Zhabsky, M. I., Tarasov, K. A. Development of Film Studies in Institutional Contextual Perspective

Abstract: The subject of the research is the prospects of the development of Russian film studies taking into account cause-and-effect dependencies inside the structural-functional bond ‘Film studies – Russian cinematograph – State support’. In particular, the authors analyze the following issues: the level of the development of national cinematograph as the precondition for the development of national film studies, objective need of the state to finance searches for movie ideas depending on the audience demand for national films, actual directions of solving issues of film studies, stages and drivers of film evolution in the Soviet and post Soviet periods, modern challenges for film studies, the need for rethinking over the object and subject of film studies, search for the theoretical consensus between science of screen art and state apparatus regarding the nature and mission of cinematographic art, development of researches aimed at creation of internally integrated multi-disciplinary ‘big science of cinematograph’ (N. Lebedev), importance of intellectual assets that are used for searching for an efficient strategic direction for the development of Russian motion-picture industry. In terms of theory and methodology, the analysis of the aforesaid problems is based on the idea that all national film studies can develop only when they have the following preconditions for the development: film studies have an autochthonous and developing object of research, i.e. motion-picture process that has roots in national culture, government must financially and morally encourage searches for movie ideas and film studies must be useful for both national screen culture and the government as an investor. These objective preconditions are created during the interaction of the three institutions – Russian cinematograph, film studies and the government supporting them. Theoretical and social-practical contribution of film studies and opportunities for the development of film studies depend on the adequate understanding of cause-and-effect consequences in this triangle. Prospects for further development of national film studies as the part of the outlined structural-functional bond are being viewed for the first time in Russian science. The authors concludes that there is a need for a drastic shift of research interests towards solution of the nettlesome problems of national cinematograph. The present market share of Russian movies is quite low which creates a threat for the national film industry, the system of training film workers of the highest proficiency level and national science of cinematograph.

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