition & Meaning The subtext is an underlying or implicit meaning that may not be explicitly stated or shown …
Setting in Film. Meaning, Definition, Examples & Importance.
The setting in film is the time and place where a story takes place. It includes the physical environment, location, …
Point of View in Film. Meaning, Definition & Examples.
Point of View (PoV) Definition and meaning Point of View (PoV) is the perspective from which a story is presented …
Persona in Movies. Meaning, Definition & Examples.
Persona Definition & Meaning Persona is an actor’s character on screen, encompassing their behavior, emotions, and overall presence. It is …
What is Mood in Film? Definition & Examples.
Mood in Film Definition & Meaning Mood in film is the emotional atmosphere created by visuals, sound, and storytelling. It …
What is Hamartia? Definition & Examples From Literature & Film
Hamartia Definition & Meaning Hamartia is a Greek term used in tragedy to describe a character flaw or error in …
What is Catharsis in Film? (Definition & Examples)
Catharsis is the emotional release or purging experienced by the audience through intense or dramatic scenes. It allows us to …
What are What Rhetorical Appeals? Ethos, Pathos, & Logos in Film & Advertising
Rhetorical Appeals Definition & Meaning Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are modes of persuasion (rhetorical appeals) used to convince audiences. Ethos refers to …
What is Mise-en-Scéne? Definition & Examples.
Mise-en-scéne definition and meaning Mise-en-scéne in a film is everything you see on the screen, such as the setting, decor, …
What is the Kuleshov Effect? Definition & Examples
The Kuleshov Effect is a film editing phenomenon that demonstrates how viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two …
The 5 Key Ingredients To A Good Movie
The key ingredients that make a movie “good” are when the acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and overall production value come …
What are Diegetic & Non-Diegetic Sound in Film? Definition & Examples
DIEGETIC & NON-DIEGETIC SOUND DEFINITION AND MEANING Diegetic sound/music originates from sources visible or implied within the film’s story world …
What is the 180-Degree Rule In Film? Definition & Examples
The 180-degree rule illustrated.Notice that the semicircle is divided into 30-degree sections. This is because of the 30-degree rule, which …