Spectatorship theory
Films are generally constructed to provide the spectator with a particular viewing position, most often aligning the spectator with a specific character or point of view. Spectatorship theory therefore looks at how films address individual spectators through, for example, particular shots, editing, music and performance as well as narrative and genre to engage their interest and emotion. Spectators can be 'passive' or 'active' in their responses to film. Passive Theories: the audiences for films respond in a fixed way that has been created by the techniques of the filmmakers. The Frankfurt school (1920-30's Germany) said cinema created the illusion of proximity - the combination of sound and a very large moving image, experienced in a darkened room, with attention focused on the screen made the audience feel they were in the scene and accept all the storyline as told. Christopher Metz (1975) said the reason people enjoyed fi...