EXPLORANDO NARRATIVAS CINEMATOGRÁFICAS

uma análise cultural baseada nos conceitos da teoria crítica

Abstract

This study explores cinematic narratives, using Theodor W. Adorno's concepts from the Frankfurt School to examine three films: Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009), Il Postino (1994), and Toc Toc (2017). The analysis focuses on the influence of the cultural industry, representations of alienation, and the fetishism of commodities, highlighting how these works reflect cultural standardization and limitations in promoting critical reflection. The objective is to investigate whether the narratives of these films can,

beyond entertaining, foster a critical reflection on social and individual issues, or if they, conversely, reinforce stereotypes and simplify complex themes for mass consumption. This study conducts a critical analysis of the mentioned films, utilizing Adorno’s critique of the cultural industry to interpret how each film addresses the complexity of characters and their social circumstances, particularly in terms of consumerism, emancipation, and instrumental rationality. Regarding methodology, film analysis can be a strategy within qualitative research, a type of inquiry aimed at understanding subjective aspects such as ideas, behaviors, and perspectives. The analysis concludes that while Il Postino conveys a more genuine message of emancipation and social critique, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Toc Toc adhere to the cultural industry’s standards, offering limited reflections that ultimately reinforce the logic of consumption and instrumental rationality.