The Conceptual Mind Games in Mainstream Cinema

1. The Conceptual Mind Games in Mainstream Cinema Christie Callan

2. Introduction • Mainstream cinema, particularly Hollywood cinema, can play conceptual mind gas and can still be accessible and entertaining enough to attract the attention of popular audiences. Films that have been shown and viewed in popular American theatres will be referred to as mainstream cinema, which cater to the common viewer. Films that can be defined as mainstream mind-game cinema under this definition are Inception, Mulholland Drive, Shutter Island, and The Matrix.

3. Thesis Some mind game films may be too challenging for the popular audience; however, mind game films that use the universal fears of technological anxiety and questioning the purpose of human existence, mind game films become appealing to the popular, mainstream audience and function as commodity.

4. Mainstream mind-game cinema’s attempt to experiment frequently uses the idea of a feared, non-controlled, altered reality. An altered reality can be formed through the creation of a dream state. Using this creation, a mainstream mind-game film can then attract the audience by distorting its viewer’s conceptual thinking. A dream state will be referred to as an alternation or a distortion of a reality through the use of Nolan’s portrayal of his dream state construction. Techniques in creating an alternate reality allow viewers to relate to the film on theoretical levels, like general curiosity, and allow viewers to relate on an interpersonal level, as they connect with the film through personal experience.

5. Inception • Applying the same thought and comparing it with Inception, the viewer interaction has skyrocketed since mind game cinema has further developed. Not only does Christopher Nolan optimize mainstream curiosity, he also uses secondary techniques to amplify the viewer’s experience. Manipulation techniques like stimulating the universal fear of technological anxiety allow the viewer to submerge him or herself into the screening, increasing viewer engagement. Technological anxiety will be referred to as the transnational fear that humans will subconsciously allow machinery to gain enough strength to take universal control. The Matrix, specifically, uses the ability to teleport a mind into an alternate, controlled universe Additional techniques including Nolan’s cast, viewer engagement, and budget were also factors that contributed to his mind game film’s mainstream success.

6. Inception’s Use of Universal Fears To Trigger Mainstream Cinema • Mainstream mind-game cinema also appeals to the viewer by using the distinctive, narrative plotline, while still exploiting mainstream action scenes

7. Character’s using technology to enter another reality No Gravitational Pull in an altered universe

8. Matrix’s Comparison • In comparison with Inception, The Matrix relates with the mainstream audiences through the use of an alternate reality, but instead relates more with typical transnational fears and the distorted of perceptions of multiple realities. In perspective, Inception distorts reality through the use of dreams, while; on the other hand, The Matrix distorts reality through the use of human’s blameworthy creation of machinery. In Richard Dyer’s article, “World Cinema: Critical Approaches,” Dyer explains that a nation-state cinema’s capability to produce culturally specific genres depends on whether it can sustain in sufficient volume to support the necessary foundations and audience understanding. By using a generic narrative plotline, an otherwise known as precarious film can attract the attention of a superior audience.

9. An Altered Universe Created By Technology

10. Time Distortion Technological Takeover

11. Mulholland Drive’s Conceptual Mind Game • Applying this use of an altered reality through a dream state, Mulholland Drive uses some of the same dream state techniques, Lynch’s obscure plotline narratives drives mainstream viewers away. The use of an alternate reality through Diane’s self-created homosexual fantasy is possibly too obscure for the mainstream viewer. Mulholland Drive’s mainstream success becomes in prevention. Whether it is notable to Nolan, is unimportant to this specific argument that the mainstream American cinema’s arguably conservative taste.

12. In attempt to find her purpose in life, Diane creates a delusional love life in her self-created, faulty, altered world.

13. The play with color is important in mainstream mind-game success. In trying to visibly convey an alternate dream state, visuals are necessary in conveying such an in-depth idea. Nolan’s budget for Inception’s exceeds over ten times the amount Lynch’s budget was for Mulholland Drive. In analyzing this specific fact, a film’s budget should be taken into effect when analyzing its success. Whether it is notable to Nolan, is unimportant to this specific argument that the mainstream American cinema’s arguably conservative taste. Also, in trying to visibly convey an alternate dream state, visuals are necessary in conveying such an in-depth idea. Nolan’s budget for Inception’s exceeds over ten times the amount Lynch’s budget was for Mulholland Drive. In analyzing this specific fact, a film’s budget should be taken into effect when analyzing its success.

14. Conceptual fears enhanced in Shutter Island In Shutter Island, by Scorsese using the protagonist’s (Teddy) distortion of reality, the viewer becomes intrigued by the twisted, distorted plot. Teddy’s ongoing obsession with this specific case and the sinister treatment the patients undergo intrigues mainstream viewers conceptually, creating a spin off from the typical mainstream display of reality.

15. The combination of common mainstream ideologies of a main protagonist’s confusion, and the addition of an eerie setting, allow Shutter Island to become a successful mainstream mind game film. Shutter Island’s success is also relatable with the combination of cast selection and Scorsese’s play on the transnational, social fear of insanity. The lack of control a human has over sanity contributes to the development of the study of psychology.

16. Character insanity is used to display the dire to know one’s of life’s purpose.

17. . Teddy’s self-created reality is a result for him to escape his true reality of imprisonment.

18. Conclusion • By using specific notions that are intended to relate with mainstream viewers, mind game cinema can intentionally or unintentionally meet the qualifications to be considered a mainstream mind game film. Such examples include: resembling an altered reality, appealing to underlying transnational social fears, and using a distortion of reality. With this, mind game films become appealing to the popular, mainstream audience and, in effect, can function as commodity.

19. All arguments, in which I have affirmed, do not aim to interfere with the work of independent filmmakers who do not intend on meeting noted theoretical qualifications of mainstream mind-game cinema. They do, however, aim to suppress the question of how a mind game film relates to a popular, mainstream audience. Mind game cinema has the beneficial advantage by being able to convey an intended message, while leaving viewers with their own assumptions to make.