Phenomenology and Stream of Consciousness: The French New Wave and Modern Films

Abstract

Phenomenology is widely recognised as a philosophical framework that pertains to the comprehension of the universe and the investigation of epistemology, emphasising a shift towards seeing entities in their true form, while arguing that the outward manifestations are indicative of their intrinsic nature. The inclusion of consciousness in literary works deviates from conventional psychological portrayals due to the presence of the character's subconscious mind, which remains inaccessible to their awareness, alongside a representation of reality. Within the realm of film, the concept of stream of consciousness is translated into a visual representation, often referred to as a shot, which serves as a metaphorical depiction of the character's complete focus or absence thereof. This article posits that the topic of stream of consciousness remains prevalent in contemporary cinematic narratives by drawing a comparison between the French New Wave and current cinema.