Cinema as Praxis: An Integrated Theoretical Framework for Philippine Social Advocacy Cinema

Authors

• Herwin Benedictos Cabasal, Far Eastern UniversityFollow

Abstract

This theoretical paper examines social advocacy cinema in the Philippines as a form of counter-hegemonic cultural practice. Drawing on Third Cinema Theory (Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino), critical theory (Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer), and participatory communication for social change (Paulo Freire and Thomas Tufte), this paper proposes Cinema as Praxis as an integrated theoretical framework for understanding how politically driven advocacy films operate through the convergence of cultural and political production, ideological representation and critique, and participatory communication. It argues that social advocacy cinema functions through interconnected dimensions: (1) production as praxis, in which collective and grassroots filmmaking constitutes a form of cultural and political intervention that challenges commercial and hierarchical modes of cultural production; (2) representation as praxis, in which cinematic forms, narratives, and aesthetics construct counter-hegemonic meanings and foreground marginalized perspectives; and (3) communication as praxis, in which film festivals, community screenings, public discussions, and digital platforms create dialogic spaces that foster critical reflection, civic participation, and collective action. Through the convergence of these dimensions, the study positions Cinema as Praxis as a framework that illuminates the transformative potential of film as a catalyst for social change.

Recommended Citation

Cabasal, Herwin Benedictos (2025) "Cinema as Praxis: An Integrated Theoretical Framework for Philippine Social Advocacy Cinema," Social Transformations Journal of the Global South: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13185/2799-015X.1249
Available at: https://archium.ateneo.edu/socialtransformations/vol14/iss1/5