I think Tanya and I both had questions for Chapter Four, so pick and choose as you like. :)
1)In our films this semester, we have encountered a wide variety of styles and aesthetic strategies. Which did you enjoy the most? The least?
2) On p.76, our book discussed image resolution and mood. Did you see examples of this in our films this semester? If so, do you think it was effective, and fit/enhanced the tone of the film?
3) On p.78, our text mentions the use of color in "Born Into Brothels." How else has color affected these films? If you were making a film, why (if at all) might you use black and white film?
4) How have you seen human voice used in a performative or artistic way? Consider the accents in "The True Meaning of Pictures," or Kim's rapping in "Trouble the Waters."
5) With techniques like framing and manipulating the mise-en-scene, how do these effects impact the authenticity and truth of a film?
6) How can the use of sounds contribute to motifs, themes, purpose, etc. of a documentary. Consider the structure of Trouble the Water (Kim's footage, news report, filmmaker).
3. I love the possibilities of black and white film. Some of the most striking images I've seen are black and white still photographs, especially portraits (think any Philippe Halsman, or Annie Leibovitz's Iggy Pop or Chrysler Bldng Gargoyle shots). The fact is, Black and White seems to lend itself especially well to portraiture. Many documentaries are, in essence, portraits of people or situations. I think that black and white film could do two things: make that unspoken connection to portraiture for the viewer, and utilize the je ne sai quoi (focus on content over color?) attribute that B&W has in still photography to the same effect in a moving picture.
It would certainly be more than aesthetic choice, but at the same time would be an artistic one. Does that make sense?
Wes, I am also partial to black and white photography and film. I've made a few slide shows for family members celebrating milestone birthdays, using photographs that span the decades. The B&W photos of the 40s and 50s by far create a better visual than many of the color photos, especially the grainy pictures from the 70s and 80s with the yellow-orange cast. Why do THEY look so dated, and the earlier B&Ws look so timeless?
Color can bring so much richness but it can also be a distraction. Black and white keeps the focus on the subject - often a person, so yes, I agree, it lends itself to portraiture. I used to do some Photoshopping in my work and never realized until then how many shades of grey there are. Adjusting darker or lighter by even a couple of percentage points can make a significant different in the highlights, midtones and shadows. Push it just a little too far, and you lose an important detail in the image. B&W in film lends itself to subtlety on the one hand and dramatic effect on the other, and it keeps the focus on lighting, shadows, and subjects. It's one of the reasons why those classic films from the 40s are still so wonderful to watch!
5. Devil's Playground, we discussed the female character and her trying on her wedding dress in front of the film. Another example would be the documentary of the Kennedy's relatives and the daughter performing for us, dressing up. Troubled the Water, we have Kim rapping one of her songs, all showing examples of mise-en-scene. I think even though costumes, props maybe staged, these events as we discussed in class may have happened before, they do not seem so far fetched. I believe they help reveal an aspect of the character that we might not have seen if it was not used. It appeals to our pathos and even ethos, that these are normal everyday people like us.
I agree with Shaniqua that the dress scene in Devils Playground and the rapping scene in Trouble the Water, are examples of miss-en-scene that help the viewer gain a better understand of the characters in the film. Another example is the interview with Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine, in which Michael Moore set up movie posters behind Heston as he was interviewed. This use of miss-en-scene was useful for viewers to understand that not only is Charlton Heston a political activist, but also once a beloved movie star. Knowing a persons background can either help that person gain or lose credibility. While although I do feel that miss-en-scene can be helpful to the viewers, I still that the use of miss-en-scene decreases the authenticity of a documentary film, because it is staged.
3.) Black and white film has a way of saying more with less sometimes. I think the absense of color allows characterization, framing, lighting, gazes, and even action and dialogue to come closer to the forefront. Since black and white film is certainly not the norm nowadays, a movie shot in such is usually done so intentionally, often with the intent of creating a vintage or historical context; it creates a more authetic time reference for the audience. There are also interesting visual effects that many times feed into symbolism and/or motif by featuring instances of color within a black and white film, such as the little girl's red coat in "Schindler's List". Sometimes black and white film can also create a more ominous or spooky mood/tone (probably due to the easy lending of heavy shadowing within the lack of color), which can lend itself to horror or thriller films. And, although black and white film can mark certain films as antiquated, it is interesting to see that despite all of the technological advances in color film with things like high definition, 3D, and LED TV's, black and white film has not completely phased out. It is still a staple in the world of film - in motion and still - and, as mentioned by Cathy, holds a certain timelessness about it.
I think Tanya and I both had questions for Chapter Four, so pick and choose as you like. :)
ReplyDelete1)In our films this semester, we have encountered a wide variety of styles and aesthetic strategies. Which did you enjoy the most? The least?
2) On p.76, our book discussed image resolution and mood. Did you see examples of this in our films this semester? If so, do you think it was effective, and fit/enhanced the tone of the film?
3) On p.78, our text mentions the use of color in "Born Into Brothels." How else has color affected these films? If you were making a film, why (if at all) might you use black and white film?
4) How have you seen human voice used in a performative or artistic way? Consider the accents in "The True Meaning of Pictures," or Kim's rapping in "Trouble the Waters."
A few more to consider...
ReplyDelete5) With techniques like framing and manipulating the mise-en-scene, how do these effects impact the authenticity and truth of a film?
6) How can the use of sounds contribute to motifs, themes, purpose, etc. of a documentary. Consider the structure of Trouble the Water (Kim's footage, news report, filmmaker).
3. I love the possibilities of black and white film. Some of the most striking images I've seen are black and white still photographs, especially portraits (think any Philippe Halsman, or Annie Leibovitz's Iggy Pop or Chrysler Bldng Gargoyle shots). The fact is, Black and White seems to lend itself especially well to portraiture. Many documentaries are, in essence, portraits of people or situations. I think that black and white film could do two things: make that unspoken connection to portraiture for the viewer, and utilize the je ne sai quoi (focus on content over color?) attribute that B&W has in still photography to the same effect in a moving picture.
ReplyDeleteIt would certainly be more than aesthetic choice, but at the same time would be an artistic one. Does that make sense?
Wes, I am also partial to black and white photography and film. I've made a few slide shows for family members celebrating milestone birthdays, using photographs that span the decades. The B&W photos of the 40s and 50s by far create a better visual than many of the color photos, especially the grainy pictures from the 70s and 80s with the yellow-orange cast. Why do THEY look so dated, and the earlier B&Ws look so timeless?
DeleteColor can bring so much richness but it can also be a distraction. Black and white keeps the focus on the subject - often a person, so yes, I agree, it lends itself to portraiture. I used to do some Photoshopping in my work and never realized until then how many shades of grey there are. Adjusting darker or lighter by even a couple of percentage points can make a significant different in the highlights, midtones and shadows. Push it just a little too far, and you lose an important detail in the image. B&W in film lends itself to subtlety on the one hand and dramatic effect on the other, and it keeps the focus on lighting, shadows, and subjects. It's one of the reasons why those classic films from the 40s are still so wonderful to watch!
5. Devil's Playground, we discussed the female character and her trying on her wedding dress in front of the film. Another example would be the documentary of the Kennedy's relatives and the daughter performing for us, dressing up. Troubled the Water, we have Kim rapping one of her songs, all showing examples of mise-en-scene. I think even though costumes, props maybe staged, these events as we discussed in class may have happened before, they do not seem so far fetched. I believe they help reveal an aspect of the character that we might not have seen if it was not used. It appeals to our pathos and even ethos, that these are normal everyday people like us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shaniqua that the dress scene in Devils Playground and the rapping scene in Trouble the Water, are examples of miss-en-scene that help the viewer gain a better understand of the characters in the film. Another example is the interview with Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine, in which Michael Moore set up movie posters behind Heston as he was interviewed. This use of miss-en-scene was useful for viewers to understand that not only is Charlton Heston a political activist, but also once a beloved movie star. Knowing a persons background can either help that person gain or lose credibility. While although I do feel that miss-en-scene can be helpful to the viewers, I still that the use of miss-en-scene decreases the authenticity of a documentary film, because it is staged.
ReplyDelete3.) Black and white film has a way of saying more with less sometimes. I think the absense of color allows characterization, framing, lighting, gazes, and even action and dialogue to come closer to the forefront. Since black and white film is certainly not the norm nowadays, a movie shot in such is usually done so intentionally, often with the intent of creating a vintage or historical context; it creates a more authetic time reference for the audience. There are also interesting visual effects that many times feed into symbolism and/or motif by featuring instances of color within a black and white film, such as the little girl's red coat in "Schindler's List". Sometimes black and white film can also create a more ominous or spooky mood/tone (probably due to the easy lending of heavy shadowing within the lack of color), which can lend itself to horror or thriller films.
ReplyDeleteAnd, although black and white film can mark certain films as antiquated, it is interesting to see that despite all of the technological advances in color film with things like high definition, 3D, and LED TV's, black and white film has not completely phased out. It is still a staple in the world of film - in motion and still - and, as mentioned by Cathy, holds a certain timelessness about it.