GERM 1171 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Run Lola Run, Tom Tykwer, Optical Illusion
4/24/18
GERM 1171
Week 14
Agenda:
• Realist vs. formalist film theories
• Movement/motion in film
• “Run, Lola, Run!” (dir. Tom Tykwer)
• Discussion
Film = Medium of Communication
• Communication Theory: what is needed to make a communication
complete? Sender to channel medium & massage to recipient
• What are the most basic ingredients of communication?
o Sender – Crew, director
o Medium – Film
o Message – Content
o Receiver - Audience
Film Theories:
Realist Theories
• Attempt to depict/recreate reality as it is (close to journalism/documentary film
making)
• Material should be found rather than constructed
• Actual location
• Concerned with exterior/surface reality
• Minimum of interference/manipulation (no stylization)
• Emphasis on content: often ordinary people, everyday life
• Often: moral or ethical bias (e.g., Christina)
Formalist Theories
• Acknowledge differences between human eye and camera
• Create a piece of art (not imitation reality): intentionally and visibly using
possibilities of photography, mise-en-scene
• Make-up story rather than telling what people sees or truth
“Cinema”:
Derives from Greek word for motion/movement
Kino
What is moving in motion pictures?
• Characters/object in mise-en-scene
• Camera
• Speed of film itself
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Agenda: realist vs. formalist film theories, movement/motion in film, discussion. Sender crew, director: medium film, message content, receiver - audience. Formalist theories: acknowledge differences between human eye and camera, create a piece of art (not imitation reality): intentionally and visibly using. Emphasis on content: often ordinary people, everyday life possibilities of photography, mise-en-scene: make-up story rather than telling what people sees or truth. What is moving in motion pictures: characters/object in mise-en-scene, camera. Left to right: most characters do this, progress. Symbolism of movement within the mise-en-sc ne: upward: power, positive mood, authority, happy, downward: negative mood, defeat, sadness, weakness, right to left: wrong, having trouble, away from camera/audience: ending, closing, farewell. Moving more obvious: depth movements (in and out) A long shot and a high angle or a closer shot and a low angle. Freeze frame: cut and add the same frame again and again. Slow motion: record faster but show with usual speed, more frames/sec.
