Realism Flashcards
Who was Andre Bazin?
A highly-celebrated and influential film theorist and critic
Co-founded Cahiers du Cinema in 1951 and wrote approximately 2,000 film articles.
What significant book did Bazin publish posthumously?
What is Cinema?
This book is considered one of the most important works about film.
What was Bazin’s stance on cinematic realism?
Cinema has a moral obligation to document reality without subjective viewpoint
He distinguished between directors who trust the image and those who trust reality.
What techniques did Bazin value in film form?
Continuity Editing, Deep Focus, Long Takes, Diegetic Sound, Colour
These techniques contribute to the realism in cinema.
What did Bazin believe about stylization in film?
Overly stylizing or editing forces a particular ideological viewpoint onto the spectator
He felt the image should speak for itself.
What is a key criticism of Bazin’s ideas?
Bazin admits that there is no art without artifice
Montage is essential for film as an art form.
True or False: Bazin felt that all films are inherently political.
True
He questioned the elitism of wanting film to be apolitical.
What genre did melodrama initially belong to?
Theatrical genre
It focused on sensational, highly dramatic narratives.
What did Jim Davis say about melodrama?
Melodrama was the realism of its own day
It reflects everyday life and generates strong emotional reactions.
Fill in the blank: Bazin co-founded _______ in 1951.
Cahiers du Cinema
How many film articles is Bazin estimated to have written?
Approximately 2,000
In what year did Bazin die?
1958
What is the primary belief that drove Bazin to value cinematic realism?
Cinema should strive to capture the truth of the world in front of the camera
Name an early filmmaker described as a realist.
Examples include Bresson or Ozu
Specific films can be referenced for each.
Name an early filmmaker associated with expressive cinema.
Examples include German Expressionist filmmakers like Murnau or Lang
Specific films can be referenced for each.
What cinematic movements were driven by highly expressive uses of film form?
Nouvelle Vague, Soviet Montage, German Expressionism
What is a defining characteristic of expressive cinema?
Manipulation of time and space, non-linear editing, fragmented narratives
This allows exploration of rich and personal ideas.
What is a problem with Bazin’s argument regarding authenticity in cinema?
Supposedly ‘authentic’ cinema is still inherently inauthentic
It’s virtually impossible to make a film without some form of montage.
What elements define a realist film according to Bazin?
Grounded narrative and characters, visual techniques that enhance realism
In what ways does Sunrise challenge Bazin’s ideas about realist cinema?
By using stylization and subjective viewpoints
Specific examples can illustrate this.
In what ways is Sunrise in line with Bazin’s ideas about realism?
Utilizes continuity editing and grounded narrative elements
Specific examples can illustrate this.
