Abstract
Philosophy of language and semiotics have seldom studied cinematic dialogue.
The topic has always gained limited attention also in research fields more directly
interested in cinema, like film studies. Only recently, within the area of screenwriting
studies, a few contributions have started to focus specifically on the importance of
dialogue as a part of film as text. I will deal with this issue, specifically considering how
dialogue creates subtext – i.e. layers of meaning implied by characters in their exchanges
– and, through it, emotions. First, I will argue that dramatic subtext has two
fundamental roots: the tension stemming from the character’s inner flaw, and the one
stemming from his hidden agenda. On this basis, I will sketch a map of four main types
of subtext. Finally, I will highlight which emotional pattern is typical of each kind of
subtext, resulting from the interaction between character’s emotions and viewer’s
emotions.
Translated title of the contribution | [Autom. eng. transl.] Emotions in cinematic dialogue: implicit and dramatic tensions in verbal confrontations between characters |
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Original language | Italian |
Pages (from-to) | 134-146 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | RIVISTA ITALIANA DI FILOSOFIA DEL LINGUAGGIO |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- conflict
- emotions
- film dialogue
- indirect speech acts