1) Suggested audience pleasures:
One of the audience pleasures of watching an arthouse film is that it is different to your usual Hollywood film, there is a difference with the narrative of the film as a Hollywood film will always be predictable. The arthouse genre usually moves away from this and goes for something that is creative and different to the audience. One of the most common things that society/the public want to see in an Arthouse film is a change in the narrative. This is because Hollywood productions tend to resolve the narrative at the end of the film. All films created by them follow a similar structure of resolving the equilibrium. Those who watch these films (which can be the entire world) would expect to see some form of resolution towards the end of their film as they are so used to seeing them. However, Arthouse films challenges this 'common' way of structuring and telling the narrative. As a result, those who watch the Arthouse films are going to be more entertained as the outcome of the narrative will be completely different to what they usually see on screen.
Moreover, another form of pleasure that audience gets from Arthouse films is the use of difficult narrative. This is because people enjoy seeing something new and not the same thing being played again but with different actors. Audiences like to be challenged, to understand the storyline and the direction in which the story is going. This makes the audience understand what is exactly going on and makes them extremely engaged to the screen. Arthouse films go about a different way in telling the story. They could have subtitles (if it were a foreign film) which would help the audience to understand what is happening but will challenge them in the sense of what is about to happen etc. An example of this, is the film known as 'Lore'. This film is about World War 2, however it is told very differently than compared to ordinary historical related films.
2) Audiences struggle with arthouse film:
The Arthouse theme doesn't fit in with Todorovs equilibrium theory which is there is a equilibrium, the equilibrium is then distrusted causing something to happen but at the end there is a new equilibrium which has been created. This is a struggle as those watching the film won't know what's going on or may even struggle to figure out what the film is about. Arthouse films tend to be foreign, however a few of them do tend to be in English as well. These films do tend to be a mainstream film from their country of origin, however it is classed as Arthouse as it is built on the foundations for artistic purposes rather than commercial (which is what some Blockbuster films distributors do). Audiences struggle to adapt their mindset from what they usually watch which is often mainstream films) to an entirely different film in general. This difference makes it extremely difficult for audiences to watch Arthouse films as they are so used to watching mainstream big blockbuster type films.
3) Extent of audience. such as middle class and older audiences:
Arthouse films are only for the middle and upper class to a large extent. Arthouse films are seen to be those who are elderly but also those who are of a middle class status. This is because of the films being in other languages or the fact that it requires more intelligence and more thinking in order to understand what is going on in the film and what exactly it's about. Films such as 'Donnie Darko' which has a more psychological theme to it requires another point of view to understand the film rather than Hollywood films just giving away the whole narrative. One reason is because of the prices that the tickets offer. Arthouse cinema in general is different from the mainstream cinema chains. Arthouse is a chain of independent cinemas which put on films that are not targeted for a mainstream audience. It is this, the style and feel, of this unique and different cinema that makes the price so much more than compared to Vue or Odeon. The most common form of mainstream cinema chains (Vue and Odeon) put on films which carry a simple narrative in which is filled with famous faces to increase anticipation for the film. It is this 'common' style that does put some people off from watching a blockbuster again they believe they are seeing the same thing again but with different faces. Arthouse cinema is different. It has a new approach to films in general. It challenges the mainstream ideology of mainstream narrative and projects film that break that mainstream feel. The reason why the middle class and upper class are more likely to go and watch a film in an Arthouse cinema is because it breaks that mainstream feel that audiences are so used to. The lower and working class would not be able to afford to buy an Arthouse ticket due to its expense from mainstream cinema chains and would not care about the content they are watching. They just want to watch films for escapism rather than just the plot and narrative segments of it.
4) A Field In England's possible target audience:
I think that 'A Field In England' would appeal to a more elderly middle class audience as they respect more historical films. Also, the film being in black and white would discourage a younger audience as they want to see more modern films but also films that are in colour. Those who are of a younger age won't be appreciative of the cultural view that the film has to offer but rather find it to be more boring and dull than films that are more likely to interest them. First of all is the historical background and setting. If the film is being in a period far back in time in England, it would make sense that those who are knowledgeable and are well educated would understand the context of this film as well as understand its historical background. This reveals that the film tends to attract educated people. This brings us on to the next point, upper class and older aged people. Generally, the upper class are those who have more money (due to their status as well as job title). This generally means that the upper class have well paid jobs thus meaning that they are well educated. Then we have the older aged audience. Since this film is set a long time ago, it is the older age demographic that would be interested in this type of film due to their heritage or even their love for history. Stereotypically, people refer to older people as lovers of black and white films as well as older aged films. Although stereotypes tend not to be true, this one seems to be true as the majority of monochromatic films are enjoyed and best viewed by the older age demographic. A Field In England is set in a monochromatic style which can attract this demographic as well as the upper class to be more likely to watch this type of film.
No comments:
Post a Comment