Militants and Cinema: Digital Attempts to Make the Multitude in Hunger, Che, Public Enemies (original) (raw)
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This research delves into the profound interplay between cinematic narratives and the emergence, evolution, and impact of social dissent and protest movements in contemporary society. Film, as a powerful medium for storytelling and cultural reflection, has consistently played a significant role in both reflecting and shaping societal perspectives. This study explores the multifaceted ways in which movies have influenced the dynamics of activism, dissent, and social change, thus providing critical insights into the realm of contemporary civil society and its efforts to address pressing social issues. The research employs a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from film studies, sociology, and political science, to comprehensively analyse the connections between cinematic narratives and real-world protest movements [1]. It scrutinizes instances where films have served as catalysts for collective action, whether by galvanizing public awareness, articulating marginalized voices, or provoking discussions on critical societal issues. Furthermore, this study investigates the reciprocal relationship between cinema and social dissent, exploring how real-world events, ideologies, and grassroots movements have inspired filmmakers and shaped the content of movies. It also examines the transformative power of film festivals, online platforms, and documentary filmmaking in amplifying dissenting voices and fostering global solidarity.
The genre of documentary films, though closely related with factuality is often a medium that represents an alternative way to articulate the voices which borders on margins. S. Sukhdev's Nine months to Freedom: The Story of Bangladesh (1971) and Pramod Pati's Explorer (1968) belong to a selected category of documentary films which presents a divergence in representing the subject as well as the cinematic technique. This paper focuses on a close analysis of the selected films and attempts to highlight the dissent at multiple levels such as representation of the subject and the use of cinematic technique in the representation of the subject. The films selected for the study belongs to two different genres. Nine Months to Freedom resembles a political documentary; Explorer is an experimental film with plethora of subjects. Through the help of Clifford Geertz's 'Thick Description' the paper attempts to study dissent and dialogue in the film through the help of cinematic apparatus.
Rewiring the Apparatus: Screen Theory, Media Activism, and Working-Class Subjectivities
This essay utilizes concepts from screen theory to better understand the function of socially engaged documentaries. In particular, it explores how the media practices of the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP) allow us to refocus our analysis to take account of the utilization of media by social movements in ways that stress the collective and empowering role it can have for fostering class-based identities. As such, we aim to highlight the materiality of ideology and the possibility of collective class-based political projects that employ various film and media practices. MMP's video work indicates opportunities for employing video to establish broader working-class subjectivities. We hold that utilizing screen theory accordingly helps to augment our understanding of activist documentary forms. Moreover, linking activist documentary forms with the media practices of contemporary social movements allows us to gain a newfound appreciation for the emancipatory role of media as such.