A political economic approach to old age in cinema: The Carroll Estes model

In this thesis, aging, which is one of the main issues of social policy and social services, is discussed through the representations of elderly individuals in the such films as I Care a Lot (2020), I, Daniel Blake (2016), Lun Lok Yan (2018) ve Remember Us (Bizi Hatırla) (2018). In the thesis, which is a qualitative research, the research design was determined as a case study and thematic content analysis method was used as data analysis. Carroll Estes' model of political economy theory formed the theoretical framework of the research. In the model in question, the central phenomenon of aging is analyzed at the macro level in terms of ideology, state, gender system, post-industrial capitalism and globalization, medical industry complex and aging enterprise, while at the micro level the interlocking systems of oppression are class, race/ethnicity, gender, and citizenship were discussed. Firstly, aging and the phenomena related to aging were discussed with their demographic, social and historical aspects. Then, the problems encountered in old age and prominent social theories about old age were explained, and the political economy theory and Estes' model were introduced in a wide way. In the last part which includes the analysis of the films, selected films were analyzed separately in order to find answers to five research questions created in accordance with the theoretical model. In the light of the findings, it was seen that the old age experience reflected on the cinema screen was compatible with the political economy theory and supported Estes' views.