Circulation and impact on society

Image credit: photographed by Toma for Unsplash

How do “lasting” star images carry the affective memory of film heritage and narratives of social change? How does the visibility of older stars in popular genres like comedy articulate, but also drive social change? And how do such representations relate to broader changes in perceptions of old age and well-being?

To account for the current transformations in digital film production and distribution we understand “cinema” to include a broad range of audiovisual narratives and screening outlets. These include streaming formats ranging from feature films to drama series, which are growing in importance in European film production and distribution, particularly in the wake of the COVID pandemic. We assume that narrative films translate complex social issues into accessible and memorable emotional experiences, shaping what audiences perceive as relevant and representable. We further assume that as an art form designed for shared experiences, cinema has a strong potential for social inclusion, participation and empowerment.

Philosophers such as Alan Badiou and film scholars such as Miriam Hansen and Ashis Rajadhyaksha have called cinema the most democratic art form. Audiovisual narratives attract audiences which cut across differences of race, class and gender and create a forum for intersectional communication, which includes cross -generational communion.

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