REPRESENTATION OF HISTORICAL FILMS ON STREAMING PLATFORMS

Abstract

The digital transformation of the audiovisual sector in recent years has not only reshaped the production and distribution of films but also largely transfigured the reception of films and audience engagement. This also calls for re-evaluation of the representation and promotion of historical films and classical films on digital streaming platforms. As a film producer and researcher of film reception and the paratexts of historical films, the author of the current article aims to examine how historical films and classical films (produced during the Soviet occupation period) are presented in the catalogues of Latvian streaming platforms, as well as the potential lack of contextual information and supplementary promotional materials for audiences. The author explores the notion of gatekeepers and the shift from human curation towards AI-generated algorithm technology that curates the catalogues and frames potential viewers, thereby making an impact on the audience reception. There is a striking difference in the way and means local and global platforms create the so-called viewing lists for viewers. However, an improved audience experience could be achieved by collaborating with historians, film critics, and experts in curating the catalogues and providing cultural and historical contexts for films for a contemporary audience.