Uncommon Audiences

Gilbert Seldes (1960) states that there is no illiteracy in Cinema. The author considers that all the spectators are able to interpret film language and to understand objects, space and characters, real or imaginary, following the stories, even when the film uses temporal ellipses, geographical displacements and unexpected narrative developments. Also, Cinema presents a considerable educational potential, when used as an instrument for transmitting knowledge and specific content. In a way, we can understand that Cinema broadens the educational experience of the public and, therefore, contributes to expanding the public's literacy.

However, while the stories and the contents are easily interpreted by the spectators, there are numerous connotative resources that require an analysis that goes beyond the surface of the images and sounds. The semantics of moving images and their juxtaposition are filled with multiple meanings and require a specific visual literacy that focuses on an in-depth interpretation, on the deconstruction of narrative resources, which requires a specific pedagogical strategy.

Commonly associated with children, film literacy must therefore be extended to uncommon audiences, audiences often disregarded by educational services and which may benefit from Cinema as a space for interpretation and expression. Film literacy projects aimed at children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, marginalized or at-risk audiences can contribute to cultural plurality and film education, expanding the scope of audiences and favoring a shared knowledge and values departing from Cinema.

The technological development has facilitated access to equipment and film developing processes, and empirical experience has increased interest, opening a kaleidoscope of interpretations of the world from the participants’ perspectives and sensibilities, spectators who also become creators, beholders that could be considered uncommon audiences.

Such as in previous editions, participation is free but registration is required.

Seldes, Gilbert. Communications revolution. In Carpenter and McLuhan (Eds.) Exploration in communication. Boston: Beacon Pr., 1960.