Research Article

The effect of visual narrative language of color codes in Youssef Chahine’s cinema

Number: 13 February 27, 2025
EN TR

The effect of visual narrative language of color codes in Youssef Chahine’s cinema

Abstract

This study explore the ways in which Egyptian director Youssef Chahine employed colors within the narrative of his films, influenced by historical, religious, and cultural factors. The main purpose of the study is to shed light on the significance of colors and their symbolism in any cinematic work, due to its impact on the viewer’s emotions and perception of a film, as well as its ability to enhance the aesthetics of the cinematic imagery. In this context, two different films of Chahine, Al Nasser Salah Al-din (Saladin the Victorious, 1963) and Al-Massir (Destiny, 1997), which were shot in different periods, were selected. In study uses Roland Barthes’ semiological approach as a to analyze the denotational and connotational meanings of color in selected films. This analysis reveals the significance of color in Chahine’s films and how color symbolism is employed to convey the director’s ideas and depict their distinctive visual style.

Keywords

References

  1. Abdulmaged, T. R. (2022). The effect of Egyptian films in Arab cinema (Master thesis). Bahçeşehir University, İstanbul.
  2. Barthes, R. (1968). Elements of semiology (1st edition) (Trans. A. Lavers & C. Smith). Hill and Wang.
  3. Bayoumi, M. (Director). (1924). Al-Bashkatib [Movie]. Amon.
  4. Chahine, Y. & Massad, J. (1999). Art and politics in the cinema of Youssef Chahine. Journal of Palestine studies, 28(2), 77-93. https://doi.org/10.2307/2537936
  5. Chahine, Y. (Director). (1950). Baba amin [Movie]. Egyptian General Organization for Cinema and Television.
  6. Chahine, Y. (Director). (1953). Ibn el nil [Movie]. Egyptian General Organization for Cinema and Television.
  7. Chahine, Y. (Director). (1954). Siraa fil-wadi [Movie]. Egyptian General Organization for Cinema and Television.
  8. Chahine, Y. (Director). (1958). Bab el hadid [Movie]. Misr international

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cultural Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

February 27, 2025

Submission Date

August 26, 2024

Acceptance Date

January 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 13

APA
Mahrous, M., Parsa, A., & As, E. (2025). The effect of visual narrative language of color codes in Youssef Chahine’s cinema. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat Ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi, 13, 25-51. https://doi.org/10.46372/arts.1538835