Cinema as a tool of mass communication: Interview with Alexander Pavlov

Abstract

Philosopher and political expert Alexandr Pavlov has been conducting special research of mass culture and cinematograph for many years. He is an author of a book «Shamefull pleasure», where mass cinematograph is analysed as a reflection of important social and political processes in society and as a way to represent certain ideology. In the following interview Alexandr Pavlov tells about the relationships between cinematograph and mass-communication tools.
During the interview different points and aspects of art are introduced. Alexander Pavlov declares that some movies as pieces of art can be used as a tool for mass-communication and gives some examples: “12 Years a Slave” (2013, Oscar winner by English film director Steven McQueen, an adaptation of the 1853 slave narrative memoir by Solomon Northup) and “Fruitvale Station” (2013, Grand Jury Prize of Sundance Film Festival, an American biographical drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler).
Alexander Pavlov applies Lasswell`s communication model for cinematograph and claims that there can be mutual benefication between Cinema Studies and Communication Studies.
Pavlov also shares his views about videoart and resumes some differences between videoart and cinematograph, as not every movie can be called “art”.
In conclusion Alexander Pavlov gives brief review of “zapping” and infer that some products of mass-communication can still be a piece of art, which will enrich consumer.