Summary of attempts to assert the dignity and worth of people into filmmaking/cinema.

1. *Summary of*
The Humanistic
Approach

2. Definition:
 The termThe term HumanisticHumanistic derives from thederives from the
nounnoun HumanistHumanist..
 AA HumanistHumanist is a person who has ais a person who has a
strong interest in or concern for humanstrong interest in or concern for human
welfare, values, and dignity.welfare, values, and dignity.
 Therefore, Writers/Directors who takeTherefore, Writers/Directors who take
a humanistic approach in theira humanistic approach in their
filmmaking tend to have a very positivefilmmaking tend to have a very positive
viewpoint of human nature andviewpoint of human nature and
potential.potential.

3. What’s Humanism?
 HumanismHumanism is based on the belief thatis based on the belief that
human bonds and love must behuman bonds and love must be
positively supported and establishedpositively supported and established
through human effort in education, thethrough human effort in education, the
arts, and human centered governmentarts, and human centered government
policy, in order to attain commonpolicy, in order to attain common
ground.ground.

4. *The Humanistic Approach*
 Emphasizes the personal worth ofEmphasizes the personal worth of
each individual.each individual.
 It suggests that we are eachIt suggests that we are each
responsible for our own happiness andresponsible for our own happiness and
well-being as humans.well-being as humans.
 And, at the core, the belief is thatAnd, at the core, the belief is that
human beingshuman beings allall have an essentialhave an essential
value.value.

5. *Origins*
 One of the origins of the humanisticOne of the origins of the humanistic
perspective and approach, in general,perspective and approach, in general,
is the philosophy ofis the philosophy of existentialismexistentialism..
 ExistentialismExistentialism is concerned withis concerned with
defining the meaning of humandefining the meaning of human
existence.existence.
 ExistentialismExistentialism is about life.is about life.
 Existentialists believe in living -- and inExistentialists believe in living -- and in
fighting for life.fighting for life.

6. *Examples*
 Films that portray people involved inFilms that portray people involved in
various wars because they believevarious wars because they believe
passionately in fighting for the survivalpassionately in fighting for the survival
of their nations and peoples.of their nations and peoples.
 The politics of existentialists variesThe politics of existentialists varies
depending upon the situation (i.e.depending upon the situation (i.e.
location, religion, culture, land mass,location, religion, culture, land mass,
etc.), but each seeks the mostetc.), but each seeks the most
individual freedom for people within aindividual freedom for people within a
society.society.

7. *Conclusion*
 TheThe Humanistic ApproachHumanistic Approach toto
filmmaking attempts to assert thefilmmaking attempts to assert the
dignity and worth of individuals anddignity and worth of individuals and
tries to make sense of the theirtries to make sense of the their
emotional and intellectual experiencesemotional and intellectual experiences
through film.through film.