Film Studies Vocabulary

noun a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms

• The canon law of the Catholic Church governs the practices and beliefs of its members.
• In the world of photography, Canon is known for its high-quality cameras.
• That movie is definitely not canon with the original book series.
• The author's latest work is considered a new canon in the genre of science fiction.

noun the final resolution or outcome of a story or play; the unraveling of a plot

• The denouement of the play revealed the true intentions of the main characters.
• The denouement of the movie was so unexpected, I couldn't believe it!
• The denouement of the party was when the cops showed up and shut it down.
• The denouement of their relationship was when they finally had closure and moved on.

noun a representation or portrayal

verb to show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form

• The artist's painting beautifully depicts the serene landscape.
• The movie does a great job of depicting the struggles of everyday life.
• The TikTok video really nailed how to depict a relatable situation.
• Her words were able to depict the emotions that words cannot express.

noun a movie or television or radio program that provides a factual record or report

adjective using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a particular subject

• The documentary provided a comprehensive look into the history of the region.
• I watched a really interesting documentary last night about climate change.
• That documentary was lit, I learned so much!
• Her life felt like a documentary, full of ups and downs captured on camera.

noun a conversation between two people, typically in a play or film

• The play featured a thought-provoking duologue between the two main characters.
• During the meeting, they had a long duologue about the project.
• I overheard a duologue between those two gossiping about their classmates.
• The duologue between the rain and the wind created a symphony of nature.

noun a very ugly or comically distorted figure, creature, or image

adjective comically or repulsively ugly or distorted

• The painting depicted a grotesque scene of monsters and demons.
• The Halloween decorations were so grotesque, it was hard to look at.
• That movie was so gross and grotesque, I couldn't even finish watching it.
• The corruption in the government was a grotesque display of power and greed.

noun a style of theatrical performance or writing that is exaggerated or melodramatic; nonsense or foolishness

• The article was filled with hokum and lacked any credible sources.
• I can't believe they expect us to buy into that hokum.
• That movie was just a bunch of hokum, don't waste your time watching it.
• His promises were nothing but hokum, they never came true.

noun a public show of respect or honor towards someone or something

• The artist paid hommage to the great masters of the past in his latest exhibition.
• I wanted to create a hommage to my favorite childhood cartoon in my latest art project.
• The new movie is a total hommage to the classic 80s films we used to love.
• Her decision to become a doctor was a hommage to her late mother who always wanted to pursue medicine.

noun the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

preposition the act or instance of placing two or more things side by side or close together

• The painting displayed a striking juxtaposition of light and dark tones.
• It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.
• The juxtaposition of those two characters was totally unexpected!
• The song lyrics created a powerful juxtaposition between love and loss.

noun a literary or artistic work

• The composer's latest opus received critical acclaim from music critics.
• Have you heard the new opus from your favorite band? It's amazing!
• That opus is fire, bro!
• Her latest novel is truly her opus, showcasing her talent and creativity.

verb to become established or begin to take effect

adverb used to describe the manner in which something becomes established or begins to take effect

• The novel is set in Victorian England, depicting the societal norms of the time.
• The movie is set in a small town where everyone knows each other's business.
• The show is set in a high school full of drama and gossip.
• Her mind was set in its ways, unwilling to consider any new ideas.

noun a person who is obsessed with completing a collection or set of items

• The completist collector insisted on having every item in the limited edition set.
• My friend is a completist when it comes to collecting vinyl records.
• I'm a completist when it comes to binge-watching TV shows.
• Being a completist in his work, he made sure every detail was perfect.

noun a term that combines 'neuro' from neuroscience and 'cinematics' from cinematography, referring to the study of brain activity in response to film or video stimuli

• Neurocinematics is a field of study that combines neuroscience with cinematography to understand how the brain processes film and visual media.
• I read an interesting article about neurocinematics and how our brains react to movies.
• Have you heard about that cool new thing called neurocinematics? It's all about studying how our brains respond to movies.
• The director used neurocinematics techniques to create a truly immersive viewing experience for the audience.

verb to go along with someone or something

adjective having someone or something else with you

adverb in the company of someone or something

• The CEO was accompanied by her executive team to the important meeting.
• I was accompanied by my best friend to the concert last night.
• I always feel better when I'm accompanied by my squad.
• Success is often accompanied by hard work and dedication.