Televisuality and the Streaming Aesthetic

 

Televisuality and the Streaming Aesthetic:
Cinema for the Small Screen

Introduction

Televisuality explores how television and streaming aesthetics have transformed cinematic storytelling. With the rise of Netflix, Prime Video, and digital platforms, cinema now adapts to intimate screens, serialized formats, and global viewing habits.

Core Ideas

• High-definition screens and binge culture redefine the cinematic experience.

• The line between “film” and “series” blurs — visual sophistication extends to episodic narratives.

• Streaming aesthetics value continuity, immersion, and stylistic excess.

Key Points

• Serial Spectacle: Cinematic storytelling unfolds across multiple episodes (The Crown, Breaking Bad).

• Platform Auteurism: Showrunners function like film auteurs — with distinct visual signatures (Euphoria, True Detective).

• Algorithmic Aesthetics: Visual style is optimized for streaming platforms’ data and audience retention.

Examples

• Roma (2018, Netflix) — a streaming release that maintained cinematic depth and artistry.

• Stranger Things (2016–) — merges 1980s nostalgia with cinematic world-building for the digital era.

• The Irishman (2019) — a three-hour epic made for home streaming yet directed by Scorsese for the big screen.