Films as any pieces of art always require their proper evaluation and interpretation according to definite principles of the critical analysis of works. To cope with the task effectively, it is necessary to concentrate on the difference between the main peculiarities of evaluation and interpretation.
Moreover, it is also significant to determine the elements which can be discussed in relation to this or that aspects. The factors which can influence the result of the evaluation and interpretation of the film and their specific features can be examined with the help of the study of American History X of 1998.
Evaluation of the work of art in general and of the film in particular is the determination of its special significance and worth. Thus, any piece of art can be considered as meaningful and important for the public.
To determine this significance, it is necessary to pay attention to the main idea of the film, to its purpose and conclusions. In its turn, interpretation is the explanation of the meaning of the work of art. Thus, to evaluate the film, it is significant to understand or to interpret the main elements and scenes of the film which can help to assess its worth and the aesthetic significance.
That is why the difference between evaluation and interpretation is in the quality of the analysis which a critic provides in connection with a definite film. Interpretation as an explanation only focuses on the plot meaning of certain elements of the film contributing to its right analysis. While evaluating the work, critics concentrate on the deep meaning of this piece of art which was provided as the artist’s main idea.
Any film should be discussed from the points of interpretation and evaluation. It is important to accentuate the elements which are required to be interpreted and evaluated in American History X. The evaluation as an approach is necessary for the analysis of the general worth of the film and its significance.
The main director’s idea was the discussion of the problems of racism and supremacy in the American society and the depiction of those dangerous effects which can have uncontrolled violent actions of the people who divide the others in ‘white’ and ‘black’ or other categories.
The aesthetical characteristics of the film are also decisive. Thus, it is required to focus on the details of the film as an aesthetical piece. That is why, to evaluate the worth of the film, critics should assess the importance and currency of the main author’s idea and those effects which were used for creating the picture.
Nevertheless, to make the successful evaluation, it is important to interpret the film perfectly. For instance, it is necessary to concentrate on such aspects depicted in American History X as the reasons for the narrator’s writing the report on Mein Kampf by Hitler, the peculiarities of Denny’s description of his brother Derek and causes for the fact that Danny idealizes his brother, the causes for Derek’s popularity among the youth, and the causes for Derek’s intention to prevent his brother from entering the supremacist’s organization in order to interpret thoroughly (“American History X”). These details should be discussed in their association with the other aspects which are important for the particular analysis of the film.
The last scenes of the film can be considered as the most meaningful in the film. Thus, critics can concentrate on the details of Danny’s essay and his vision of the brother, Derek’s attitude to the situation with ‘white’ and ‘black’ in the society and his feelings toward Danny (“American History X”).
Evaluation and interpretation are the necessary parts of the analysis of the work of art which help to understand its meaning and assess the aesthetic and cultural significance.
Works Cited
American History X. Plot Synopsis. n.d. Web. <https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120586/plotsummary>.