Captain Fantastic Flashcards
Institutional Context
Why was Captain Fantastic made
producer Lynette Howell Taylor provided funding at the Sundance FIlm Festival
Institutional Context
Why was Captain Fantaastic successful
- word of mouth
- positive reviews
- released in a year full of successful independent films
What is active spectatorship
when the spectator notices hidden meanings or questions the intended reading of the film
What is passive spectatorship
when the spectator doesn’t question the film
What is alignment
the character the spectator is forced to see the most of
What is allegiance
when the spectator decides to follow a character due to ones own moral standing
What is identification
When the spectator notices a personal connection with themselves and the character onscreen
What is recognition
to recognise the behaviour of something a character is going through
What is the preferred reading
accepting the directors intended reading
What is a negotiated reading
when the spectator slightly challenges the preferred reading
What is an oppositional reading
when the spectators reading is completely different to the directors
What is an abberant reading
when the spectators reading is unknown
What is occult symbolism
Where mystical value is placed onto a symbol, motif, or item
What is post-structuralism
when you are able to get many different meanings from a text
What is limited pluralism
the idea that spectators will only respond in a limited number of ways
What is the aesthetic of Captain Fantastic
life is all about balance
What can make a spectators viewing experience different
- age
- gender
- race
- political allegiance
What are the names of Ben’s children
- Bodevan
- Kielyr
- Vespyr
- Rellian
- Zaja
- Nai
What is Ben’s wife called
Leslie
What issues does Captain Fantastic deal with
4 points
- right vs left wing ideology
- parenting and being a part of a family
- impact of formal and informal education
- issues with technology (small)
What is the preferred reading of Captain Fantastic
3 points
‘Life is all about balance’ -Ross
What does Captain Fantastic make the spectator question
- capitalism
- consumerism
- obesity
- technology
- education
- parenting
Where is Captain Fantastic set
Washington State
What is Captain Fantastics narrative
a linear narrative that comes full circle
What did Ross want Captain Fantastic to be
a ‘oner’
What are the examples of binary opposition in Captain Fantastic
- urban vs natural
- alternate vs dominant ideologies
- informal vs formal education
Why is Captain Fantastic shot digitally
- cost effective
- artistically preferable
- able to capture longtakes that involve a lot of actors
- children can only owrkr 6-hours a day
has Ross failes to create hope in in Captain Fantastic
- family discard their initial ideologies
- spectators invested in the family’s way of life will be left hopeless and disappointed
How can equality of representations be seen in Captain Fantastic
children are taught the same skills
why are neither Ben nor Jack vilified at the end
- Ben compromises at the end of the film
- Jack’s actions can be understood
- both Jack and Ben are grieving
how does Captain Fantastic offer anti-authority messages
- reoccurring quote of “Power to the people. Stick it to the man”
- unwillingness to conform to society
How can Ben be perceived negatively by spectators
a dangerous and manipulating criminal father
What are the positives of using an ideological critical approach in Captain Fantastic
- focus on a set theme
- deeper meanings and readings
What are the negatives of using an ideological critical approach in Captain Fantastic
- can’t use/miss context
- spectators will have different responses
- could be the directors intended messages
what were the left and right doing that Captain Fantastic represents
selling different versions of anti establishment fervor
