Active vs passive viewing

• Active viewing is:

  • engaging with a film by analyzing, interpreting and connecting the film's content to their own experiences.
  • asking questions, making predictions, and looking for meaning in films
• More bits on active viewing...

  • questioning why certain choices were made by the film makers
  • helps viewers to build connections between the film's themes and their own life experiences, enhancing personal relevance
  • more likely to notice subtle details in mise-en-scene that contribute to overall meaning
  • can allow for multiple interpretations
  • promotes empathy- viewers consider character motivation and emotional arcs through the narrative
• Passive viewing is:

  • passively accepting the film-maker's intended meaning without questioning