Filmed Pedagogy in Management Education

Filmed pedagogy refers to the deliberate use of cinematic media—feature films, documentaries, animation and television drama—as structured learning resources within management education. Over the past decade, educators have harnessed the narrative power of film to illustrate leadership theories, ethical dilemmas, organisational dynamics and cross-cultural interactions. By engaging learners through storytelling and visual metaphors, this approach supports reflection, critical analysis and emotional resonance, offering a bridge between abstract management concepts and real-world practice. The rise of blended and flipped formats has further enhanced the reach of filmed pedagogy, enabling students to prepare via streamed content before in-class debriefing or simulation exercises. While enthusiasm for cinematic materials is high, scholars emphasise the need for careful alignment between film content, theoretical frameworks such as cognitive load and dual coding, and explicit pedagogical objectives. When effectively integrated, filmed pedagogy can foster systems thinking, cultural intelligence and ethical awareness on a global scale, equipping future managers with both analytical rigour and imaginative insight.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored how classic films can model transformative learning paradigms. One investigation examined two well-known feature-length narratives and identified a rhizomatic educational ambience wherein characters break free from institutional constraints. By applying the concept of deterritorialisation, researchers found that cinematic depictions of student–mentor dynamics encourage learners to reimagine their own trajectories, shifting from passive absorption of doctrine to active self-definition. This work highlights how thoughtfully selected films can serve as visual texts that complement theory, prompting students to interrogate entrenched assumptions and to cultivate adaptive, self-directed learning strategies.

Filmed Pedagogy in Management Education publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in filmed pedagogy in management education across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Filmed pedagogy: The structured use of film media as teaching tools to illustrate and deepen understanding of management concepts.

Rhizomatic learning: A non-hierarchical, networked approach to education emphasising learner autonomy and multiple entry points into subject matter.

Deterritorialisation: The process by which learners are metaphorically detached from established institutional norms, enabling fresh perspectives and self-directed inquiry.

Visual literacy: The ability to interpret and critically analyse images and visual narratives as sources of meaning and information.

Cognitive load theory: A framework for understanding the mental effort required to process information, used to optimise instructional design and multimedia learning.

Dual coding theory: A theory positing that combining verbal instruction with relevant visual elements enhances comprehension and memory retention.

References

1. Learning to think: Deterritorialization in Mona Lisa Smile and Dead Poets Society. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2024).
2. The Balancing Act of Repurposing Feature Films and TV Series for University Teaching. Encyclopedia (2024).
3. CINEMATIC DEPICTIONS OF BUSINESS: REALISM, ETHICS, AND EDUCATION. ShodhKosh Journal of Visual and Performing Arts (2024).
4. O USO DO FILME DE ANIMAÇÃO NO ENSINO DE ADMINISTRAÇÃO. MONSTROS S.A. COMO ESTUDO DE CASO EXEMPLAR. Gestão & Planejamento (2017).