Keywords Flashcards
framing on 35 mm film
Definition: How shots are composed within the 35mm film frame.
Key elements:
Subject and object placement.
Aspect ratio, depth of field, focal length.
Narrative significance and visual appeal.
16 frames per foot.
Frames convey meaning/emotion; guide attention.
Framing reveals deeper truths about physical reality.
Cinematographer’s rule of thirds
Definition: Compositional guideline dividing the frame into a grid of nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines.
Key principle: Place important elements along the lines or at their intersections for dynamic, visually engaging shots.
rhythym and montage
Rhythm: Timing and pacing of shots to shape narrative flow and audience experience of time.
Montage: Editing technique that combines shots to create meaning and evoke emotions.
Key role:
Shapes narrative.
Conveys mood.
Controls audience’s temporal experience.
Long takes and the filmic language
Long Take:
Continuous shot lasting an extended period without cuts.
Uses: Build tension, immerse audience, showcase technical skill.
Filmic Language:
The grammar of cinema: Camera movement, framing, editing, sound.
Tools to convey meaning and tell stories.
Historical Context (Pudovkin):
Camera replaced physical observation, enabling dynamic storytelling.
Innovations: Close-ups, mid-shots, long-shots enhanced expressive potential.
Film semiotics
Definition: Study of meaning generation and communication through signs and symbols in cinema.
Analyzes:
Visual elements: Imagery, color, composition.
Auditory elements: Dialogue, music, sound effects.
Purpose: Uncover themes, messages, and cultural references in films.
Psychology of the Cinema (Barthes, Currie, Mitry)
Barthes:
“Obtuse meaning”: Cinema engages emotions, memories, unconscious associations.
Highlights subjective interpretation and individual perception in psychological responses.
Currie:
Cognitive approach: Viewers mentally simulate and emotionally engage with film events.
Key concepts: Empathy, identification, imaginative projection, and mental imagery.
Mitry:
Explores sensory, emotional, and cognitive engagement in The Aesthetics and Psychology of the Cinema.
Analyzes empathy, identification, and emotional resonance.
Examines the psychological effects of editing, framing, and narrative structure.
Overall:
Cinema integrates visual, auditory, and narrative elements to evoke complex psychological responses.
syntagmatic analysis
Definition: Method for analyzing the structure and organization of film elements.
Focus:
How elements are combined and sequenced.
Relationships between shots, scenes, and sequences.
Purpose:
Uncover patterns, themes, and storytelling techniques.
Understand how meaning and narrative coherence are created.
mimesis and digesis
Mimesis (Show):
Representation of reality or imitation of life in art.
Example: Action acted out on-screen.
Diegesis (Tell):
The fictional world or narrative universe of a film.
Includes narrated events and the story’s internal elements.
Sound Types:
Diegetic sound: On-screen source (e.g., radio, footsteps).
Non-diegetic sound: No on-screen source; added for effect (e.g., musical score, narration).
Theories in Film:
Mimetic theory: Focus on faithful representation of reality.
Diegetic theory: Construction of fictional worlds for audience immersion.
Kracauer’s Insight:
Films balance mimetic (realistic) and diegetic (fictional) qualities using mise-en-scène, cinematography, and editing.
field theories
Definition: Theoretical approaches emphasizing interactions within the cinematic field.
Key elements: Visual, auditory, narrative, and cultural components.
Focus:
How elements interact and influence each other.
Shaping viewer experience and interpretation of a film.
haptic theory
Definition: Explores tactile and sensory aspects of the cinematic experience.
Focus:
Engagement beyond visual or auditory perception.
Texture, movement, and physical sensations evoked by images and sounds.
Key concept: Haptic visuality refers to the feeling of the film’s surface, emphasizing bodily interaction with cinema.
soundscapes
Definition: The auditory environment or landscape within a film, including dialogue, music, sound effects, and ambient noise.
Role:
Shapes mood and atmosphere.
Enhances emotional impact and guides viewer attention.
Pudovkin’s Insight:
Transition to sound slowed rhythm and led to dialogue-heavy scenes.
Argues for a creative, independent approach to sound editing, like visual montage.
Advocates for precise sound arrangement to complement visual storytelling.
Soundscapes:
Composed of various sound elements edited to evoke specific emotions.
Enhance immersion by reflecting the film’s environment.
