Theoretical Approaches

Abstract

In this chapter, I look first at the reasons for researching and studying screenwriting, and the difficulties facing researchers in defining the focus of study. Then I focus on four research perspectives that seem particularly helpful in addressing this, for different reasons: those of Roland Barthes; of Pierre Bourdieu, together with creativity theorists; of the neo-formalists (particularly Bordwell, Staiger and Thompson); and of researchers in media production studies (including Caldwell and Lotz).