Film as a Dialogue Interpreting cinema Marc Adang en Gerwin van der Pol
Film as a Dialogue Interpreting cinema Introduction
What does it mean to watch a film? Difference between ‘ordinary’ filmviewing, and what a researcher does. The ordinary filmviewer understands and interprets, The researcher does the same, but does it systematically, and reflects on the whole process Film interpretation= to analyse + to signify Film interpretation = also, a lengthy process of asking questions, search for answers, and testing conclusions
Dialogue with theory Theories can offer models to gain insight in a facet of the film. The same theory, applied to different films, results in different answers. Different theories, applied to the same film, can lead to the same insight. Every method, theory or model can be applied on a film, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that every theory is equally useful.
Film as a dialogue Preface A. Introduction B. Filminterpretation 1. A film is a dialogue B. Filminterpretation I. Preliminary orientation 2. Acquaintance with the film 3. Asking questions II. Time and space 4. Time 5. Space III. Characters, Relations, development 6. Characters 7. Relations 8. Development IV. Interpretation 9.Interpretation C. References
Film as a Dialogue Interpreting cinema Part A. A film is a Dialogue
A film is a dialogue The same film is different: Before During After Understanding takes place on three different levels: Diegesis Film Reception
Film as a dialogue Preface A. Introduction B. Filminterpretation 1. A film is a dialogue B. Filminterpretation I. Preliminary orientation 2. Acquaintance with the film 3. Asking questions II. Time and space 4. Time 5. Space III. Characters, relations, development 6. Characters 7. Relations 8. Development IV. Interpretation 9.Interpretation C. References
Acquaintance with the film First, pre-systematic analysis Constant adjustments, corrections and additions during the course of studying the film. Chart of scenes Synopsis Characterization of the film
Chart of scenes Comparable to a chart of scenes in drama But now made by the researcher Not a complete text More non-verbal information + Indices Spreadsheet, 11 columns
Chart of scene/spreadsheet 1. concrete information Scène numeration and time code Who? (descriptive) Where? (descriptive) What? (descriptive)
Chart of scenes/spreadsheet 2. interpretation segmentation Indices and problems of time Indices and problems of space Indices and problems of characters Indices and problems of relations Indices and problems of development Indices and problems of themes
Synopsis
Characterization First attempt to characterize the film First basis for further observations
Characterize: fictionality Fake/implausible Fantasizing (Fabulating) Didactic True/plausible
The plastic bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw&playnext=1&list=PLE2D698ED898D95E7
Characterize: fictionality Fake/implausible Fiction Fantasizing (Fabulating) Didactic Nonfiction True/plausible
Characterize: genre
Characterize: style Style is content
Characterize: Style Realism Expressionism Classicism
Characterize: ambition level Conventional Social/ cultural Critical/exploring/personal Conforming to the system filmic Complex/ modernizing
Characterize: context Filmmakers: Director Producer Most important crew members Actors Production and distribution Historical/ geographical
3. Asking the right question Questions on the level of diegesis Perception Semiotics Questions on the level of the film Function of filmic means Understanding how the film cues the spectator to understand the diegesis in a certain way Questions on the level of the reception What are effects on the spectator? How does he understand the film? What kind of emotions are evoked? In what kind of aesthetic judgment does the film result? in what kind of moral judgment does the film result?
Film as a dialogue Preface A. Introduction B. Filminterpretation 1. A film is a dialogue B. Filminterpretation I. Preliminary orientation 2. Acquaintance with the film 3. Asking questions II. Time and space 4. Time 5. Space III. Characters, Relations, development 6. Characters 7. Relations 8. Development IV. Interpretation 9.Interpretation C. References
Time Time in the diegesis Space of time of the film Interpreting time Situating Space of time of the film Diegetic time compared to film time segmentation Interpreting time
Space Diegetic space: De filmic space Construction meaning De filmic space construction Meaning The relation between diegetic and filmic space Interpretation of space
Film as a dialogue Preface A. Introduction B. Filminterpretation 1. A film is a dialogue B. Filminterpretation I. Preliminary orientation 2. Acquaintance with the film 3. Asking questions II. Time and space 4. Time 5. Space III. Characters, Relations, development 6. Characters 7. Relations 8. Development IV. Interpretation 9.Interpretation C. References
7.characters 8.Relations 9.Development Diegesis Film Reception appearance Psychologic social Emotional relations Social relations - deeds - acts - evolutions - events Film Construction Design Structure of engagement construction Semantic characters Construction and design Reception Empathy, judgment Taking sides in relations Judgments on relations Judgments about acts, empathy with certain characters. Judgment about certain choices from the filmmaker, empathy with filmmaker
Film as a dialogue Preface A. Introduction B. Filminterpretation 1. A film is a dialogue B. Filminterpretation I. Preliminary orientation 2. Acquaintance with the film 3. Asking questions II. Time and space 4. Time 5. Space III. Characters, Relations, development 6. Characters 7. Relations 8. Development IV. Interpretation 9.Interpretation C. References
Final interpretation Thematic analysis Characterization Using indices as starting point Characterization Retaking the earlier characterization and now drawing clearer conclusions
Characterize: context and position Filmmakers: Position within their own oeuvre Historical, geographical Influences Position within political debate Position within film history Nachleben Changes in meaning of the film