Analysis Of Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion Of Joan Of Arc

Throughout history, the public has been entertained by stories written and performed by artists visually. The creation of the moving picture gave an outlet to visual art performers to reach brand new audiences of enormous sizes. The cultural and artistic differences that influenced art prior to the film industry also made an imprint on films from around the Western world. Because of the emphasis on capitalism in America and England, the films of English speaking directors tended to be aimed at making as much money as possible. These films were widely publicized and spread around the country during release. The production companies wanted to create as large a demographic for their movies as they could; these companies created more comedic films that families could watch as well as adults. However, when European directors came to the United States to make movies, they used all that they could to recreate the art which was popular in their home countries. These directors were much more interested in creating a nuanced piece that could be appreciated by the viewer and appeal to their fellow artists. During the 1920’s, while American and British …show more content…
These close ups, especially during emotional scenes in which Joan of Arc was crying, humanize her as a character. The emotion of her face close up overpowers the viewer, making it nearly impossible to pay attention to anything else. This causes a lasting impression because the closeness of her face inspires powerful empathy from the