The Role of Story in the Modern Film Chapter 8 part 2 pp

Formalistic Narratives Formalistic narratives exaggerate their artificiality. Formalistic narratives exaggerate their artificiality. Time is rearranged to make things more appropriate to the theme. Time is rearranged to make things more appropriate to the theme. The author sometimes puts his own personality in the film. The author sometimes puts his own personality in the film. Often interrupted by lyrical interludes. Often interrupted by lyrical interludes. Alfred Hitchcock’s The Wrong Man

Musicals are often formalistic Singing in the RainRent

Nonfictional Narratives Broad classification of motion pictures Broad classification of motion pictures Fiction Fiction Documentary Documentary Deal with real people, places and events Deal with real people, places and events However, film makers still shape, edit how the material is presented. However, film makers still shape, edit how the material is presented. Cinema Verite – direct cinema Cinema Verite – direct cinema Avante garde Avante garde

Cinema Verite – movement began in the 1960’s A lightweight 16-mm camera A lightweight 16-mm camera Flexible zoom lenses that go from wide-angle to telephoto Flexible zoom lenses that go from wide-angle to telephoto Fast film stocks that are sensitive to light Fast film stocks that are sensitive to light A portable tape recorder A portable tape recorder In this type of documentary, the filmmaker avoids interfering in any way In this type of documentary, the filmmaker avoids interfering in any way

=YN9wAt_Ac =YN9wAt_Ac Is this cinema verite Is this cinema verite Why or why not? Why or why not? Other films by Moore Other films by Moore Sicko Sicko Bowling for Columbine Bowling for Columbine orO8UHU orO8UHU orO8UHU orO8UHU

Documentaries Some documentaries superimpose a narrative form over the sprawling chaos of nature. Some documentaries superimpose a narrative form over the sprawling chaos of nature.

=5bR9DlFFxtAhttp:// be.com/watch?v=5bR9DlFFxtA be.com/watch?v=5bR9DlFFxtAhttp:// be.com/watch?v=5bR9DlFFxtA What is the role of the documentary? What is the role of the documentary? Would cinema verite make any sense in nature documentaries? Would cinema verite make any sense in nature documentaries?

Something to think about? The history of the formalistic or subjective documentary can be traced to Dziga-Vertov 1920’s The history of the formalistic or subjective documentary can be traced to Dziga-Vertov 1920’s Russian propagandist who believed cinema could be the revolutionists tool. Russian propagandist who believed cinema could be the revolutionists tool. “Art is not a mirror which reflects the historical struggle, but a weapon of that struggle.” “Art is not a mirror which reflects the historical struggle, but a weapon of that struggle.”

Film Genres A genre is a specific category of film A genre is a specific category of film War movie War movie Gangster Gangster Chick flick Chick flick Western Western Science fiction Science fiction Etc. Etc. In the US and Japan there are 100’s of genre. In the US and Japan there are 100’s of genre.

Film Genres cont. Genres are distinguished by a characteristic set of conventions in style, subject matter, and values Genres are distinguished by a characteristic set of conventions in style, subject matter, and values A convenient way of focusing and organizing the story materials A convenient way of focusing and organizing the story materials Thelma and Louise

The Major shortcoming of genre films Easy to imitate Easy to imitate They have become cliché They have become cliché What cliché or formulas have gotten stale and outdated? What cliché or formulas have gotten stale and outdated?

Myths Embody the common ideals and aspirations of a civilization Embody the common ideals and aspirations of a civilization Archetypical story patterns. Archetypical story patterns. These patterns encourage viewers to participate ritualistically in the basic beliefs, fears, and anxieties of their age. These patterns encourage viewers to participate ritualistically in the basic beliefs, fears, and anxieties of their age.

Common Archetypes The hero The hero The outcast The outcast The scapegoat The scapegoat Star-crossed lovers Star-crossed lovers The shrew The shrew The task The task The quest The quest Loss of innocence Loss of innocence Initiation Initiation water water

Four main cycles of movies Primitive Primitive Classical Classical Revisionist Revisionist Parodic Parodic See p. 398 See p. 398 The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Primitive The beginning phases of a movie genre. The beginning phases of a movie genre. Usually naïve Usually naïve Over simplistic Over simplistic Many of the conventions of this genre are being established. Many of the conventions of this genre are being established. Do we have any films in this genre Do we have any films in this genre The Great Train Robbery

Classical The intermediate stage embodies such classical ideas as balance, richness, and poise. The intermediate stage embodies such classical ideas as balance, richness, and poise. The genre’s values are assured and widely shared by the audience. The genre’s values are assured and widely shared by the audience. Open Range

Revisionist The genre is more symbolic, ambiguous, less certain of its value. The genre is more symbolic, ambiguous, less certain of its value. This phase tends to by stylistically complex, appealing more to the intellect than to the emotions. This phase tends to by stylistically complex, appealing more to the intellect than to the emotions. Genres pre-established conventions are exploited as ironic foils to question and undermine popular beliefs. Genres pre-established conventions are exploited as ironic foils to question and undermine popular beliefs. Unforgiven

Parodic The movie becomes an outright mockery of the genre and its conventions, reducing them to howling clichés and presenting them in a comic manner. The movie becomes an outright mockery of the genre and its conventions, reducing them to howling clichés and presenting them in a comic manner. Mel Brooks does a lot of Parodies. Mel Brooks does a lot of Parodies. Blazing Saddles by Mel Brooks

How films fit into genres Most critically acclaimed genre films strike a balance between preestablished conventions and the filmmaker’s unique contributions. Most critically acclaimed genre films strike a balance between preestablished conventions and the filmmaker’s unique contributions. Genres in classic form tend to portray the world as a clear cut right and wrong. Genres in classic form tend to portray the world as a clear cut right and wrong.

Relationship between the genre and society Art must be analyzed for both its overt and covert meaning. Art must be analyzed for both its overt and covert meaning. Beneath the explicit or obvious content lies hidden social or psychic content. Beneath the explicit or obvious content lies hidden social or psychic content.