Geography is a way of seeing the world and this can easily be applied to artistic representations of the world through mediums like architecture, paintings, and even film. Most geography lecturers may cover how spatial and historical influences are represented in traditional art over time, but film should not be discredited from these analyses just because it is a more modern art.
How does space influence a film?
In terms of absolute space, a film may be constrained to a certain spatial representation because of the budget or what restrictions have been put on the film. This leads the audience to question why this representation of space occurs. For films shot in New York City in the 1970s, filmmakers were able to obtain a single permit to shoot anywhere in the city with less restrictions on what subjects they could film. This led to films with multiple settings that had footage of the grimier side of the city.
In terms of social space, films may take on a different perspective of the same place depending on the demographic that is being represented. This is conveyed through the content of the film, but also mood and cinematography. You can often have movies of the same setting and premise, but are of a different genre to also illustrate different social experiences differently. Musicals often have a utopian idea of cities for young and often white people while smaller scale indie dramas can capture the hardship of living in the lower income side of a city.
How does history influence a film?
To understand the original concept and intentions of a film, you will need to understand its historical context. In 1934 to 1968, the Hays Code was the guideline of censorship for films in the US. This has an obvious influence on what films could show and what morals films could convey, but it also tells geographers about the moral and modest code of the US at that time. It shows viewers what is acceptable and what is not. This can also be seen in inclusive representation through film. There is a transition period (which we are still experiencing) in which women, people of color, queer people, and disabled people slowly go from being background characters, sidekicks, and stereotypes to full fleshed out protagonists. These representations inform geographers on the zeitgeist of a particular time period, who was being marketed to, and what the film is trying to tell this audience about these people and that historical moment.
Personally, I know that these analyses and the film class I am currently taking are informing the new way I see movies. One of my favorites is Little Shop of Horrors (1986) which is a musical about a man-eating plant, but by using these analyses it is also a story of white-flight, idealized suburbia, the Progressive Era, capitalism, and so much more!
