Ageism as a cultural trend: re ections on the production of meanings regarding longer life in today’s world

Abstract

This paper aims to re ect upon the topic of ageing from the standpoint of audio-visual media, especially the cinema. Very often triggered unconsciously, ageism is a type of prejudice that renders social discrimination based on a person’s age. This form of oppression takes part in the social debate concerning ageing and the formation of subjectivities. Communication fosters social bonding in a context of erce struggles around the production of meanings. By re ecting upon the social construction of older age as despicable and older people as social outcasts, we bet on our capacity to resist ongoing trends and invent alternative modes of being, living and cherishing longer life.