Why do we Analyze and Criticize ?

I am asked on occasion why do I go to the trouble of analyzing movies?

There are many good answers. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle had serious interest in creative writing which they called poetics. They were interested how a writer could create emotion and sway mas opinions about the subjects of the day. More recently Marshal McLuhan and his followers have reexamined everyday popular media like film and television and how it shapes our society and life.There is plenty to learn about the times we live in and their morality from a good movie and on occasion we do meet a movie that challenges us to question the sanity of this day and age.

A great boon to watching cinema or TV with a critical eye is the deeper insight it offers and the greater satisfaction it offers the boon companions of the critic. Occasionally we get a peek into the inner games of writing but on a more daily basis we get to work with the material at a higher level than rewriting.

It allows a writer to explore the undiscovered countries that have been covered by a brave few and which may yet hold the elixir of your own success as a writer.

The Big Screen

In terms of Media what are the major differences between the big and the little screen. The big screen has less interruptions. You won't see commercials or zap in mid movie. Your are held captive for the full length of the feature. The movie is programmed for an experience to be shared amongst all viewers. Full features of decent quality will tend to explore a greater depth of moral values and thus make more meaningful statements on their themes.

The Little Screen

The small screen's formats are expected to suffer interruptions due to advertising. This means that the story must throughout its duration be in competition with others. It will require several cliffhangers to maintain interest over commercial breaks. At any weak spot the viewers may go elsewhere never to return. They are therefore also more likely start in mid picture. The format is usually shorter unless one considers serials and mini series have extended story arcs. Creating major changes in serials may represent big risks factors which can hurt their ratings, so many series tend to be very static.

Serials, Soaps & Movie Franchises

Serialized works will rarely exhibit a deep exploration of moral premises as do many feature film perhaps because it is difficult to reach it in this format that encourages repetition. Exception exist such as Carnival and the Subversive X-files which suggest that it is not only possible but in spades. Extended character studies are possible in serials yet arcs tend to be static to maintain the premise or format.

Relationships are more likely to be phony in a serial which keeps an artificially extended focus on a limited group of characters.The expression of this limit as a genre is in the soap opera where every new character that is introduced will have a similar set of romantic and rivalry relationship with everybody else.