New man in films under dictatorship (1958–1990) IV

IDMC finished the series of meetings on frame of the workshop "New Man in Films under Dictatorship (1958–1990)". In the last meeting the main topic of the discussion was about the young people.

The movies analyzed were: "Njeriu i mirë" (1982), "Apasionata" (1983), "Dora e ngrohtë" (1983), "Duaje emrin tënd" (1984). Young people were able to notice the context of the movies, but also the language, the symbolic and propaganda elements used in more sophisticated way compared to the movies produced in early 1960s or 1970s.

Prof. Asc. Dr. Linda Mëniku explained also the elements of "the other", "the enemy" and "the hero" in these movies. She emphasized that in the early 1980s, the focus of the cinematography was the social issues, where the public would find themselves. In this part, young people drew different perspectives on how the female figure was treated, the behaviors that were considered not right by the society and the power, as well as the hidden, propagandistic messages that they had.

Later on in a discussion triggered by the IDMC director, Dr. Jonila Godole, the young people discussed on the differences between the so-called "New Man" created in the movies and the "New Man" in the real life. They concluded that the "New Man" created in the movies produced during the dictatorship "lived and scarified for the ideals" and the "New Man" in the real life was "opportunist and extremely servile in submissive ways only to enjoy the privileges of power".

At the end of the workshop were delivered the evaluation forms which showed positive feedback and suggestion on having other activities which stimulate the knowledge and reflection about the propaganda transmitted through the movies.

About the Trainer

• Prof. Asoc. Dr. Linda Mëniku is a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at the Faculty of History and Philology, specialized in text linguistics and discourse analysis.