Subtitling in the Era of the Blu-ray

Abstract

For many decades, subtitles have been considered a useful but ungraceful tool. Indeed, while decoding foreign dialogue, they leave an unsightly mark on screen spoiling the viewer’s pleasure; a double-edged sword that Marleau (1982: 271) once defined as ‘un mal nécessaire’, a necessary evil. Nonetheless, the cinema is an industry and all industries are oriented to consumer satisfaction. It therefore seems logical to expect that someday, someone would find a way of making captions more palatable. But how could a succession of words become acceptable, or even desirable? Should subtitles become totally unobtrusive or conversely more aesthetically pleasing and thus more visible? The answer should be left to the discretion of each viewer.

We ought not to be over anxious to encourage innovation, in case of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established and it is understood.

(Colton 1845)