Cinema began as a vibrant recreation in which the spectator found value just in the production of the film itself. The audience was blown away at the ability to watch an event at a later time than it originally occurred. Cinema relied on this never-before-seen experience as the driving force behind its early success. This could obviously only last for so long because once you had experienced the never-before-seen experience you have fulfilled that desire. As the Cinema was forced to evolve from its early stages, the effects that Cinema had on its spectators too had to evolve. Now, the Cinema uses film as a venue to express "ideas about how the world is or should be seen" instead of just relying on the 'awe of the cinema'. Films express ideas and beliefs found throughout our society. To look at film in such a light is called the Ideological Theory.
Christopher Nolan uses his 2006 film, "The Prestige", as a venue to express his ideas about our society's obsession with getting to the top. The film portrays two magicians battling in a race to the top of the magician world. The two men try to win at any cost, losing loved ones and friends along the way. Nolan is commenting on our society's obsession with professional success, despite the repercussions that might come along with it. He uses their feud throughout the film as an example that could be found in our society. Nolan selects specific loses that the men must endure on their path to the top, such as loved ones and even their sanity at times. These loses represent things we highly value in our society. Nolan's film depicts many views of society and by analyzing this film with the Ideological Theory one can find commentary on ideas and beliefs.
