Film theory

Dividing film theory into the dichotomy of two very broad categories, realism and formalism, does have it merit but only in the simplification of information. By stating that Andre Bazin is a realist and Sergei Eisenstein is a formalist on who is largely unfamiliar with their works is able to compile a rough list of attributes and beliefs that may relate to each theorist; however, these label can act as a subterfuge, masking the beliefs of Bazin and Eisenstein that do not fit into these…

Laura Mulvey’s piece, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, emerged during second wave feminism and the classic Hollywood Film era. Mulvey’s work has since received various criticisms (Torres Lecture 10) however, several of her ideas are still prevalent in films today –specifically male characters as active and female characters as passive (Mulvey). Mulvey theorizes, “pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto…

After viewing the film Darwin’s Nightmare, it is easier see how dependent theory is applied in the real world. Tanzania can be used as a case study for dependent development, as well as many other impoverished nations in Africa. According to lecture, dependency theory states that global capitalism has a “core” (the rich), and a “periphery” (the poor). Resources of all sorts flow from the periphery of poor and underdeveloped states to the core of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the…

would not normally notice, but through the film Psycho, we are able to analyze these things and understand how Hollywood cinema truly works. In Laura Mulvey’s essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative, she argues that the perspectives that are presented in Hollywood narrative cinema are usually those of a heterosexual male. Mulvey introduces the idea of scopophilia (originally…

Disorganization Theory was used by sociologists in Chicago to show how the city became so overrun with crime (Siegel, 2017). Social Disorganization theory is defined as “Branch of social structure theory that focuses on the breakdown in the inner-city neighborhood of institutions such as the family, school, and employment,” (Siegel, 2017). The theory can be used to find the correlation between crime and a disorganized society. Similarly, to the research in Chicago, the Social Discrimination…

male-active/female-passive binary set for movies, according to Laura Mulvey’s theories. In her article, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, Laura Mulvey writes of how film form is structured by the unconscious of the patriarchal…

could be described as an actuality film, or a film that has no real purpose. Through his use of editing, lighting, and sound, Harmony Korine is able to create affects in the viewers. Some argue that this film is a feminist work, but after analyzing the film, I must disagree. Media changes how we perceive things and can be used to expand our perception. Film directs where our attention should be, and allows us to live what is happening on the screen. Through film we can experience everything the…

From films about childhood dreams, to wizards, to evil spirits, the fantasy genre has taken audiences into worlds they never could have imagined. Fantasy genre films use creativity, magic, and unrealistic circumstances to take one’s mind beyond its limits. “Fantasy is a fluid genre that allows crossover with horror, science fiction, comedy, holiday films, and more” (Goodyknootz & Jacobs, 2014). The feature-length film “Big” starring Tom Hanks is a textbook example of a fantasy genre film. While…

Sherman’s Untitled Film Stills have been at the centre of Post Modernist and Post-Structuralist discourse since the 1980s. This paper will address the arguments made by Rosalind Krauss, Judith Williamson, Laura Mulvey and Jui-Ch’i Liu surrounding these film stills. The work at hand consists of a series of black and white photographs where Sherman plays the role of the director and the agent to construct an image and mise en scène that has an uncanny resemblance to 1950s snapshots of films. In…

of his neighbors to have murdered his wife. Not being able to provide an eye witness account to what he believes happened he has his nurse stella and fiance to be Lisa he gathers enough probable cause to arrest him.The film focuses on the theme of voyeurism and throughout the film you can see how the camera adds to this effect. Another theme intertwined with it also is romantic involvement…