The Cultivation Theory and Its Influence on Filmmaking: An Analytical Perspective on Media's Role in Shaping Social Reality

This paper extends Cultivation Theory—a theoretical framework developed by George Gerbner to explain television's influence on social perception—to the medium of filmmaking. Cultivation Theory proposes that prolonged, cumulative exposure to media narratives shapes audiences' perceptions of social reality. While television has dominated cultivation research, this analysis applies the theory's core principles to cinema's unique characteristics, including concentrated narrative structures, immersive experiences, and global cultural reach. Employing qualitative discourse analysis of filmmaking practices and narrative forms, this paper examines how cinema contributes to shaping social beliefs and attitudes regarding crime, cultural norms, and social reality.The analysis addresses how filmmaking operates within an evolving digital environment characterized by streaming platforms and algorithmic curation, while also examining the interplay between filmmaker intentionality and audience interpretation. This paper concludes that filmmaking represents a significant yet underexplored mechanism for cultivating social perceptions, with substantial implications for understanding how individuals and communities construct their worldviews in contemporary media environments. Based on these findings, the paper offers comprehensive recommendations for future research directions that address methodological innovations, cross-cultural investigations, and emerging technological contexts.