The Role of Cinematic Epigraphs in the Interference of Discourses in English-Language Feature Films
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The article presents an in-depth analysis of the role of cinematic epigraphs as pivotal paratextual components that facilitate the interference of discourses in English-language cinema. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms through which epigraphs expand the interpretive horizons of films, activate external cultural codes, and contribute to the creation of layered semantic structures. Special attention is given to how epigraphs influence viewer perception by establishing intellectual and emotional frameworks prior to the commencement of the main narrative. The paper examines specific examples from various feature films, illustrating how epigraphs set the conceptual tone of the narrative, engage in tense dialogues with the plot, or encourage comparative analyses of different semantic layers. Additionally, a typology of interactions between the epigraph and the cinematic text is proposed, encompassing unison, dissonance, and comparative interplay, thereby highlighting the multifunctionality and adaptability of these paratextual elements within the context of discursive interference practices. The findings emphasize the significance of cinematic epigraphs in shaping a comprehensive and multifaceted perception of filmic works, as well as their role in fostering critical thinking and interdisciplinary interpretations among audiences.
Author: Tatyana Tsybina
Institution: Pyatigorsk State University
Language: English
Topic: Cinema History and Criticism
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411794246