Narrative Structure and Ideology. Eisenstein in Saving Private Ryan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/arab.82186
Keywords: Narrative, Structure, Ideology, Saving Private Ryan, War films, Eisenstein

Abstract

This paper highlights the relevance of the structural design of Saving Private Ryan (Steven Spielberg, 1998) in conveying its message, in line with S. M. Eisenstein's theoretical principles. An analysis of its scenes has been carried out, identifying their emulation of, or "collisions" with, preceding "schemas". The film presents events characteristic of the classical model of the World War II combat subgenre, but its articulation is unforeseen and evidences authorial action as in the critical model of Vietnam, specifically as in Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979). This contrast integrates citizens of different ideological persuasions. It also borrows the structural model and deceptive ending to a initial enigma from Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) so as to allude to the same theme: the true essence of man, in this case of the veteran, represented by the elderly Ryan.

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Author Biographies

Laura Fernández-Ramírez, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

International Doctorate in Audiovisual Communication and Extraordinary Doctorate Award (Universidad Complutense Madrid, 2014). Diploma in editing (ECAM) and Master in Television Production (IORTVE-UCM). She works in Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR) as the Academic Director of the Master in Audiovisual Scriptwriting since 2015. Since that date she also teaches scriptwriting, directing and editing. Previously, she has taught at the University of Burgos and CES Felipe II (UCM) and worked as assistant director, assistant editor, script supervisor and script analyst. Her line of research is audiovisual narrative, history, scriptwriting, film editing and directing.

Ignacio Nevado, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Global Communication at the Faculty of Information Sciences (UCM) where he teaches Journalism and Audiovisual Communication. Ignacio Nevado holds a degree in Communication from UNIR and a Master's degree in Audiovisual Heritage from the Universidad Complutense. He is currently studying for his PhD in Audiovisual Communication, Advertising and Public Relations at the Universidad Complutense. His line of research focuses on audiovisual narrative, character creation and television programming.

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Published
2022-11-24
How to Cite
Fernández-Ramírez L. y Nevado I. (2022). Narrative Structure and Ideology. Eisenstein in Saving Private Ryan. Área Abierta. Revista de comunicación audiovisual y publicitaria, 22(3), 353-366. https://doi.org/10.5209/arab.82186
Issue
Vol. 22 No. 3 (2022)
Section
Articles

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