Damien, Coincidentally, I've just submitted an essay proposal dealing with the very topic of what is "realism". Here are three definitions. Realism: a representation which presents an appearance of transparency by effacing the processes of meaning production in their own textual operations. - Annette Kuhn Realism: [it] should have a surface accuracy; it should conform to notions of what we expect to happen; it should explain itself adequately to us, the audience; it should conform to particular notions of psychology and character motivation. - John Ellis Realism: what we evoke in the name of "realism" is a system of convention whose construction we co-operate in. - Richard Maltby The ideas in these definitions - "the processes of meaning production", "conform to notions of what we expect to happen" and "whose construction we co-operate in" - all these indicate that Realism can be seen as what an audience perceives to be the real world at the time that a text is produced. For example, a film is defined by popular critics as "realistic" if it shows an audience what they believe to be true about themselves at the time that they see it. The recent trend in Hollywood cinema of showing the President of the U.S. as incompetent and ineffective in films like "Absolute Power", "Primary Colours" and "Armageddon" - this representation is acceptable to American audiences of the late '90s but probably wouldn't have washed in the late '50s. Why? I think a simplistic answer would look at the disillusionment of American culture with big government and the perception of politicians as cut off from the public. In that sense, it is "realistic", but bear in mind it's a constantly shifting definition. E.g.: The Asphalt Jungle (1950) is a heist film and was considered realistic at the time of its release. The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three (1974) is a heist film and was considered realistic at the time of its release. However, the two films are very different. Then what has changed? The codes of realism. Why have they changed? Because American culture has changed. Jason Lapeyre York University, unofficial motto: "Grades 14-17" ---- To sign off SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]