COMP 2C: Sunrise marsh sequence Flashcards
What lighting technique is used to highlight the man’s turmoil and potential freedoms outside the family home?
Low key lighting.
How is the man’s downtrodden, hunched-over appearance achieved in the scene?
By placing weights in his shoes.
What does the chiaroscuro lighting in the scene represent?
It highlights the inner turmoil and provides insight into the character, a typical trait of German Expressionism.
How is the Woman from the City framed differently from the Wife?
The Woman from the City is framed alone, out at night, and focused on applying her makeup, while the Wife is framed with a child or within a domestic setting.
What does the Woman from the City’s style and lighting represent?
Her style (short hair and cloche hat) represents the fashions of flappers and vamps, and the low key lighting (chiaroscuro) represents her independence and the new freedoms for women at the time.
How does the synchronized score contribute to the representation of the Woman from the City?
It represents her as carefree and happy, linking to the new freedoms for women at the time.
What traditional feminine traits are highlighted in the Wife’s portrayal?
The Wife is portrayed with a traditional feminine hairstyle (long hair tied up), dressed in matte clothing with a lighter color palette, and lit in high key lighting to highlight her purity.
What does the cross-cutting between the Wife and the Woman from the City highlight?
It highlights the love triangle and the contrasting representations of traditional and modern femininity.
How does the film portray the Woman from the City as a threat to traditional values?
She is dressed in a black satin dress, seen within low key lighting at night, and appears to plant the idea of drowning the man’s wife, representing a threat to marriage and family values.
What expressionist techniques are used to show the man’s inner psychology?
The ‘drowning effect’ on the title card and the dream-like long shot of the man pushing his wife off a boat.
How is the city portrayed in contrast to the rural environment?
The city is portrayed with split screen masking, double exposure, matte painting, and expressionistic slanted sets and props, highlighting an exciting yet overwhelming world lit by electricity.
What does the Woman from the City’s exuberant dance at the end of the clip signify?
It highlights her freedoms and dominance, representing the modern dangers to American society.
What does the fog-like atmosphere in the scene symbolize?
It symbolizes the man’s inner turmoil and confusion.
How does the Woman from the City’s appearance contrast with the Wife’s?
The Woman from the City has short hair and wears a cloche hat, representing modern fashion, while the Wife has a traditional feminine hairstyle and wears matte clothing in lighter colors.
What does the moonlight as a light source for the Woman from the City signify?
It signifies a blend of expressionist and realist lighting techniques, highlighting her independence and the new freedoms for women.
