Character Constellations as Social and Aesthetic Systems

Chapter 10 examines the character constellation as a complex network that encompasses various kinds of social and aesthetic relations between characters. Major, secondary, and minor characters are positioned in a hierarchy of attention determined by factors such as screen time and narrative focus. In the context of plots and conflicts, characters take on certain functional roles, e.g. as protagonist, antagonist, or helper. At the same time, characters and their traits are orchestrated in such a way that their analogies and contrasts evoke certain evaluative interpretations and affective reactions in the audience. In particular, the distribution of moral and aesthetic values within the constellation of characters, as well as their association with certain social groups, affects their appraisal and thematic interpretations. Case studies on Imitation of Life, Casablanca, and other films show how the positioning of characters in a constellation creates multi-layered networks of social relationships and thematic meaning. Based on these distinctions, the chapter outlines various prototypical character constellations that have emerged in mainstream and arthouse cinema. The chapter concludes with analytical questions on stereotyping in character constellations that encourage a critical examination of the representation of social groups.