Criticism: The Major Lenses Ways of looking at film as literature

The Lenses: Formalism Formalism Historical/Biographical Historical/Biographical Archetypal Archetypal Marxist Marxist Feminist Feminist Psychological Psychological Moral Moral Genre Genre

Terms to Remember Lens Lens Criticism Criticism Subjective Subjective Objective Objective Invalid Opinion Invalid Opinion Valid Opinion Valid Opinion Credibility Credibility

GOAL OF CRITICISM Criticism= An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective manner as possible. Criticism= An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective manner as possible. Evaluating means “judging” Evaluating means “judging” Most reactions to works of art ARE subjective. After all, ART attempts to both entertain (appeal to the audience’s emotions- satisfy an emotional need) AND inform. Most reactions to works of art ARE subjective. After all, ART attempts to both entertain (appeal to the audience’s emotions- satisfy an emotional need) AND inform.

GOAL OF CRITICISM Subjective = personal, emotional reaction. Subjective = personal, emotional reaction. Objective = assessment based on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible. Objective = assessment based on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible. Objective criticism attempts to employ a specific and informed vocabulary. Objective criticism attempts to employ a specific and informed vocabulary.

Discriminating between valid and invalid opinions “Opinions are like a******s, everyone has one.” “Opinions are like a******s, everyone has one.” Invalid opinion = an often inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely subjective terms. An opinion which lacks credibility. Invalid opinion = an often inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely subjective terms. An opinion which lacks credibility. Example: “I think the movie sucked because it was stupid and boring.” Example: “I think the movie sucked because it was stupid and boring.”

Discriminating between valid and invalid opinions Valid opinion = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through objective means. A valid opinion is credible. Valid opinion = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through objective means. A valid opinion is credible. Example: “Because the climax never appears to arrive as a result of the hero’s repeated high stake attempts to overcome the obstacle, the script fails to create, in the audience, a strong empathetic investment in the hero’s struggle.” Example: “Because the climax never appears to arrive as a result of the hero’s repeated high stake attempts to overcome the obstacle, the script fails to create, in the audience, a strong empathetic investment in the hero’s struggle.” Credibility = believability Credibility = believability

LENS =

Simply a tool through which one views or sees something. Simply a tool through which one views or sees something. The choice of lens affects how and what one sees. The choice of lens affects how and what one sees. The choice of lens empowers one to understand and interpret. The choice of lens empowers one to understand and interpret. The choice of lens serves as a means of objective criticism, thereby leading toward developing a valid, credible and informed opinion. The choice of lens serves as a means of objective criticism, thereby leading toward developing a valid, credible and informed opinion.

1. Formalism * Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, body and structure. Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, body and structure. Also referred to as “structuralism” Also referred to as “structuralism”

1. Formalism * Most commonly employed critical lens. Most commonly employed critical lens. Study of art based upon how it is created (or built) Study of art based upon how it is created (or built) Perhaps the most “objective” lens as its vocabulary is specific and definable. Perhaps the most “objective” lens as its vocabulary is specific and definable. Employs terms such as: plot, character, allegory, symbolism, balance, conflict, contrast, etc. Employs terms such as: plot, character, allegory, symbolism, balance, conflict, contrast, etc.

2. Historical: * Looks at and evaluates a work of art based upon the historical, cultural and other outside elements influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the work. Looks at and evaluates a work of art based upon the historical, cultural and other outside elements influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the work. Also sometimes called BIOGRAPHICAL – as it also will often consider the biographical relevance of the author to the creation of a piece. Also sometimes called BIOGRAPHICAL – as it also will often consider the biographical relevance of the author to the creation of a piece.

3. Archetypal: Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and stories. Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and stories. Uses constant comparisons between various works. Asks “What does this piece share with other pieces?” Uses constant comparisons between various works. Asks “What does this piece share with other pieces?” Seeks to find the threads that tie the tapestry of human existence together. Seeks to find the threads that tie the tapestry of human existence together.

4) MARXIST: Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class). Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class). Looks at the evils inherent in the quest for wealth and exploitation. Looks at the evils inherent in the quest for wealth and exploitation.

5) FEMINISM: Looks at a work from the feminine perspective. Looks at a work from the feminine perspective. Sees works as political manifestations of male dominance over art, commerce and history. Sees works as political manifestations of male dominance over art, commerce and history.

5) FEMINISM: Sometimes attacks films as pushing a male-sexist agenda which seeks to both objectify and oppress women. (women seen as either sex objects or victims) Sometimes attacks films as pushing a male-sexist agenda which seeks to both objectify and oppress women. (women seen as either sex objects or victims) Sometimes praises films that break with traditional images and roles of women. Sometimes praises films that break with traditional images and roles of women.

6) PSYCHOLOGICAL: Evaluates a work from the psychological or behaviorist perspective. Evaluates a work from the psychological or behaviorist perspective. Sees art as manifestations of subconscious desires. Sees art as manifestations of subconscious desires. Also referred to as PSYCHO-SEXUAL. Uses physicians as Freud, Jung and Erickson among others as starting points. Also referred to as PSYCHO-SEXUAL. Uses physicians as Freud, Jung and Erickson among others as starting points.

7. Moral Looks at a work and assesses its value from a moral perspective Looks at a work and assesses its value from a moral perspective Sees the work within either a Religious, Ethical or Legal framework. Sees the work within either a Religious, Ethical or Legal framework.

8) GENRE: Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or category it represents. For instance Western, Horror, Film Noir, Musical, etc. Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or category it represents. For instance Western, Horror, Film Noir, Musical, etc. Establishes and evaluates work based upon the rules, conventions and guidelines of a specific genre. Establishes and evaluates work based upon the rules, conventions and guidelines of a specific genre.

Famous Critics (film and culture) Roger Ebert Roger Ebert Pauline Kael Pauline Kael Molly Haskell Molly Haskell Richard Schickel Richard Schickel Danny Peary Danny Peary Robert Hughes* Robert Hughes* Howard Zinn* Howard Zinn* Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich Martin Scorsese Martin Scorsese Joseph Campbell* Joseph Campbell*

Terms to Remember Lens Lens Criticism Criticism Subjective Subjective Objective Objective Invalid Opinion Invalid Opinion Valid Opinion Valid Opinion Credibility Credibility

The Lenses Formalism Formalism Historical/Biographical Historical/Biographical Archetypal Archetypal Marxist Marxist Feminist Feminist Psychological Psychological Moral Moral Genre Genre

LENS QUIZ

1) ______________= An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective manner as possible. 1) ______________= An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective manner as possible. 2) ______________ = Simply a tool through which one views or sees something. 2) ______________ = Simply a tool through which one views or sees something. 3) ______________ =personal, emotional reaction. 3) ______________ =personal, emotional reaction.

4) ______________ assessment based on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible. 4) ______________ assessment based on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible. 5) ______________ = believability 5) ______________ = believability 6) ______________ = an often inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely subjective terms. An opinion which lacks credibility. 6) ______________ = an often inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely subjective terms. An opinion which lacks credibility.

7) _____________ = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through objective means. 7) _____________ = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through objective means. 8) ______________ = Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, form, body and structure. 8) ______________ = Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, form, body and structure. 9) ______________ = Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class). 9) ______________ = Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class).

10) _______________ = Looks at a work from the feminine perspective. 10) _______________ = Looks at a work from the feminine perspective. 11) ______________ = Looks at and evaluates a work of art based upon the cultural and other outside elements influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the work. 11) ______________ = Looks at and evaluates a work of art based upon the cultural and other outside elements influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the work.

12) _____________ Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or category it represents. For instance Western, Horror, Film Noir, Musical, etc. 12) _____________ Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or category it represents. For instance Western, Horror, Film Noir, Musical, etc. 13) _____________ Looks at a work and assesses its value from a moral perspective. 13) _____________ Looks at a work and assesses its value from a moral perspective. 14) _____________ Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and stories. 14) _____________ Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and stories.

15) _____________ = Evaluates a work from the psycho-sexual or behaviorist perspective. 15) _____________ = Evaluates a work from the psycho-sexual or behaviorist perspective. Name Three famous critics: Name Three famous critics: 16) 16) 17) 17) 18) 18)