elokuvataide

Elokuvataide, meaning 'cinematic art' in Finnish, denotes cinema regarded as an art form and a field of study. It covers the creation, analysis, and reception of films as aesthetic objects and cultural texts. In Finnish discourse, elokuvataide encompasses film language—mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound—as well as narrative structure, genre, performance, and the contexts in which films are produced and viewed. It sits at the crossroads of film studies, media studies, and visual arts, and it informs criticism, education, and curation.

History and scope: The term has long been used in Finnish higher education and criticism to distinguish cinema as art from entertainment alone. Scholars and practitioners study the history of cinema, national and international trends, and cinema’s social functions. The field includes documentary, animation, and experimental work, together with theory, criticism, and curatorial practice.

Practice and institutions: Practitioners include directors, screenwriters, scholars, critics, programmers, and archivists who analyze form and meaning or preserve film heritage. In Finland, national archives and research institutes safeguard films, while universities offer film studies programs. Festivals, cinemas, and museums contribute to public engagement with elokuvataide and foster dialogue about aesthetics, ethics, and representation.

Education and research: Film studies programs examine theory from realism to postmodernism, spectatorship, gender, and representation, and the interactions between film and other media. Research covers both global cinema and Finnish production and reception, including translation, distribution, and the impact of digital technologies on screening and access.