Essay on Film Realism - 965 Words

Response Paper: The Complete Film The introduction of sound films in the late 1920’s was a divisive issue among those involved and interested in the emerging motion picture industry. Even though it wasn’t the sudden breakthrough it is often perceived to be, the addition of sound and voice to mainstream cinema revolutionized movie making and led to conflicting viewpoints as to whether or not this innovation was a positive progression for film as an art and as an industry. While the addition of sound to films was generally perceived as an advancement, some critics and filmmakers believed that it takes away from the artistic essence of the medium. Among these traditionalists was Rudolph Arnheim, an art critic who thought the technological†¦show more content†¦While Arnheim’s views on the future of film and the idea of a complete film can be somewhat insightful, I disagree with his conclusion that the introduction of sound and color diminishes the creative quality and originality of movies. He states his belief that eventually film will develop to the point where we â€Å"we have nothing to look forward to† (Arnheim , 184). In all forms of art there is a natural inclination to explore and experiment within the medium. The resulting methods and formats can be seen as alternatives and additions to existing ones. I do not believe that, in terms of technical decisions, there is a superior style of film making that the industry progresses to on a set path. I agree with Arnheim’s statement that â€Å"there is no objection to the complete film as an alternative to the stage† if it exists with the other types of films (Arhheim, 186). In some cases advances in method and technique are used to fix the problems of technological limitations. In other cases these advances provide alternatives. The introduction of color is described by the latter. Color was introduced as an alternative to black and white movies but never completely replaced them and didn’t stop the use of black and white as an effective technique in modern cinema. The use of sound, on the other hand, was a solution rather than an alternative. Since the earlyShow MoreRelatedRealism and Film Form1980 Words   |  8 Pagesthe viewer’s role gaines a new dimension in realism. â€Å"Realism is the artistic attempt to recreate life as it is in the context of an artistic medium.† There has always been a concern with realism, starting with Plato, then Renaissance and photography. Realism manifested in all main arts at some point; starting with literature, painting, but out of all arts, film is the only art for which realism was not a movement, but the true nature and purpose. â€Å"Film[...]is uniquely equipped to record and revealRead MoreFilm Theory Vs. Realism1509 Words   |  7 PagesIn the initial days of cinema, film theories tended to divide into two opposing views, Formalism and Realism. Formalists believed the formal properties of cinema shaped the way films were made, as well as our responses to them. For formalists, the challenge was to establish film as an independent art form. They found their answer in film’s formal properties, which enable the filmmaker to alter reality and create new worlds within the screen. Formalist filmm aking reached its peak in 1920s with SergeiRead MoreThe Realism Of Realism And Film1226 Words   |  5 Pages The aesthetics of realism in each film can be utilized in many diverse ways to offer certain truths about the world of the film to further express the film’s story. These theatrical elements emphasize what the film attempts to relay to the audience; moreover, it intensifies the authenticity of each aspect of the film. The use of real people, on-camera interviews, textual information, and of direct address to the camera displays the realism of each film. Textual information is shown in This isRead MoreRealism Of Film And Film Of The 1950s And 40s Through The Italian Neorealism Movement2247 Words   |  9 Pages Realism’s relationship with cinema and film form is one which has been debated since the beginnings of film theory. There are many different arguments on how best to capture realism on film. It came to the forefront of film theory in the 1930s and 40s through the Italian neorealism movement. Andre Bazin was a french film critic and theorist who is best known for his writing on realism in film. He argued that cinema is fundamentally realistic and that filmmakers should not alter what an audienceRead MoreMise-en-Scene in Edward Scissorhands Essay844 Words   |  4 Pagesread this film as a â€Å"Tim Burton† type of fairytale which includes both an alternative aspect and romance. However, through the presentation of mise-en-scene in this film, Burton drives in a much more serious subject of social criticism by establishing two different understandings of life in the movie. To begin, the idea of two realisms is first illustrated in the opening sequence of the film and continues throughout the length of the story. For example, the neighborhood shown in the film is veryRead MoreEssay about The Realism of the Film The Battle of The Somme1247 Words   |  5 PagesThe Realism of the Film The Battle of The Somme The film The Battle of The Somme was released in Londonon the 10th of August 1916, it was a famous documentary that was filmed by Geoffrey Malins and J.B. McDowell. They were one of the first groups of cameramen to film the British soldiers on the Battlefields of the Western Front. They helped the government to produce a video, to show people that War wasnt as bad as it seemed. It was however a silent film and so captionsRead MoreMagical Realism As A Literary Genre932 Words   |  4 PagesMagical Realism is a literary genre that integrates fantastic or mythological elements into otherwise realistic fiction. It is described by the basic, direct presentation of strange, magical events. Magical realism is basically characterized by the utilization of fantasy that vast majority believe in. Examples of such things include ghosts, psychics, and the theme of fate and destiny. It permits the novelist to venture into the fantasy realm without totally losing the feeling of reality. MagicalRead MoreSocialist Realism, The Cherished Genre Of The Stalin Era1736 Words   |  7 PagesSocialist Realism, the cherished genre of the Stalin era which brought random bits of musical joy to everyday Soviet life. During this period, only a select few films would get the pass for creation. This created a limited but precise pool of films that depict the ideals of the time. For a film to be considered of the Socialist Realist genre, a few key points should be displayed throughout the film. First, the characters must carry the philosophy of viewing their past and Russia’s past not just fromRead MoreA Social Realism Film Written By John Ajvide Lindqvist And Directed By Tomas Alfredson1560 Words   |  7 Pagesthat society generally considers abnormal, the source of the horror of monstrosity in vampire films usually comes from the monster itself. In contrast, Let the Right One In (2008), a social realism film written by John Ajvide Lindqvist and directed by Tomas Alfredso n, presents an intertwined storyline of coming-of-age and vampire horror(Oskar and Eli respectively) in which during the course of the film not only we as the viewer will ambivalently sympathise with the monster(Eli) who lives off theRead MoreAn Analysis of White Teeth by Zadie Smith2716 Words   |  11 Pagesof techniques to add to the frantic energy that the novel gains its main characteristic. She earns her awards through an expansive, almost manic style that she makes her own, which is why it earns its placement into the genre coined hysterical realism (Wood). In studying the many parts that make up her style, we can gain a better appreciation for what made Zadie Smith jump from an English undergraduate student in Cambridge to the literary darling she is today (O Grady). The first technique