Film Studies 1020E Lecture Notes - Classical Hollywood Cinema, David Bordwell

• School: Western University
• Department: Film Studies
• Course: Film Studies 1020E
• Professor: Janelle Blankenship

Document Summary

Coherence in terms of abstract values (determination, treachery, etc. ) Logical relation between inner/mental life and visible actions. Classical hollywood cinema presents psychologically defined individuals who struggle to solve clear-cut problems or to attain specific goals. In the course of this struggle, the characters enter into conflict with others or with external circumstances. (david bordwell) Story: defined by cause and effect, understanding of action as achieving goals; the story is assumed to preexist the plot) Plot has to present causal relations of story; initial state of affairs gets violated and then must be set right again. Usually classical hollywood is based on a double plotline: heterosexual romance, another sphere (work, adventure, war, etc. ) Films can be broken down into segments. Film style and plot is subordinated to narrative development. Hollywood wants us to project hypotheses : what is going to happen next? .