GERM 1171 Lecture 9: March 20, 2018 GERM 1171 Week 9
German 1171
3/20/18
Director/Austeur film:
- Mid 1950s: concept of “la polilique de auteurs”
- In French film criticism:
o Not what (subject matter/content)
o But How (stylistic means) a movie is put together
- Whoever controls mise-en-scene is the true “author”
o Shots, angles, lighting, filters, framing, camera movement, editing, costumes
o = movie is considered a reflection of personal vision of director
o = dominance of the director as “author”
U.S. studio system didn’t give directors same freedom. Studio bosses preferred to
stick to genres.
Meanwhile, most people agree, the best movies are dialectical = striking a balance
between conventions of genres and the personality of artist (director, actors)
What is Culture?
- Term is traditionally understood to include PPP
- PPP
o Philosophical perspectives (values, attitudes, ideas, meanings)
o Behavioral Practices (patterns of social interactions)
o Products (tangible, intangible) of a particular society or subgroup
▪ Careful: danger of stereotypes
▪ Intercultural exchange: changes cultures; hybridity of culture
Culture with a Capital “C”
- Formal institution (social, political, economic)
- Great figures of history
- Products in literature, fine arts, architecture, science
Culture with a small “c”
- Aspects of daily life: housing, clothing, food, tools, transportation
- Patterns of behavior that members of a given culture regard as necessary and appropriate
(as “normal”)
Exposure to other cultures:
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- If someone has no or little exposure to other culture, what might his/her attitude be
- Vis-à-vis his/her own culture?
- Vis-à-vis other cultures?
- How do we learn about other cultures inside or outside our country?
We often learn about other cultures through movies
- Caution: US movies
o Often romanticize rebels, outlaws,
o Typical genres: Western, or action movies with violence
o Strong sensual aspect
o Fast pace
- Foreign films
o Slower
o No “Hollywood” happing endings
o Display different values about sex, nudity and violence
Depiction of minorities in US
- African American, Latinos, Native Americans
o Initially played small, lower cast roles such as nanny
o In recent decades filmmakers have created movies with where the lead actor and
actress are minorities
Almanya
Background
- History of immigrants into Germany
o WWII-2014
o After WWII: econ miracle- labor shortage in 1950s/1960s
▪ Especially after wall was built in 1961
▪ Northern European countries imported cheap labor from poor South
Mediterranean regions
o 2014-2017: approx. 1,000,000 refugees immigrated to Germany
- Who benefitted in the 1960s
o Foreign workers from South Europe earned money in short time, could afford
better standard of living than in home country
- 1970s: recession ended labor shortage
- 1989: Fall of Wall- influx from East Europe
o Stricter immigration laws, tightening of borders
o Schengen agreement of European Union
o Increase in illegal immigration (by way of people traffickers)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Mid 1950s: concept of la polilique de auteurs . In french film criticism: not what (subject matter/content, but how (stylistic means) a movie is put together. Whoever controls mise-en-scene is the true author : shots, angles, lighting, filters, framing, camera movement, editing, costumes, = movie is considered a reflection of personal vision of director, = dominance of the director as author . U. s. studio system didn"t give directors same freedom. Meanwhile, most people agree, the best movies are dialectical = striking a balance between conventions of genres and the personality of artist (director, actors) Term is traditionally understood to include ppp. Ppp: philosophical perspectives (values, attitudes, ideas, meanings, behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions, products (tangible, intangible) of a particular society or subgroup, careful: danger of stereotypes. Products in literature, fine arts, architecture, science. Aspects of daily life: housing, clothing, food, tools, transportation. Patterns of behavior that members of a given culture regard as necessary and appropriate (as normal )
