1. Film’s Illusions

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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”

12. All Media is Constructed

13. 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