Spanish Social Cinema: Analysis of Evolution and Implications for Social and Behavioral Sciences

Antonio Jesus Molina-Fernández (), María Gemma Valero-Arroyo (), Río Vázquez-Gomis and Florentino Moreno-Martín
Additional contact information
Antonio Jesus Molina-Fernández: Social and Cultural Determinants of Health Research Group, Department of Social, Work and Differential Pychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
María Gemma Valero-Arroyo: Department of Sociology, Universidad de Huelva, 6, 21004 Huelva, Spain
Río Vázquez-Gomis: Social and Cultural Determinants of Health Research Group, Department of Social, Work and Differential Pychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
Florentino Moreno-Martín: Social and Cultural Determinants of Health Research Group, Department of Social, Work and Differential Pychology, Campus de Somosaguas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Social cinema is a cinematographic expression used to denounce current and historical problems, as well as to identify social limits and promote the transformation of society itself. To this end, works included in social cinema depict aspects of reality to critically influence it. The objective of this study is to examine the evolution of social cinema, as well as its scientific, economic and political bases and its main consequences for the general population. Method: This study was conducted by the application of the technique of qualitative research thematic analysis as a procedure in the process of the execution of the scientific task, related to a historical trend study of the research object. The search was carried out in the databases of IMDB and the Culture Ministry of Spain. The end of the dictatorship and the beginning of democracy (1975) was placed as the historical cutting point in the analysis. Various psychosocial variables were used as categories of analysis, including poverty, work, substance use, crime, urban and rural contexts, violence, etc. Results: Spanish social cinema has evolved since its origins in the 1950s as a reflection of Spanish society. These developments, including both progressions and regressions, have been connected with social, political and economic factors. Conclusions: While the shape of Spanish social cinema has changed over time, its themes have remained similar since the origin: poverty, work and hopelessness. The evolution has not been continuous, as it has fluctuated in response to the claims and requests from the context. The Spanish social cinema has reflected topics and images from Spanish society, even when the sociopolitical context avoided them. Finally, the legitimacy of Spanish social cinema is based on its cultural strength and social/political commitment.

Keywords: Spanish social cinema; social and behavioral sciences; qualitative research thematic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/268/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/5/268/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:268-:d:1644063

Access Statistics for this article

Social Sciences is currently edited by Ms. Yvonne Chu

More articles in Social Sciences from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().