Research: Film Analysis: Reception Theory

The Reception theory is a theory that undermines the views an audience can get from watching a film. There are 3 readings included in this theory. In this post i will talk about the 3 readings and then relate it to our own film.

Dominant ( or Hegemonic) reading- is where the reader shares what the film is trying to say about the characters. For example In our film "Lola", the dominant reading is that Lola is that she is the good person in film and is set a job to complete which involes her fighting against others. In our trailer, i think it is hard to get a dominant theory because we see her chasing someone down, she could be either seen as the goody or the baddy.

Negotiated reading- is where the reader can agree with what the film is trying to say about the characters but then can change the reading of the characters to what they think they are. In our film, Lola can be clearly seen with either the good person or the bad person. In the trailer, i think this reading would be clearest to the audience. It doesnt give out a dominant reading but can be seen with two readings about Lola or more.

Oppositional (or Counter-hegemonic) reading- is the total opposite to dominant, where the reader disagrees with the prefered reading and creates his own reading of the charcter. I our film it could be said the Lola is neither good or bad, and the reader just finds her funny in the film where they should be finding it intense with alot of action. In our trailer a oppositional reading would that Lola is being a comedic when she ic chasing down her victim.