https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/000C44D3?bcast=33174758.
Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
Francesca Iucci: My article explores the symbolic role cigarettes take in Orson Welles’s The Lady from Shanghai. Ever since watching the film, I was struck by the recurrence of cigarettes and smoking in scenes, which were essential to understand character dynamics. With my work, I strived to discover why and how cigarettes become relevant in characters’ interactions and obtain symbolic meaning that goes past their role as an object.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
FI: My work strongly relied on researching the stylistic features of film noir, specifically the notion of the femme fatale. To understand how cigarettes could take a symbolic role, I further consulted texts regarding the historical and social connotations of smoking/cigarettes.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
FI: In my last year of university, I took part in a module called American Independent Cinema. As part of this module, I was introduced to the work of Orson Welles and, when thinking of ideas for my final essay, I thought back to The Lady from Shanghai. New to the study of film, I took it upon myself to do as much research and watch key scenes, which was not only extremely helpful but also made me realize the relevance of shot-by-shot analysis in my argument. I therefore decided to investigate each scene frame by frame.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
FI: One of the aspects I most loved about the English Department at the University of York and the structure of my degree was the variety given to students to explore different forms of literature, including media and cinema. Had I not had the chance to take part in two film-oriented modules, I might not have discovered my passion for the subject. More than this, the department’s encouragement for critical thinking made it so that film and media were often included in seminar discussions and understanding of literary texts. My undergraduate studies have made it possible for me to grow as a critical thinker and express my opinions confidently.
FM: How has your faculty mentor(s) fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
FI: I initially wrote this article as a 1000-word essay of what later became the final product and had useful feedback from my module tutor. Her advice was essential to make sure I frame this work within the right context and in maintaining a simple yet definite scope of focus within the analysis. Furthermore, she offered valuable insight into how I could expand my work to other films and suggested publishing my article with Film Matters.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
FI: This being my first experience submitting an academic article for publication, I was extremely lucky to do so with Film Matters. Their instructions and advice were always extremely helpful. I also found the peer review process fascinating and exciting, pushing me to put forward my best work.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
FI: With this article, I hope to reach any audience invested in researching film noir and femme fatales, especially in Orson Welles’s projects. Although a minor contribution to this wide critical sphere, I hope readers can take away the essential position cigarettes have in The Lady from Shanghai and begin to question how the latter might appear in other Welles films, specifically when it comes to questions of agency and power. I hope my article can inspire wider considerations regarding the function of cigarettes in film, particularly considering the object’s historical and social significance.
FM: What are your future plans?
FI: I recently completed a master’s degree in film studies at the University of Leeds. I would like to continue to write about film, analyzing and critically evaluating projects.
Author Biography
Francesca Iucci is a graduate in English Literature from the University of York, and holds a Film Studies master’s degree from the University of Leeds. She is passionate about film and its analysis, and particularly dedicated to the research and evaluation of social roles in high school teen films.
