Alignment

Analyse the different ways the film-maker can manipulate our emotional response
-The process of identifying with something or someone
-We can relate to the character's emotions/adopt their points of view through micro and macro

MACRO ALIGNMENTS
-Narrative can be used in August Rush, trying to find his parents through his passion for music, showing his back-story and psychological motives, causing you to sympathise with the character.

MICRO ALIGNMENTS
-Cinematography can be used in X-Men

How do film-makers attempt to align spectators with specific characters?
-Sound = specific sounds and music are used to insinuate our responses
-Cinematography = A wide shot or medium-long-shot will put distance between the character and spectator
-Themes and Content = depending on the subject matter of the film, we can be easily manipulated if the issues portrayal resonate with us on a personal level. Example, death of a loved one, cultural/social issues

Most films will attempt to align the spectator with a specific character or group of characters
-Audience = whole
-Spectator = individual
-If a film-maker can align us with a character, we are more willing to adopt a preferred reading of the film

Most films and film-makers will encourage an audience response - a shared emotions response that is initially intense but quickly fades
Film-makers do this by
-using existing genre convention
-The under-dog story
-Sympathetic Characters and situations
-Place characters in realistic scenario - the more common the scenario the better
-A variation of mood (through music and light etc) and realistic emotions
-Play on audience fears and phobias
-Build expectation and eventually meet that expectation

Allegiance
Allegiance pertains to the moral evaluation of the characters by the spectator
Allegiance is another form of identification with a character-based on a wide range of external factors such as attitudes towards
-Class
-Race
-Nation
-Age
-Ethnicity
-Gender