Communication Theories
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1) The document summarizes and analyzes several Filipino films using communication and psychology theories. It discusses scenes from the films Kabisera, Shift, Blue Bustamante, and Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? and analyzes them through theories like the Elaboration Likelihood Model, Attribution Theory, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, and Reinforcement Theory. 2) Across the films, key scenes related to persuasion, relationships, misunderstandings, and adapting to new influences are examined. For example, a scene where friends try to convince the main character to do something risky is explained by the central and peripheral routes of persuasion. 3) Overall, the document shows
Communication Theories
- 1. Kabisera This is the first film that we watched at the C1 Originals screening last October 16, 2014. It was about Andres, a fisherman, who loves his family so much that he can do anything to keep them for himself. Jose, Andres’ best friend, knew that Andres got two boxes of prohibited drugs at the sea, so he tried to persuade him to sell it with him. Based on my understanding of the lesson, this scene is explained in the Elaboration Likelihood Model, because he was interested in money, taking good care of his family and giving them a better life, he took the opportunity of having them and accepted Jose's offer. I think it both under gone the central and peripheral route. The central route started when he heard Jose and a policeman talking one day about a lost supply of illegal drugs and how much money it must have cost. On the other hand, peripheral route was implemented at the start of Jose's persuasion. Interpersonal Deception Theory explains the scene where Jose secretly hit AJ, son of Andre, by one of the policeman's people so that Andres has no choice but to continue releasing drugs for selling. Because he has no money left to be able to finish the house he was building for his daughter and for AJ's operation, he was forced to bring the illegal partnership back again. The reason why I chose this scene is because I noticed the response did not come from a character of the film but by us, audiences. The response was suspicion due to over reaction of a particular character that may explained by Attribution Theory, that maybe, Jose felt that since he was the one to think about the plan of letting godson get hurt, he is responsible of him. Attribution Theory can also explain the scene where they are in the possible danger of being caught by the PDEA and the Muslims which was the true owners of the drugs. Jose thought that it was not his responsibility because Andres was the one to get it from the sea and supply it to them. At the same time, Andres thinks that they are all responsible of the crime and are all to be punished being in jail, but still blames some events in life that caused him to feel responsible. Based on my understanding, the last scenes wherein Andres' family moved back in the province is explained by the Reinforcement Theory. Because they have no choice but to move back, they had to do it. This theory also explains the addiction of AJ in the same illegal drug his father is selling.
- 2. Shift One of the most enjoyed films by the audiences is the Shift, it was a story everyone can relate into though it was not a typical story in real life. The main characters are Estela and Trevor, both are call center agents. Trevor is a homosexual guy who happens to be close to Estela, his team mate and is a boyish girl who, in the end, falls for him. The scene I chose is the scene wherein the Team Leader of their group at the call center asked for their names and their greatest ambitions in life. It was funny how Estela, played by Ms. Yeng Constantino, said that she dreams of “resigning”, because it was what she wanted at the time, but she had to immediately tell her silenced team mates that she wants to have money, a lot of money. The theory that I saw in this scene is the Uncertainty Reduction Theory, because they are new team mates, the team leader asked little but enough information about each of them to reduce uncertainty level between members of the team. Uncertainty Reduction Theory is also the explanation of the part of the story wherein Estela realized that she already loved Trevor. It was because they spend time together more often than spending time with other members of their team that the uncertainty between them decreased fast. More information was also shared and intimate moments between each other was present that it caused liking. I also noticed that this can also be explained by the Social Penetration Theory, the more they spend time together, the more intimate their relationship became. The last scene I chose is the scene wherein Estela expected that there is a possibility that Trevor might as well fall in love with her. It was because she knew that it was hard for Trevor not to be around her, and that Trevor was happier since they knew each other and became close. But in one conversation they had, Estela’s expectations crashed, it was when Trevor suddenly opened about his foreigner boyfriend who was the reason of his happiness at the time. This scene can be explained by the Expectancy Violation Theory. Estela’s response was being cold to Trevor, need of personal space to get a grip and affiliation which caused her to avoid Trevor and spend time with their other team mates.
- 3. Blue Bustamante Blue Bustamante is about Overseas Filipino Worker who chose to work abroad though they graduated with degrees, but are fired immediately out of the company they are working so instead of going back to the country, they work different jobs overseas. The main character is George Bustamante, who worked abroad as an Engineer but had to work as a stunt man of a Television show for kids, “Force Five”, at Japan. The first fact that I noticed is the part where George was fired out of the company he is working into. At first, when he's contractor handed him the resigning paper; he was still nodding his head and smiling at the Japanese man who just gave him a bad news. This is explained in the Shannon and Weaver's General Model of Communication which features "noise". The difference in language is an example of semantic noise which causes the sender and the receiver not to understand the message of one another. This model also explains the misunderstanding of George and a Japanese girl who happened to be crushing over him. That was a scene in a Filipino restaurant, they were talking to each other though they can't understand the language both of them are using, in the end, miscommunication happened. The next scenes are the parts where Roger, his Filipino friend in Japan, tries to convince George to go at a bar with him and drink alcohol, and the part where he also tried to persuade George to be a stunt man of the Force Five's Blue Force. Central route was applied on the first scene, he was not convinced to go to a bar because he was not interested and he was thinking about possibilities and merits he can get if he goes with his friend. Peripheral route, on the other hand, was applied when he accepted to work as a stunt man. Because he had no choice at the time, he accepted the job without full consideration and knowledge about the work he was to do. Cognitive Dissonance, based on my analysis may explain Kiko, his son, and his reactions when his father left the country. Although his father sends him gifts like toys and such, he still chose to be cold towards George and tell his mother that the gifts are not what he wants to have. I think it can be explained as, because he cannot have what he wanted which is more important, he did not give much attention to his other wants. In fact, it was visible in the movie that he wanted the toys his father gave him. Lastly, the scene where Roger finally opened up to George that he had no family other than his grandmother and that he made lies about his girlfriends in the Philippines. This can be explained by the Social Penetration Theory. The more time you spend time with someone, the more you are being honest with your personal life and feelings.
- 4. Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon? The last film that we watched at the C1 Originals was like a look back/ throwback movie where we experienced feeling the drama, comedy, thrill, and action at the same time. It was a great film and is a movie to watch by the Filipino youth of today. "Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?" is a film directed by Mr. Eddie Romero, starring Mr. Christopher De Leon as Nicholas, a man from the province of Batangas. The story is about the Filipinos during the Spanish colonial era up to the time of the Americans in our country. It shows how we easily accepted the Spaniards and what was they had in stored for us, applying them in our own country and letting them fully affect our traditions, culture and beliefs. We are easily affected of the changes that occur and the influence of each country is strongly and fully taken in the past. For example, in the movie, the Spaniards think of us as Indio, and the Filipinos at that time believes that they are, indeed, indios. Also, it showed the wrong ambitions of the Filipinos which I can say is still an ambition of our people today, we want to be like the other countries, and we tend to forget about being different and the word originality. We dream for a wrong future for our country and we tend to be dependent on the richer countries. I think, all of the theories that are studied are seen in the film, but what I really noticed is the Reinforcement Theory. Like I said, we are easily affected and influenced by other countries, and it is because we want the whole world's attention and acceptance. This is also the reason why we ask for big dreams instead of simple ones, like being an artist, performer, ambassador or a government official; we think that popularity may be the fulfillment and a big need in the people's acceptance and respect. The movie also showed the irony that some Filipinos are not satisfied on what they can have while some are fine with what is given unto them. Irony, because at the Spanish Colonial time, those who are in the government and those who have what I think is enough are the ones who are not convinced with what they have, while those who are poor, those who had not enough money to spend in a day, are the ones who are satisfied of who they are and what they had. One of the things I liked in the movie is that it showed the Filipinos before, leaving us a question of who we are as Filipinos right now.