Spectatorship

• Spectatorship studies are interested in the relationship between spectators and film
• Spectatorship theories are based on the belief that film is an affective medium and that spectators are affected by watching films
• The nature of the effect can be long, medium and short term.

Films can affect us in different ways

Physical response – causing physiological responses such as shock, crying, laughter, nausea, disgust.

Emotional response – causing the spectator to have feelings of pleasure, happiness, sadness.

Intellectual response – the spectator gains new information and may combine this with prior information to make intellectual jumps.

Psychological response – may respond in a subconscious or completely unconscious way. This may drive behaviour at a later date.