‘Post-cinematic affect’ has been popular in film studies circles in recent years to characterise the emotional effect of contemporary films on viewers. By affecting our feelings and generating new kinds of emotional involvement, digital media technologies have transformed the way we watch films.

One article from The New York Times by critic A.O. Scott delves into this concept, ‘Exploring how streaming platforms and digital affects have altered the landscape of contemporary filmmaking’ (2022). According to Scott, the “Post-cinematic” period brought about by this new technology has drastically changed how we interact with films.

The YouTube video ‘2010-2019: A Decade of Film’ (2020) by Screen Junkies examines how digital media technologies have influenced our cinematic experiences. She cites popular franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe as instances of how digital media has altered the emotional resonance of contemporary cinema.

The notion that digital media technologies have made it harder to distinguish between fact and fiction in films. Filmmakers are now able to produce visually stunning and immersive experiences that often seem more genuine than reality itself because of the development of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and rather sophisticated special effects methods. Viewers may easily access a variety of content at any time, from any location, thanks to the growth of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu etc.

In conclusion, the post-cinematic affect offers a useful paradigm for comprehending how digital media technologies have changed how we feel about films in the contemporary day. The intricacies of our emotional reactions to films in the digital era can be better understood by acknowledging how technology affect our connection with cinema. Post-cinematic affect, in the end, forces us to reconsider the fundamental essence of film and how it keeps altering in response to new technology and shifting viewer needs.

By Karishma Nair 33777148

References:

Scott, A.O. (2022). How Streaming Has Rewritten the Script for Movies. The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/business/dealbook/movies-hollywood-streaming-services.html?searchResultPosition=1 (Accessed: 24 November 2024).

Screen Junkies (2019). 2010 – 2019: A Decade In Film | Supercut. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdAl9-9TUyY [Accessed 24 Nov. 2024].