Basic Structures of Ideological Communication in Traditional Hollywood Feature Film Narratives

Abstract

Traditional Hollywood feature film narratives present viewers with a structured ideological discourse largely composed of two key variables: a character choice between two opposing sets of behavioral values and a plot outcome which ultimately rewards or punishes the character for this choice. Although viewers are socially inclined to perceive the character’s choice as either “positive” or “negative,” the plot outcome may or may not align with the viewer’s ideological expectations. As such, the narrative resolution may either reinforce or challenge the viewers’ socio-moral beliefs. From the structure’s two variables issue four basic narrative types: Celebratory, Cautionary, Tragic and Cynical. The first pair promote existing ideological norms through outcomes which fulfill socio-moral expectations. The latter pair employ a “photo-negative” structure to defy such expectations and thus question or refute normative beliefs in an effort to encourage social change.