The films American Movie and It Follows serve as great examples of realistic and formalistic aesthetics, respectively. Realistic aesthetics deal with the idea of objectivity in film making, and any aesthetics implemented serve to continue the narrative or theme of the film. The idea of formalistic aesthetics directly contrasts this; these films works in the realm of subjectivity and regards aesthetic form just as high as the plot. This strong contrast between the two aesthetics can be seen throughout the films, most noteworthy are the differences in: cinematography, special effects, mise-en-scene, and melodrama each film incorporates. The subtle manipulation of each allows the films to be deafferented into their respective realistic and formalistic aesthetics.
Probably most …show more content…
While American Movie uses the real location and real people that the film was portraying-which gives the film a very genuine setting in both space and time- It Follows takes much a much more interesting approach. While the film never states what year the events take place, many different time periods seem to be present at once. The clothing styles and interior locations of the houses have a 1970’s vibe, their television shows nothing but classic film in black and white- a time that would be circa 1950’s, and yet one of the main characters carries around a compact e-reader-shaped in a compact makeup compartment-modified technology of the present/future. While the mise-en-scene seems to be random assortment of various costumes and props, it is used to tell the viewer that the message of the film is not only applicable to current teenagers, but has been a struggle for teenagers in the past and will continue to be in the future. This statement is anything but objective and again is what we come to expect from a formalist
Probably most …show more content…
While American Movie uses the real location and real people that the film was portraying-which gives the film a very genuine setting in both space and time- It Follows takes much a much more interesting approach. While the film never states what year the events take place, many different time periods seem to be present at once. The clothing styles and interior locations of the houses have a 1970’s vibe, their television shows nothing but classic film in black and white- a time that would be circa 1950’s, and yet one of the main characters carries around a compact e-reader-shaped in a compact makeup compartment-modified technology of the present/future. While the mise-en-scene seems to be random assortment of various costumes and props, it is used to tell the viewer that the message of the film is not only applicable to current teenagers, but has been a struggle for teenagers in the past and will continue to be in the future. This statement is anything but objective and again is what we come to expect from a formalist