Steven Shaviro’s work delves into the nuances of how affect and emotion are perceived and utilized in contemporary cinematic experiences. According to Shaviro, affect refers to a prepersonal and bodily intensity that is felt before it is processed or interpreted by the conscious mind. Affect is a raw and immediate response to stimuli, which can be manifested as a non-conscious state of arousal, pleasure or unease. In post-cinema, affect is often associated with the visceral and immersive qualities of audiovisual stimuli that provoke bodily responses and sensations in the viewer. Emotion, on the other hand, is seen as a more culturally and socially constructed phenomenon that emerges from the interpretation of affective experiences. 

A notable example of a film that effectively portrays affect and emotion is “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”. This film intertwined complex narrative structures with character development, evoking a range of affective and emotional responses from the audience. The portrayal of affect is evident through the use of surreal and dreamlike sequences, visual metaphors and fragmented storytelling techniques that create a sense of disorientation. The film’s nonlinear narrative style reflects the nonlinear nature of memory and emotional experience, eliciting a visceral response from the viewers as they navigate the protagonist’s tumultuous journey. 

(Source: The Movie Buff)

One theorist who presents a different approach on the relationship between emotion and affect in post-cinema is Teresa Brennan. Brennan criticizes the notion of a clear distinction between affect and emotion. She challenges the idea that affect is purely prelinguistic and nonconscious. Instead, she emphasizes the ways in which affect and emotion are intertwined and mutually constitutive, with both influencing and shaping each other within the realm of cultural and social contexts. 

Because affect is understanding your society, how they work and using those codes that have been created of what is “good and bad” to build something that will get a reaction out of them. Filmmakers use that to create emotions. For affect to have an impact, you must understand your audience’s core values. These core values are implanted in your audience due to social media planting these seeds and creating ideas to be globalized. You cannot have emotion without affect. 

Hence, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stands as a compelling example of a film that effectively combines affective intensity with poignant emotional storytelling. By skillfully portraying a dynamic interplay between bodily intensities and socio-cultural contexts the film resonates with audiences on a profound and intimate level. 

Brennan highlights the importance of discursive and sociocultural factors in shaping affective experiences and emotional responses. Brennan emphasizes on the interconnectedness of bodily sensations, cultural meanings and emotional expressions. 

References:

Review of Teresa Brennan, the transmission of affect. – bryn mawr college. Available at: https://repository.brynmawr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1079&context=bmrcl (Accessed: 01 November 2023).

Science on screen (no date) Memory and Emotion – Science on Screen. Available at: https://scienceonscreen.org/programs/2014/memory-and-emotion (Accessed: 01 November 2023).

Steven Shaviro, ‘Post-Cinematic Affect: On Grace Jones, Boarding Gate and Southland Tales’, Film Philosophy 14.1, 2010.

Steven Shaviro, ‘Post-Continuity: An introduction’, Post-Cinema: Theorising 21^st Century Film, 51-64

By: Octavie Drevon