Auteurist Theory
Explain why the auteurist theory has become so important to film analysis. What are some arguments against auteurist theory? How does auteurist theory affect the way that films are marketed? How does it affect the way that films are analyzed by critics and audiences? Please use an actual film/director/marketing campaign to illustrate your points.
The auteur theory, when applied to directing a film, infers that the director is indeed the author of the film, imprinting it with his personal vision (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). In fact, “an auteurist approach may concentrate on either cinematic techniques or ideological thematic material, or both, but always within the context of the director’s other films” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 10.3). The auteur theory has become important to film analysis because it gives critics a specific guideline to judge a film. Allowing them to analyze the movie based on the director’s personal style. While the auteur theory of criticism gives the director creative credit for their films and at the same time can grant them stardom, it’s not a guarantee (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). Some directors that make superb films and are considered to be an auteur may never have their name mentioned for promotion of their film and sometimes one might find it hard to find promotions for their films at all ( Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). “It is clear that turning directors into stars has a clear monetary advantage for some, while others worthy of such attention toil in near–anonymity” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). In essence, ticket purchasers are more likely to buy a ticket to a movie that has a director that they are familiar with and have liked all previous films that they have directed. Obviously the auteur theory isn’t perfect. The biggest argument surrounding it is the fact that some feel that the importance of who the director is shouldn’t be placed above that of the screenwriter or the...
The auteur theory, when applied to directing a film, infers that the director is indeed the author of the film, imprinting it with his personal vision (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). In fact, “an auteurist approach may concentrate on either cinematic techniques or ideological thematic material, or both, but always within the context of the director’s other films” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 10.3). The auteur theory has become important to film analysis because it gives critics a specific guideline to judge a film. Allowing them to analyze the movie based on the director’s personal style. While the auteur theory of criticism gives the director creative credit for their films and at the same time can grant them stardom, it’s not a guarantee (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). Some directors that make superb films and are considered to be an auteur may never have their name mentioned for promotion of their film and sometimes one might find it hard to find promotions for their films at all ( Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). “It is clear that turning directors into stars has a clear monetary advantage for some, while others worthy of such attention toil in near–anonymity” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, 7.3). In essence, ticket purchasers are more likely to buy a ticket to a movie that has a director that they are familiar with and have liked all previous films that they have directed. Obviously the auteur theory isn’t perfect. The biggest argument surrounding it is the fact that some feel that the importance of who the director is shouldn’t be placed above that of the screenwriter or the...