Social Realist Dissertation - Help please!

[ralphcrofton]

I am undergraduate Media Production student at Bournemouth Uni. For my dissertation I am studying British social realist film. The title of my dissertation is 'Does British social realist film-making still exist?' I am writing about the history of SR in Britain, explaining how and why previous films were social realist. Part of the dissertation is a case study on contemporary social realist films. For some much needed primary research in this area I have constructed a questionnaire to see what people think of recent social realist films. If you can take some time to answer the questions I would be truly grateful.



The films I am looking at are the recent releases, Andrea Arnold's 'Fish Tank' (2009), Loach's 'Looking For Eric' (2009) and Leigh's 'Happy Go Lucky' (2008).



1. Why do you think these films are considered social realism?



2. What would you say are the themes in each film that give them the social realist title?



3. Do you think they still have the same integrity and value as previous social realist films? Why?



4. Looking back at social realist cinema in Britain, as society has changed, the films have sought to represent reactions to the changes, particularly from a working class perspective. In the films above, how would you say they are reflecting or commenting on modern society?



5. With contemporary social realist films focusing on individual and family struggles, does this affect their ability to provide social comment?



6. Do you feel that social realist filmmaking is our national cinema? Why?



7. Do you think that British social realist films will ever achieve recognition that is attributed to Hollywood cinema?



8. It seems that the main way contemporary social realist films receive any recognition from the public is through using the already known director as a selling point, Loach and Leigh being the main example. Do you think this threatens the future of British social realist filmmaking?





If there are any questions you feel i should/need to be asking, please let me know. Also if there is anything else you want to say about British social realism please do.

[GoggleboxUK]

I've only seen Fish Tank but here goes:



1. Why do you think these films are considered social realism?



Because it is a dialogue driven, non-action movie concerned primarily with characterization.



2. What would you say are the themes in each film that give them the social realist title?



Growing up in a modern working class slum area devoid of parental guidance.



3. Do you think they still have the same integrity and value as previous social realist films? Why?



Integrity yes although there was a shock value element to Fish Tank that I felt didn't need to be there. In particular the scene where the lead character headbutts another girl. Value is another matter. This kind of thing isn't new any more and so the intrinsic value created by those films that started the social realism genre doesn't apply here in the same sense although as each year passes there is value in documenting social change.



4. Looking back at social realist cinema in Britain, as society has changed, the films have sought to represent reactions to the changes, particularly from a working class perspective. In the films above, how would you say they are reflecting or commenting on modern society?



Thje movie demonstrates how the loss of the family unit can be blamed for an uncontroled youth. The mother's lack of attention to her daughter brings about a neccessary rebellion that is chaotic and struggles to find a suitable target.



5. With contemporary social realist films focusing on individual and family struggles, does this affect their ability to provide social comment?



No, it demonstartes the fragmentation in society that is often evident in working class areas with low income families.



6. Do you feel that social realist filmmaking is our national cinema? Why?



No. Because there's no social realism in Harry Potter.



7. Do you think that British social realist films will ever achieve recognition that is attributed to Hollywood cinema?



Those that 'recognise' Hollywood movies and those that 'recognise' British social realism are two very seperate entities and the two will never collide. Hollywood has a much larger following because of the broad variety of subjects it deals with. Perhaps your question is too broad. Does the section of Hollywood that outputs race hate movies such as merican History X have more recognition than British social realism? Probably not.



8. It seems that the main way contemporary social realist films receive any recognition from the public is through using the already known director as a selling point, Loach and Leigh being the main example. Do you think this threatens the future of British social realist filmmaking?



I think having Loach or Leigh attributed to a movie will repel certain cinemagoers just as it will attract others. Mike Leigh isn't Will Smith, he doesn't have a massive box office draw. If the future of British social realism film is threatened then surely it is by a lack of funding. This is no different to any other form of British movie making.

[Bernardo]

I was attracted to this post as I typed and prepared my son's dissertation some years ago now on this subject but from a US angle. May I say the post is well answered in the space available I do hope you receive some appreciation.

[ralphcrofton]

Thank you GoggleboxUK for taking the time to fill it out. The questions are well answered but i was hoping to get responses from lots of people, to give a range of answers and opinions. Plus GoggleboxUK only talks about the film Fish Tank. I was hoping for responses from people who had seen the others as well. If you would answer the same as GoggleboxUK you could just leave it blank.



Cheers.

[Arfur Teacake]

Perhaps one of the most famous 'Cathy Come Home' 1966



should be mentioned?



This was a drama shot in the style of a documentary, it straddled the wall between real life and fiction to a point where people were horrified this was going on in Britain. The organisation Shelter formed after seeing the film.



IMHO it was dangerous in way, because this blurring of real life and fiction left those influenced by it with the view, that all kids were sweet, all young mothers were victims and all nasty people spoke with an upper class accent.



The director Ken Loach was worshipped for his efforts, however it has been revealed by his later efforts that his prime motivation for any of his films is to promote a Marxist agenda .



There are those who say Cathy come home changed everything, in the great scheme of thins it changed nothing, in fact could have made things worse with the UK now having highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world.



In the end though whatever these films are saying their saying.They forget to tell you one thing, that is, they are there to make money or improve those involved standing in the world.



Cathy Come Home



meant Jeremy Sandford could buy a farm.



meant Ken Loach could get bankrolled for further morose films about Britain



Meant Carol White could get to Hollywood and indulge herself in everyone and everything





to quote Hitchcock its only a movie Ingrid

[Steve Crook]

name='Arfur Teacake']The director Ken Loach was worshipped for his efforts, however it has been revealed by his later efforts that his prime motivation for any of his films is to promote a Marxist agenda .

Has Ken Loach got a Marxist agenda? I think he'd be surprised to hear that



Or do you consider anyone even slightly left of centre to be a Marxist?



Steve

[Arfur Teacake]

name='Steve Crook']Has Ken Loach got a Marxist agenda? I think he'd be surprised to hear that



Or do you consider anyone even slightly left of centre to be a Marxist?



Steve

Come off it Steve 'slightly left of centre' your kidding surely?



I am sure he would be surprised to hear it?

but I should have said I was talking in the past tense - he may have mellowed these days I dont know?



How I apologise for bring politics into the thread and will censor myself from now on.









.

[will.15]

I love how these kids get the rest of us to do their homework.

[CaptainWaggett]

name='Steve Crook']Has Ken Loach got a Marxist agenda? I think he'd be surprised to hear that



Or do you consider anyone even slightly left of centre to be a Marxist?



Steve

Why would he be surprised? Does he not read his own press clippings? Or interviews?

[Katrina]

name='will.15']I love how these kids get the rest of us to do their homework.

No I'm struggling to find academic resources on my essay too. Very little has been written on social realism in British cinema over the last decade and my essay is on Shane Meadows which has yet to be supported academically. So us 'kids' would like some film lovers' opinions to spark ideas and angles on our perhaps future academic publishing.