Film’s Illusions

“Movies” do not really move Movements – illusion caused by 2 optical phenomena Persistence of Vision Strobic Effect See books on optical illusions

Persistence of vision Blinking eyes Flip books Zoetrope Thaumotrope Known since 1824 – Roget Permits the brain to see movement when there is none Taumotrope – big Victorian pastime – found in Library of Congress 12 frames per second

thaumotrope Used to demonstrate brain function Simple pictures Used in medical research to understand how the brain works Mental ilness was not understood, so everyone was interested in the brain

Strobic Effect Basis for stop action Think of strobe lights –quickly blinking and diverting attention; making things look like they are moving Think of magicians on tv

Stop Animation Evolved into Flash animation Vector program Uses lines instead of dolls Animating lines instead of single pictures Find chuckles cd

Other Illusions used in film Illusion of depth Cinema Situation Illusion of reality

Illusion of Depth Pictures: 2-D 3-D effect Long take Technique Having subjects stand sideways Orson Wells discovered this technique Long take Technique

Cinema Situation Viewer isolated in dark room Suppression of critical thinking Assume a character’s point of view Horror films Omnimax is nauseating A Assume a character’s point of view

Illusion of Reality Viewers identify with screen events Get caught up with music, violence Creates a trance-like state directly related to the technology Surround sound, Cinemascope Goal is not a better film but to make a viewer more passive Cannot turn music off Feel like hitting someone Violence in

A + B = C Kuleshov Effect Significant in TV commercials Example in text of bombing + village = village being bombed Starving African women + women with Diamonds in ad on facing page Morality – gays + straight friends = homo Its ok to be manipulated if you know that you are being manipulated – it is empowering (comes with maturity) We talk about obesity in this country, but what do the ads say “McDonalds – I’m loving it”

All Media is Constructed

Food for thought - why should we understand film’s illusions? It’s 1 thing to be manipulated, but it is empowering to know that you are being manipulated We talk about obesity but ads say “I’m Lovin’ it” Essays are really A+B=C