| Title | Characters as Symbols |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | How Characters Convey Higher-Level Meanings |
| Contributor | Jens Eder(author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0283.11 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0283/chapters/10.11647/obp.0283.11 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Jens Eder; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-07-29 |
| Long abstract | Based on a discussion of several theories of interpretation, Part VI of the book moves beyond the focus on characters as represented beings and artefacts, investigating how they can be understood as symbols that convey higher-order meanings (Chapter 11), and as symptoms that point to causes and effects in sociocultural reality (Chapter 12). Chapter 11 deals with characters as meaningful symbols. It explains the different ways in which characters allow inferences to higher meanings (e.g., through personification and exemplification) and distinguishes between different kinds of meanings they can embody, including thematic messages, abstract ideas, intertextual allusions, or references to real persons and social groups. Finally, the chapter explores various functions of symbolic characters and outlines how they fit into larger webs of narrative and cultural sense-making. |
| Page range | pp. 489–500 |
| Print length | 12 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
Jens Eder is Professor of Dramaturgy and Aesthetics at Film University Babelsberg in Potsdam, Germany. His research focuses on the intersections of audiovisual media, narrative, and society. He has published books and articles on narrative theory, characters, emotions, political documentaries, video activism on social media, and image operations in societal conflicts. Currently he is heading the research group ‘Film as a Catalyst of Social Transformation’, which investigates the impact of engaged films.