Art Moods and Human Moods in Narrative Cinema

Abstract

This essay examines the usefulness of the concept of mood in studying the emotional impact of narrative cinema, arguing that moods are a neglected but important aspect of affect in cinema. It provides a broad overview of various approaches taken toward the study of affect and settles on a cognitive approach. Moods are defined as the affective character of a film, an expression of emotion and point of view, but also capable of eliciting affect in the viewer. The essay goes on to examine the most important aesthetic and cognitive implications of mood in cinema, providing many examples of how moods function in specific films.