Movie and TV Analysis Methods
This method studies how visual techniques like framing, lighting, and editing create meaning in a film.
What is film analysis?
This method focuses only on the text itself — not the author’s life or the reader’s feelings.
What is the New Critical approach?
Death row (DR)
The part of a prison where prisoners who are going to be executed live while they wait for their death sentence.
Synonyms / related phrases:
The condemned area
Awaiting execution
The condemned
This short film tells the story of a man’s final meal before he dies.
What is Last Requests?
Last Requests is a British short film that mixes tragedy and this kind of humor.
What is dark comedy?
This shot type shows emotion by focusing closely on a character’s face.
What is a close-up?
New Critics look for these elements in a text: contrasts, symbols, and language use.
What are tensions and symbols?
Fuss
When people make a lot of noise or attention about something small — when they complain or worry too much.
Synonyms:
Trouble
Commotion
Drama
A big deal
The film’s main theme shows this positive quality, even in a dark situation.
What is empathy?
The humor in Last Requests feels typically British because it uses this subtle style.
What is irony or understatement?
When analyzing a short film, you look at both literary elements (like theme and character) and these visual ones.
What are filmic devices?
When all parts of the text work together to form one complete meaning, it’s called this.
What is organic unity?
Redemption
When someone tries to make up for their mistakes or sins — to become good again after doing something bad.
Synonyms:
Forgiveness
Salvation
Atonement
Making things right
The film uses this mix of emotions to make the story more powerful.
What is humor and sadness?
The film quietly comments on this controversial moral issue.
What is the death penalty?
Name two examples of filmic techniques that help create mood or perspective.
What are lighting and camera angles?
According to this method, interpretation should come from the text’s internal clues — not historical or social context.
What is the principle of textual autonomy?
Fooling
When someone tricks or jokes with another person — not being serious or telling lies for fun.
Synonyms:
Tricking
Teasing
Deceiving
Joking around
The film suggests that every person deserves this — even those who have done wrong.
What is dignity or compassion?
This perspective would look at how the film connects to real-life justice and society.
What is a social-historical perspective?
When you combine the New Critical and the social-historical methods, you focus on both how the text is built and how it connects to this.
What is the society and historical context around it?
In Last Requests, a New Critical reader might see the silence and humor as this kind of contrast that reveals emotion.
What is a deliberate contrast between life and death?
Execution
The act of killing someone as punishment for a crime, especially by the state.
Synonyms:
Death penalty
Capital punishment
Killing (by the law)
The prisoner’s meal symbolizes this — a small act that shows humanity.
What is connection and kindness?
Combining a New Critical and social-historical approach helps you see both structure and this larger idea.
What is society’s view on justice and humanity?