Connecting Europe through Cinema: Audience Engagement with European Film

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Encouraging European citizens to connect with European film is seen by EU policymakers as a means of “improving intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and knowledge among European cultures to form a basis for European citizenship” (European Commission 2004). Although most Europeans prefer to watch American or domestic films, a minority – typically young, well-educated, culturally-engaged and cosmopolitan in outlook – do regularly watch films from other European countries. This paper examines how these so-called ‘Europhiles’ actually engage with European film. Drawing on focus groups conducted in Britain and Germany, it examines how European film is perceived by different audiences, what qualities they like and dislike about these types of film, and how the consumption of European film shapes their sense of connection with other Europeans. The paper therefore addresses the political and ideological aspects of connectivity by investigating the role of European film in the formation of personal, national and transnational identities
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jul 2016
EventEuropean Network for Cinema and Media Studies (NECS) Conference - University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Duration: 28 Jul 201630 Jul 2016
https://necs.org/conference/

Conference

ConferenceEuropean Network for Cinema and Media Studies (NECS) Conference
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityPotsdam
Period28/07/1630/07/16
Internet address

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