Subtitling and the Issue of Reception in Cinema Cover Image

Le sous-titrage et la problématique de la réception au cinéma
Subtitling and the Issue of Reception in Cinema

Author(s): Valentine Palm Sanou
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts
Published by: ArtPoligraf SRL
Keywords: African cinema;subtitling;translation;rhetoric of the image;reception;

Summary/Abstract: Subtitling is a result of cinematic innovation; it emerged following the advent of sound in film. It involves displaying a translation synchronized with the dialogue usually at the bottom of the screen, though sometimes along the side. This practice thereby makes the cinematic work more accessible and acts as a mediator between the film and the viewer. Consequently, it fosters the co-creation of the filmic work while simultaneously challenging the universality of the image and highlighting the cultural issue of the language barrier. This study aims to understand the implications of the advent of sound in cinema by examining the practice of subtitling within the context of African cinema. Key concepts translation, the rhetoric of the image, and reception theory will be used to elucidate the role of subtitling as a cultural mediator, specifically through an analysis of the subtitles in Dani Kouyaté’s film Keita! L’héritage du griot (1995) [1].

  • Issue Year: VIII/2026
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 51-60
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: French
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