Exam Questions #2 Flashcards
How is the dialectic approach to filmmaking realised in the USSR filmmaking traditions?
Dialectic approach to filmmaking is about editing, where the juxtaposition of two shots that reflect conflict are paired together. It creates a meaning because the shots are paired together. Here, the Kuleshov effect is relevant, which is the research done by showing the same image of man, but with different connected images, to see how our perception of the man changes
1950s brings a major change to cinema technology in terms of images and sound: what are they?
TV became more normal in houses. Therefore, cinema had to bring people back to the theatre with better image and sound than the TV. It marked the introduction of widescreen and stereophonic sound (stereo). Stereo means using more than one, usually two, independent audio channels to create the immersion of sound heard from various directions
What did the introduction of Dolby achieve in the 60s?
Dolby introduced a noise reduction system that reduced the background hissing sound on cassette tape recordings. This would be used in professional production productions. From thereon, Dolby made other new technological advancements such as Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital etc. which all have been much used in filmmaking
What is C. Gorbman’s categorisation of film music? Give a brief one-sentence example to each point
- Source music: Music that exists within the world of the film and is percieved as emanating from a specific source on-screen
- Underscore: Music that is composed to accompany the action and dialouge. Supposed to enhance the emotional and dramatical aspect of the scene.
- Functional music: Serves a practical or functional purpose in a film. Such as transition music, cues for scene changes, or musical motifs associated with specific characters or themes
How does atonal music support the film idea in Freud (Huston 1962)?
Atonal music is a kind of music that lacks a “tonal centre/key”. It does not comform to the systems of tonal hierarchies that characterised European classical music between the 17th and 19th century. In Freud, it helps to support the phsycological factors of the film which the film is about: hysteria, sexuality, radical hypnosis
What are the 5 typical functions of music in soundtracks?
Pragmatic: Supports the film (from narrative and technical prespective, suspend cinematic disbelief)
Structural: Supports film structure; smoothes editing, establishes film thematic material
Semantic: Soundtrack attempts to evoke certain associations (instrument, sound, music style etc.)
Expressive: Soundtrack connotes the emotional line of characters
Explicative: Music conveys film maker’s point; philosophical, moral view, usually through references to existing music pieces
What is leitmotif and why is it challenging to use the terminology in film discussion?
Leitmotif is a thematic association with characters (meldoy, timbre, texture). Fritz Lang’s M as an example with Peer Gynt. Today, it is usually mistaken for the term “theme”, and sometimes are used interchangebly
What are the similarities and differences beetween film and theatre?
Similarities: narrative and plot, dialouge, music, dramatic structure, characters, costumes
Differences: location, editing, recorded vs. real-time
Identify 3 examples in each category of sound (Biophony, Geophony and Anthrophony)
Biophony: Sounds of living nature -> frogs, birds
Geophony: Sounds of nature -> wind, running water, thunder
Anthropony: Human created sound -> cars, footsteps, music
Can a film soundtrack have absolute silence?
Not really, but from a technical standpoint you can, but you don’t do it. Sometimes you do have relative silence for instance to have a “ringing ear effect”
Where does the film terminology “talkies” come from?
Talkies refers to talking pictures. This was the term used for films in the late 20s when sound film were intrudoced. It refered to sound films that included synchronised dialouge, and they were shorts in the beginning
