I am thinking of doing a symptomatic interpretation of Big Hero 6 using the contextualist and generic approaches in film theory, but I am not sure if this is the best methodology for my project. Does anyone have any thoughts on this (possible problems, etc.) and how well this approach would lend to a discussion of the film's meaning?
Additionally, I'm curious as to how other researchers have analyzed animation films and determined meaning/what the film tells about the concerns of modern society. Please share if you have any examples!
Thank you very much for your help!
There are many aspects and contexts that could be interesting in analyzing this film. There is the question of robots and humans, which has a history in cinema long before Terminator, there is the inter- and transnational context: the way japanise animation has influenced the film, how the film is representing a globalized world etc. And there ist he coming-of-age aspect. There are many other approaches I guess, the fact that it's an animated film is just one aspect one could deal with in terms of representation and style.
There are many aspects and contexts that could be interesting in analyzing this film. There is the question of robots and humans, which has a history in cinema long before Terminator, there is the inter- and transnational context: the way japanise animation has influenced the film, how the film is representing a globalized world etc. And there ist he coming-of-age aspect. There are many other approaches I guess, the fact that it's an animated film is just one aspect one could deal with in terms of representation and style.
I advice you to read these papers
- https://books.google.fr/books?hl=fr&lr=&id=1rcABAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=What+are+methodologies+in+film+studies+that+could+be+used+to+analyze+the+Disney+animation+film+Big+Hero&ots=89Ggp4RaC7&sig=GO5l3n7r8t2uHQFczPtn1cf_u-g#v=onepage&q&f=false
- http://csc.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/12/30/1532708614565451.abstract
Hi Jamie
Suggestion: Take a look at David Bordwell's 2 x (excellent) chapters in `Evolution, Literature, Film: A Reader' (2010). See especially his diagram about audience perceptions, and meanings.
Some more books here that may be of use in film analysis:
https://storyality.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/storyality-71-consilience-is-coming-read-all-about-it/
I'd actually start by asking if your approach is pragmatic or more traditional, because I infer from your question that it's possible to "stabilize" the meaning of the film. If so, I'd suggest you use more traditional tools of film studies, like the psychoanalytic theories Bordwell reviews in "Making Meaning".
But if, on the other hand, your approach to meaning is closer to the "constructivist" approach of Bordwell himself, I'd suggest you keep your options open, because it'd be possible to talk about a whole range of different reconstructions of the story, and therefore, of different meanings of the film, depending on factors such as age and culture. And maybe some of them would be far from the "symptomatic".
Beyond the good film-form based suggestions above, it seems some readings in artificial intelligence would be key. Donna Haraway's work on cyborgs is interesting here.
besides the answers related to film making construction I think you sould narrow your angle of whats exactly what you want to analyze. if its the meaning, is about the message? then you could try to interview the director and look for precedents about robots-human relationship since Iron Giant came first, talking about friendship and enviroment. Indeed everybody I know that worked on the movie didnt like so much the story as they saw it as a remake of the Iron Giant but happening in Japan and setting everything in a more contemporany scenario.
i would ask or study why this movie is especial in animation vs live action.
hope it helps.
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