The use of fiction cinema as a methodological tool for social research

Abstract

Using fiction cinema for social research can give rise to skepticism precisely because of the invented nature inherent in the structure of cinematic works. However, a work of fiction is not autonomous from the social world; it reflects the culture in which it was produced and serves
as a mode of cultural expression. Insights from image analysis, visual anthropology, and film analysis have provided relevant perspectives that allow us to contribute to the debate regarding the rigor and feasibility of conducting social research through fiction films. Given the increasingly pervasive presence of images in our society, it is crucial to reflect on the relationship between image, society, and knowledge in order to consider how these works are
received and their effects on two levels: 1) as a representation of culture; and 2) as an expression of culture itself. Thus, tactics and strategies are outlined to ensure that the analysis of fiction films meets the necessary standards of rigor to be considered a valid field for analyzing the social world. In this context, "iconic pacts" are essential for stabilizing senses and meanings, preventing interpretations from becoming overly subjective—whether due to a viewer's specific life experiences or a reliance on the author's or director's original desires or intentions. Furthermore, analyzing fiction films can be a vital strategy for accessing dimensions of the social world that are difficult to reach through more traditional interventionist research methods—specifically, the realm of the imaginary or highly private aspects of social life shaped by taboo subjects or tensions arising from prevailing moral
norms. In such cases, an analysis of expression that goes beyond mere narrative structure—reintegrating that structure into the plane of immanence—offers the inventiveness needed to engage with social dimensions that exist but pose challenges for traditional research
approaches.