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The feminist lens examines the impact gender-based expectations have on the the representation and treatment of females. By examining this conversation through the feminist lens, it becomes clear how Jasmine is confined by societal expectations, gender roles and male authority. Societal  expectations are shown throughout the whole conversation, but are especially evident when Sultan Hamed tries to convince Princess Jasmine to marry simply because the law states she “must be married to a prince” by her next birthday. Not only does this reflect on the society’s pressure for marriage but it also reflects on society’s prioritization of rules over her feelings. The Sultan demonstrates gender stereotypes when he continues with his persuasion, explaining to Jasmine that he is “not going to be around forever” and just wants to make sure she is “provided for,” implying that her well-being depends on her future husband. This is especially ironic considering that Jasmine is the Sultan’s daughter, the Princess of Agrabah, and is well-equipped with resources and knowledge to provide for herself. Jasmine continues to express her disapproval of marriage by elaborating on how little freedom she has, trying to reach an agreement with her father until she gives up and exclaims, “Maybe I don’t want to be a princess anymore!” Here, power dynamics come into play as Sultan Hamed yells, “Allah forbid you should have any daughters,” displaying his male frustration when Jasmine challenges his male authority.  Overall, applying the feminist lens to this scene reveals the various ways Jasmine’s freedom is restricted through her traditional roles as a female.

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Aladdin: Diamond Edition: Sultan Speaks With Jasmine Blu-ray Movie Clip | ScreenSlam

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This lens explores how unconscious desires, internal conflict, and childhood experiences shape the way people think, behave and are motivated. In this scene, Tony Stark encounters his father, Howard, while time-travelling. Although Howard does not know who Tony is, Tony is obviously emotional and uncertain about what to say. He is trying to stay focused on the mission, but you can see that he is overwhelmed by unresolved childhood feelings. He is quieter, more personal, and more tense in his gestures. When he says, "Thank you... for everything you have done to this country," it is not really about the country- it is a disguised manner of finally saying thank you and finding closure.
This lens has helped me understand that Tony is not only a hero, but he is also doing it because he needed to reconcile with a father whom he felt distant from. The fact that he wants to be strong, but at the same time, he needs to be emotionally connected, demonstrates that his behaviour is still influenced by his previous experiences with his dad. The scene becomes less about the time heist but is more about a son attempting to heal before he sacrifices everything.

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Tony Meets His Dad - "No Amount Of Money Ever Bought A Second Of Time" - Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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Economic dominance and other forms of control through class struggle and institutions that guarantee their power over the working class belong to the major ideas of the Karl Marx lens. Through the lens of Marxism, Apple is portrayed in this commercial as a disruptive force against corporate and ideological domination, exposing the critique of oppressive institutions and conformity. The visual imagery of the dumb, uniform mob and the controlling figure on screen symbolizes the masses controlled by capitalism. The breaking of the screen by the woman represents resistance to economic and ideological oppression, in line with Marxist theories of resistance and class consciousness.

- Jayme Baichan

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The Freudian lens focuses on the unconscious feelings and inner struggles that characters go through, like hidden fears or identity problems.

In this scene, buzz has a breakdown after realizing he’s not a real space ranger, his fantasy (the id) is crushed by reality (the ego), leaving him feeling shocked and worthless. Watching this through the Freudian lens helped me understand buzz’s deep pain as his biggest belief is lost. When he says, “I am not a space ranger, just a toy,” and looks sad, it shows his struggle between what he wants to believe and the truth. woody then tries to rebuild buzz’s identity by reminding him he’s special as a loved toy, not a hero. Dialogue like “You are his toy” and “Any other toy would give up his moving parts to be you” highlights buzz’s shift from denying who he is to acceptance, showing how he can still have his self worth even after his identity is unknown and uses ego to find it. Using this lens made me see the scene as more than just a escape moment, it revealed the emotional and psychological struggle buzz faces in accepting who he really is.

-Mohamad Alnshiwati

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Toy story Buzz accepts he is a toy and helps Woody

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In the Barbie movie there was a scene where Ken had transformed Barbie’s Dreamhouse into the “Mojo Dojo Casa House,” when analyzing this media from a feminist lens it showcases the critical practical values and gender roles. The feminist lens is concerned with how gender is represented, in the distribution of power between male and female characters, and in whether or not traditional roles are reinforced or challenged. From this reading, the scene adds to our understanding of how even in a world dreamed up by and for Barbie, it is easy for a male character to come in and remake the space for his own purposes symbolizing the way patriarchy establishes itself in real world systems. Additionally the visual aspects of redesigning Barbie's home with very masculine objects like workout gear, alcohol fridges, horse posters that showcases Ken is attempting to gain control over Barbie's feminine and independent house. Ken's feeling of power and entitlement come from his overconfident statement "This is my Mojo Dojo Casa House now." Barbie feeling uncomfortable and confused brings attention to how she has no urgency in her own world. That relates to how women are often silenced and overlooked when men try to gain control or power. When looking at this from an feminist lens it shows the funny  commentary and characteristics about gender roles and how they can overpower women's identities and personal spaces even in different situations. When showing this irony on how there is a deeper meaning of gender in equality the lens enhances the viewers incorporation and makes the content more understandable and relevant.

Maneet Atwal

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Barbie (2023) - Ken Turns Barbie's Dreamhouse into Ken's Mojo Dojo Casa House | Top Clips

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I chose to decipher this little short film through a Dystopian Literary Lens. Right off the bat, in this clip I can see how people have lost their privacy due to constant surveillance. There are cameras hidden everywhere and objects they use every day such as mirrors or their phones aren't safe from this either. There's a part where a woman hesitates before saying something, and then she just chooses to be silent altogether. Most likely because she knows her words are be monitored closely. This moment stood out to me because it shows how normalized fear and control are in their world. It also seems like inventions such as AI assistances and facial recognition are being used to report people and limit what they do. This is very unfortunate since these inventions were supposed to make life more convenient. The whole vibe of this scene is cold and tense, with dull colours and pretty quiet, solemn background music, which adds to the feeling of discomfort. It was very easy to watch through this using a dystopian lens, since the main theme is a world that traded their freedom in for a false sense of "safety." Analyzing this was very interesting to me and it made me think about how our technology could actually be heading in the same direction. Another lens i could've used for this clip would be a Marxist lens since there's a theme of economic control present.

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Our Future Without Privacy - Dystopian Short Film

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Psychoanalytic Theory is a lens that examines the influence unconscious desires, past experience, and internal conflicts have on people's behaviors, mentality, and motivations. This lens deepens my understanding of the short film, "Genetic grief" because it helps me to identify specific causes of a character's behavior. It exposes the underlying everyday struggle of a character's downward spiral and suicide attempt, resulting from generational trauma and perceived burdensomeness. Throughout the video, the boy progressively submerges himself into the ocean as he gradually considers suicide. In a past experience, the boy notes, "I cost you money again" revealing the boy's mentality of burdensomeness because he feels guilty for being taken care of for something that is technically in his control. The dark figures represents the bloodlines of fathers previous to him and reveals the influence that generational trauma has on the boy's actions and thoughts, pushing him to inflict self-harm and attempt suicide.

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The Feminist Lens focuses on how gender roles, representation, and power dynamics of women are displayed on the media. It explores whether female characters are expressed as dependent or independent, empowered or passive, and the amount of control they have over their own decisions and identity. Additionally, his perspective considers whether a story questions or supports the traditional expectations for females. This includes the belief that females should self sacrificing, obedient, and quiet.

Analyzing "Let it Go" through a feminist perspective deepens my understanding by showing that Elsa's transformation is a symbolic moment of a woman escaping from the pressure to be polite, emotionally restrained and perfect. In this movie, Elsa is forced conceal her feelings in order to appear in control which is an expectation usually placed on women. Through this lens, I noticed that Elsa's isolation wasn't just physical, it was suppressing her emotions. However this scene shows her breaking free from all the limits put on her and shows Elsa embracing herself for who she really is. She finally decides to let go representing a strong feminist moment where she reclaims her identity.

Visuals and Dialogues Cues

Phrases: "That perfect girl is gone" and " I don't care what they're going to say" These phrases show Elsa denying the traditional image of what a woman should look and act like. Elsa stops trying to please others with her actions and instead choses to express herself how she wants.

Costume and Body Language: In this clip, Elsa is shown letting down her hair and changing from her traditional dress to a shimmery and free flowing dress. This symbolizes freedom from expectations of being royal and feminine. Her confident posture and open gestures show that she isn't afraid of hiding herself from anyone anymore.

Setting: In this video, Elsa creates her own castle which consists of her own space and power. This symbolizes control over her life and independence. It shows that she is capable of living free and doesn't need to rely on someone to give her a place in the world.

-Gurneet

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Idina Menzel - Let It Go (from Frozen) (Official Video)

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In this scene of The Matrix, Neo finds out that the world he was living in has basically been a computer simulation that was created to control people. Morpheus explains that what we think is real is just electrical signals to our brain, and the way Neo sees himself, his clothes, and his hair is just what his mind believes he looks like. Through the existentialist lens, this scene shows Neo starting to question everything around him, his life, and including who he is and what’s real.

Existentialism is about people trying to find their meaning in a world where they can’t find their true purpose or a clear answer. When Morpheus asks, “How do you define real?”, it makes Neo and us, the viewer, question whether we can truly trust our experiences. The room they are in is fully white and empty, compared to the last second where they were in a broken, dark world Morpheus showed him. That switch shows how confusing it can be when your whole understanding of the world is changed in an instant.

This scene shows how Neo has to either go back to living his life, knowing everything he knows is a lie, or go with Morpheus. He has to make that choice because he knows what is real and what is not anymore. He has to figure out for himself what kind of person he wants to be. That is what existentialism is about, it is about paving your own path even if there is difficulty in choosing that path.

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Spider-Man No Way Home’s scene depicting Aunt May’s death is a key example of the psychoanalytic lens being used to unveil the complexity of a character especially when he is faced with some of the worst circumstances a person can go through. This lens is focused on interpreting a character’s past experiences might affect their present, and how unconscious psychological effects influence their behaviour. At this point in the narrative, Peter Parker has lost his parents, uncle, and mentor--he is deeply shaken by his grief before the scene even happens. In this scene, his worst fear comes to life, and the viewer can see his reasoning skills break down into that of a child (“What are you doing May, would you just wake up and talk to me, please?” even after she has died), as he has now lost the last of his family. The scene shows through a psychoanalytic lens how deeply someone’s childhood experiences of trauma affect their ability to cope with the present, especially when that present is even worse than the past.

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Aunt May's Death Scene | Spider-Man: No Way Home (Tom Holland, Marisa Tomei)

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A feminist lens looks at how gender roles are challenged or reinforced, specifically in systems of power. It looks at how power structures and societal expectations shape the characters and the narrative by looking at who has authority, and how femininity is portrayed whether that be a strong warrior or a caregiver.

By applying this lens to this clip from Avatar the Last Airbender, where Katara fights Paku, I deepened my understanding by seeing that Katara wasn't just fighting to learn waterbending. Her fight was about standing up against culture/tradition. Instead of seeing it as a personal conflict between Katara and Paku about bending, the feminist lens revealed a broader issue, of challenging sexist traditions that don't allow her and other girls in the tribe to reach their potential. Her fight become a form of activism rather then self defense. This was also evident as in the parts that she was winning, the girls of the tribe cheered. Making it clear that her defiance wasn't just for her but was for the empowerment of all the women in the tribe.

There were quite a few dialogue cues that support this lens.

1. "Go back to the healing huts with the other women, where you belong." This was said directly by Paku, this statement strongly reinforces the gender role about women being only suited for nurturing and caring, not for being in places where power and skill are developed.

2. "You can't knock me down." This was said by Katara, and is is both literal and symbolic, reflecting her denial to accept the limits that were placed upon her.

3. Girls cheered when she was winning and were distraught when she ended up losing. This reflects how ingrained sexism is in the Northern Water Tribe as well as how her fight represents more than her own pride. But serves as a symbol of hope for all the women in the tribe who were rejected from fighting.

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Katara  vs Master Paku (Full) AvatarThe Last Airbender

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Auli'i Cravalho - How Far I'll Go (from Moana/Official Video)

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This video expresses the Feminist Lens which looks at gender roles, power structures, and how women are represented and empowered.

Viewing this scene through a feminist lens brings lights to Moana's desire to break from traditional expectations placed on her as the village chief's daughter. She wanted to go out beyond the reef, explore her ambitions, and later was tasked to save the entire ocean instead of being held enclosed on the island. Rather than accepting this passive role, she actively seeks that purpose and adventure, working against the stereotype of the obedient female character.

Specific cues that support this are...

The lyrics "I can lead with pride, I can make us strong... But the voice inside sings a different song," expresses her internal conflict between duty and personal ambition.

Moana's body language. Standing alone on the shore and reaching towards the ocean symbolizes independence and strength.

The recurring visual of the ocean calling her supports the idea of her destiny is not confined by others' expectations.

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Auli'i Cravalho - How Far I'll Go (from Moana/Official Video)

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The feminist lens focuses on female empowerment and challenges traditional gender roles in society, while also demonstrating that femininity and intelligence can coexist. When examining the scene from Legally Blonde through a feminist lens, Elle, the main character, isn't judged for her beauty or appearance, but rather for her knowledge, which challenges the stereotypes she faces, claiming that she isn't intelligent. Evidence that supports this scene is when Elle confronts the witness, saying, "Wouldn't you have heard the gunshot?" (00:01:41). This specific part of the scene is the turning point of the trial because the judge and audience of the court start seeing the case from a different perspective. This is also a pivotal moment in Elle's overall journey at Harvard, given that she was never truly recognised for her insight.

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Legally Blonde (2001) - Elle Wins! Scene  (11/11) | Movieclips

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Prison Break -  Episode Pilot (Season 1)

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The Existentialist lens features themes of individual liberty, singularity, and the way of implying significance within a world that might be unsympathetically or unjust. The interpretation of this Prison Break scene in this context further explains why Miceal Scofield decided to get into prison as an act of giving direction to his life by rescuing his brother, whatever the cost is to himself. The physical distance between the two is visually seen as Micheal is staring intensely at Lincoln who has his prison uniform on and has a calm and assertive face which shows that he has accepted this burdensome decision and the solitude it encapsulates. His calm and reserved voice in the scene also displays his moment of conflict with fear and uncertainty as he accepts his new sense of identity and purpose.

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The Postmodern lens focuses on how texts mock traditional genre rules, blur reality and fiction, or use irony and exaggeration to comment on society. Through this lens, the DMV scene in Zootopia becomes more than just a funny moment — it highlights how the film plays with audience expectations and stereotypes in a self-aware way. The animals are used ironically: a sloth works at the DMV (infamously slow), and a rabbit (a symbol of speed) is stuck in bureaucracy. The over-the-top pacing, long silences, and exaggerated facial expressions mock real-world systems and call out how inefficient and absurd they feel. Viewed through a postmodern lens, the clip isn't just humorous — it’s a playful critique of modern institutions using parody and irony.

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The Psychoanalytic lens explores trauma, inner conflicts, and how characters deal with loss and desires. In the opening scene from the movie Up, the visuals of the wordless montage of Carl and Ellie’s life reveals how Carl’s deep fondness for Ellie and indefinite grief carried from her passing. In addition, the soft, nostalgic music plays a crucial role in evoking the emotional high of their love and sorrow from their loss of a child, reflecting Carl’s internal conflict. Therefore, this lens merged with various visuals and musical signals allows for a deepened understanding of Carl’s motive throughout the film, and his journey is filled with emotional healing and rediscovering a purpose.

Prabhleen Saund

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Up (2009) - "Married Life" Opening Scene

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The Social Justice Lens is a lens that pays attention to a system of power, inequality, and how individuals can resist negative expectations of society. In this scene of How to Train Your Dragon, to become a real Viking, Hiccup is to kill Toothless, but he decides to empathize with the dragon and frees him. This scene differs from the fear and violence his people have about dragons, which, in the view of his scenario, is a renunciation of a prejudice he inherited. In this context, he is not merely making a personal choice; Hiccup would also be rebelling softly against the culture, which possibly respects domination much more than meaning. Cues such as the way that Hiccup gradually bows his weapon and Toothless warily bow in turn are visual and only play to stress the vulnerability and trust that is developing between the two. With these actions, we better understand the scene not only as a turning point in their friendship but as an effective statement of breaking cycles of fear, a redefinition of strength, and a demonstration of compassion, which is a form of justice. One of the dialog lines, which confirms the Social Justice Lens, is what Hiccup later states: “I would not kill him, as he appeared to be as scared as I was.” The line is a direct counterpoint to the concept of dragons as a creature of evil, and it shows how fear and misunderstanding act as a catalyst to injustice, which once again underlines the emphasis on the need for empathy to trounce the issue of systematic bias.

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How to Train Your Dragon - Freeing Toothless Scene | Fandango Family

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Using the Freudian lens, "The Elevator" focuses on the character’s unconscious fears and internal conflict between his id, ego, and superego. This perspective shows that his panic in the elevator is not only about physical space. It also relates to a deeper anxiety about control, safety, and hidden desires or fears. The clip revealed that the protagonist's obsessive counting of people and estimating their weight may symbolize his ego trying to keep order while his id causes irrational anxiety. Visual cues like his sweating, nervous glances, and fidgeting hands illustrate the pressure building within his mind. The lack of spoken dialogue and reliance on internal reactions highlight how much of his fear is internalized. As the protagonist escapes the elevator, he enters another one. Initially, he is content due to the limited number of people and their 'normal' size. However, he soon realizes that everyone in the elevator is sick and is headed to a flu treatment centre. This shift suggests that his fear of discomfort, contamination, or loss of control (id-driven fears) isn’t resolved by external change, because the root of his anxiety is internal. The visual of him being trapped with coughing strangers mirrors his earlier panic, showing that no matter the setting, his unconscious fears continue to manifest. This approach connects well with Freud’s theory that the unconscious mind influences behaviour.

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The psychoanalytic lens explores how unconscious desires, inner conflicts, and past experiences shape a person’s thoughts, behaviors, and motivations. In Epic: The Musical Odysseus is driven by a deep desire to protect his crew and return home, but beneath that is a hidden fear of weakness and failure. This fear fuels his increasingly ruthless decisions. His desire to be seen as a strong leader—even a hero—pushes him to make choices that gradually erode his morality. Over time, the need to survive and control every situation overtakes his empathy. Odysseus’s trauma begins at Troy, especially with him having to murder Hector’s infant son, which haunts him. The death of Polites, his closest friend, during the Cyclops Saga further scars him. These events create deep emotional wounds and contribute to his loss of trust in the world. Each traumatic moment teaches him that mercy leads to loss—pushing him to embrace a colder, more brutal persona. Odysseus repeatedly represses his guilt to maintain his identity as a strong leader. Songs like “Monster” reveal that he is aware of his transformation, but he's suppressing the emotional cost. The internal conflict between who he was (a man with empathy) and who he’s becoming (a ruthless survivor) remains unresolved and eats away at him. This is classic repression: avoiding the emotional consequences to stay “in control.” Odysseus often imagines returning to Ithaca and reuniting with Penelope and Telemachus, his wife and son. But as his journey continues, this dream becomes distant and distorted. It no longer motivates him with love—it haunts him with doubt, guilt, and unworthiness. His fantasy becomes a reminder of what he’s lost within himself, not just what he's trying to return to. It reflects the disintegration of his identity and his fear that he may no longer be the man his family remembers—or deserves to return.

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The Ecocriticism lens addresses the representation of nature, specifically showing human relationships with the natural world as a critique to environmental destruction. In The Lorax, viewers witness the negative repercussions of capitalism and economic greed through the cutting of trees in the name of business profit. As a kids movie, it simplifies the main message while still remaining meaningful and relevant. Keeping this lens in mind while viewing this clip effectively highlights the key takeaways of the clip/movie; human greed in a money-driven society will lead to the destruction of the environment. We see Once-ler (man wearing the hat) representing human greed, showcasing the lengths that people will go to for money despite not having ill intentions initially. The Lorax, as he describes it, "speaks for the trees." "Happy yet? You fill that hole deep down inside you? Or do you still need more?" This quote exhibits how humans have a never-ending for desire for more, whether it be money or other things. Then, we see a machine cut down the very last tree — the only thing that can stop him. The movie then pans over a gloomy land of nothingness, the complete opposite of the colourful forest it used to be. After, we see two men removing a billboard ad for Once-ler's invention, and one man starts coughing because there's no fresh air left. All the animals are forced to leave as the place is no longer livable, and the Lorax disappears into the sky there are no more trees for him to speak for. At the end, we see that the sacrifice wasn't even worth it as his invention eventually dies down, and he lives his life in regret afterwards. The message here is that ecological balance is key, and if humans keep taking without ever giving back, someday resources will run out.

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The Marxist Lens focuses on the impacts of the ruling class on the laborers, and how society is disrupted. When we apply this lens to the iconic scene of where Snow White enters the seven dwarfs’ cottage and is stunned to see how messy it is. She begins cleaning with the help of the forest animal, showing an example of inequality and labor exploitation in society. Snow White almost instantly takes the role of being a caretaker, despite the no pay. She believes that her survival depends on the idea of pleasing others by offering her time to do free labor, reflecting how the working class must sacrifice their time and energy for basic needs and security. The scene above is presented with the song “Whistle While You Work”, which expresses how society will often encourage people to accept hard work without any reward. Although, the dwarfs’ who own the cottage, who are also not there to see what Snow White is doing, end up coming home to enjoy the benefits of a tidy home. This highlights the idea of the Marxist lens: Snow White and the animals do all the hard and messy work, but the dwarfs receive the relaxing comfort of living in their own home. Overall, this scene shows class and power are built directly on top of inequality and labour exploitation. Snow White’s actions are seen as she's doing the right thing, which is basically reinforcing onto the younger generation that it is okay to accept any unfair societal systems.

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Whistle While You Work - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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Metropolis (1927) is set in an urban futuristic city in which the worker class lives below ground in a dystopian nightmare, whereas the upper class lives lavishly above in a utopian dream world. Because of this clear bifurcation, the film lends itself to an analysis using the dystopian lens as it focuses on the dehumanization and expendability of the working class in a hyper-capitalist economic system. In this scene, the workers' dehumanization is emphasized in their stiff and robotic movement as a shift change takes place. Hundreds of enervated men shuffle towards an elevator that carries them down to the 'Workers' city' as an equal number of identically dressed men exit the shaft to replace them. This scene depicts the effects of hyper-capitalism and industrialization on the workers’ souls and warns of the crushing oppressiveness of industrial work when taken to this extreme.

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Metropolis (opening scenes) with score by Zack Kline

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Viewed through the psychoanalytic theory lens, which analyzes how desires in one's mind could be influenced by hidden fears, trauma, and experiences. From Berserk, Griffith's speech with Charlotte isn't a romantic interaction but is an impactful psychological performance. Analyzing through the psychoanalytic theory, this scene reveals Griffiths's fragile psyche, showing fears of powerlessness and an obsessive desire for control over everything, he creates a version of himself as a "noble dreamer" that masks the insecurities which have been placed in him from a very young age through poverty and social exclusion. He has a dream of ruling a kingdom, which acts as a coping mechanism for his past traumas. Griffith's conversation with Charlotte is driven not by love but by a desire for validation and utility; she becomes an object to validate Griffith's grand dream. Also, looking through a Freudian lens, his id drives his ambition for dominance, while his ego builds the image of a nobleman. His superego, which should create guilt for using his comrades, is being suppressed by the gratification Charlotte provides. She becomes a tool for Griffith to achieve his goal of obtaining political power and feeding his self-image. As the repression builds up, it reveals his fragile ego it gets to a point where it erupts later on in the story, making him commit heinous crimes. In conclusion, Griffith's speech does not reveal love and vulnerability but a psyche that is shaped by trauma, ambition and the fear of being normal.

Harshmeet Assi

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The psychoanalytic lens investigates how people's beliefs, behaviors, and motivations are influenced by unconscious desires, internal conflicts, and past experiences. Observed through The Dark Knight (2008), Joker exposes Batman's inner conflict, revealing Batman's struggle between emotions, justice, morals and revenge. Joker taunts Batman, seen through his laughing and the words: “You have nothing. Nothing to threaten me with,”. Commented by Harvey Dent, “Who's in control?” Batman loses control and staggers with a fury of emotion. Analyzing with a psychoanalytic perspective, it becomes evident that Joker is not just a villain here; rather, similar to a mirror, he reflects Batman's suppressed internal emotions and chaos. Batman's conflict is visually heightened through the dim lighting, mirrored glass, isolated room, and close-up shots, creating a symbolic prison not just for the Joker, but caging Batman with his morals against his emotions. Ultimately, with this perspective, the scene is about Batman facing himself rather than a fight between hero and villain, as the Joker effectively uncovers Batman's internal conflict.

Navy R

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Batman interrogates the Joker | The Dark Knight [4k, HDR]

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The existentialist lens is a way of interpreting text through awareness of freedom, choice, and the creation of individual significance in an indifferent or meaningless world. It emphasizes the ways characters are presented with a meaningless world, and they bear the burden of defining their lives and personalities despite the ambiguity or absurdity.

In the scene, the existentialist lens appears through the way Miles accepts his freedom and responsibility through embracing the leap of faith and establishing his own identity as Spider-Man, as opposed to waiting for others to dictate it for him. This is achieved through the use of symbols and metaphors, notably when Miles leaps, the glass he was standing on shatters. This contradicts what we learned earlier in the movie, where letting go and falling requires relaxation, revealing his fear and doubt at this moment. Then, as he falls, the camera flips, showing him rising instead of falling. This shift in angle symbolizes his shift from fear and doubt to empowerment and self-defined purpose as he finally embraces his identity as Spider-Man. Secondly, earlier in the movie, Miles is seen buying a cheap Spider-Man Halloween costume, representing how throughout the movie, until now, he has just been a cheap imitation of Spider-Man, copying the other Spider-Men and not being himself, this is also shown in how Miles wants to please his father by becoming the person his dad wants him to be not who he wants to be. Also, during this scene, where he buys the Spider-Man costume, he asks Stan Lee if he can return the costume if it doesn't fit. Stan Lee's response was, "It always fits, eventually". This symbolizes how, eventually, Miles will fit into the roles and responsibilities placed on him. Now, coming back to the leap of faith scene, we see Miles swing up into the sky, and it shows his new Spider-Man suit, this time not a cheap costume, but his suit with his flair. During this scene, Aunt May also gives Miles a pair of web shooters and says, "They fit perfectly". This parallels what Stan Lee said earlier when Miles bought the costume from him, where Stan Lee said "eventually", Aunt May said "perfectly", symbolizing how, in this moment, Miles has stepped up to those responsibilities and roles.

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Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse – ‘Leap of Faith’ Movie Clip [HD]

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The Freudian lens focuses on how literature reflects unconscious desires and conflicts, revealing hidden tensions within characters and narratives. This is often done by analyzing how the id, ego, and superego are represented in the text, and focusing on the characters’ desires, and emotions. In this clip, this lens reveals how the choices Cobb (the protagonist) makes are influenced by his id, ego, and superego, which are represented by himself, Mal, and Ariadne. Mal represents the id, acting solely on selfish desire, revealing Cobb’s unconscious desire to remain in a dream state forever to live with his dead wife, despite the fact that several lives are counting on him for survival, and that he would be avoiding his problems instead of facing them head-on. Ariadne represents Cobb's superego, acting as his moral conscience, and is shaped by his ethical duties and societal values. Ariadne, or Cobb’s superego, tells him to abandon Mal, or his id, and leave the dream state to go back to reality, where he will have to live without his beloved wife. Cobb himself represents the ego, acting as the referee between the id and superego. Cobb, or the ego, evaluates his selfish desires and moral obligations, and ultimately chooses to make the “sensible” decision to leave Mal in the dreamstate, thus conflicting with his unconscious desires, but fulfilling his societal expectation. The actor’s visual demeanours supports this lens: Mal is depicted as an erratic and aggressive character, which is similar to how the id is irrational and selfish. Ariadne is shown to be level headed and emotionally intelligent, which is similar to how the superego is a rational guide that delegates a person’s emotions. Lastly, Cobb is depicted as the “decision-maker,” which is similar to how the ego is considered the “judge” between the id and superego.

Gurleen Hunjan

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Mulan Takes Her Fathers Place - Mulan (1998)

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The feminist lens explores how gender roles and patriarchal systems limit women’s choices and identity and how female characters resist these constraints. Applying this lens to the scene where Mulan takes her father’s place in the army reveals her defiance of traditional expectations placed on women in her culture. The act of cutting her hair silently in the dark symbolizes her rejection of feminine norms, while putting on armour and stealing her father’s sword shows her taking on a role denied to her in society, defying both the law and gender roles imposed on her. The visuals are striking as a storm rages while she transforms in silence, symbolizing the emotional turmoil and strength required to reject societal norms. Her relationship with her mother and father appears supportive, but also reflects the dangers women face when stepping outside accepted roles. When her mother cries, “You must go after her… she could be killed,” and her father replies, “If I reveal her, she will be,” it shows how women face punishment not for wrongdoing, but for stepping outside the roles assigned to them. The feminist lens deepens my understanding of the scene by revealing Mulan’s act as not just one of bravery, but of resistance, as she risks everything to claim her right to be seen and valued in a society that tries to silence her.

Shreya M

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1. The postcolonial lens focuses on how the effects of colonization impact culture, identity, and power. It highlights how formerly colonized societies reclaim their heritage and resist cultural domination.

2. In this scene from Black Panther, the lens shows that Everett Ross’s awakening in Wakanda is not just a physical revival but a symbolic encounter where two different worlds collide. Ross, coming from an outside perspective, is faced with a culture that defies his expectations and challenges common stereotypes about Africa.

3. Some specific visual clues include the advanced Wakandan technology used to heal Everett Ross. This surprises him because it challenges common stereotypes about Africa. Additionally, when Ross asks, “Is this Wakanda?” and Shuri responds with humor, it highlights his surprise and challenges common misconceptions about Wakanda.

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The Marxist lens focuses on class struggle and how power and wealth are distributed in society. In the reaping scene, this lens reveals the deep socioeconomic divide between the Capitol and the oppressed districts, especially how the poor are used as expendable entertainment for the elite. The scene’s visuals, such as the muted, worn clothing of District 12 residents compared to the pristine attire of Capitol officials, highlight this imbalance. The forced participation in the Hunger Games shows how the wealthy maintain control by turning the suffering of the poor into a spectacle.

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The Hunger Games: Katniss and Peeta Reaping Scene [HD]