How Neuroscience Changes, Complicates, and Complements Contemporary Film Studies

As a result of recent research discoveries and technological advancements within neuroscience, a growing interest in the brain and its functions permeates not only film studies, but also the field of humanities as a whole. Yet, the neuroscientific influence on contemporary film studies is not easily defined; on the contrary, film scholars with different starting points identify fundamentally diverse aspects both problematic and intriguing (Grodal 2009; Carroll 2008; Pisters 2008). The aim of my research is to scrutinize the three-folded question: how does neuroscience change, complicate and possibly complement contemporary film studies? In this exploratory paper, I will discuss the potential changes to the film studies methodology, the ethical considerations of the increasingly complex relationship between audience and producer, as well as some possible hypotheses for testing utilizing neuroscientific methods.