Film Studies: Jump Cuts and Music Videos

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Questions and Answers

What effect do the jump cuts in the scene from Breathless produce?

A smooth transition

An engaging dialogue

A slow-paced narrative

A disconcerting effect (correct)

What is metric montage?

A film editing technique where shots are cut following the soundtrack's meter.

The term 'cinematic realism' means that films using professional actors cannot be realistic.

True

Why can both music videos and video games be considered art?

They can convey meaning and emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Howells & Negreiros compare music videos to haiku poetry?

Both offer synthetic images that convey deep meaning and emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a strong argument for the political potential of music videos?

They are contradictory artifacts that can influence people's ideas. Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining principle of new media according to Lev Manovich?

Numerical representation of information. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the theory of the "innocent eye" inadequate, according to Ernst Gombrich?

Because it does not explain why it took artists so long to achieve realism. Signup and view all the answers

What does Gombrich's theory of schemata propose?

Artists gradually developed a set of techniques, procedures, and forms for the representation of visual reality through a long historical process. Signup and view all the answers

Define iconology in your own words.

Iconology is the study of visual figurative images and the analysis of their meanings. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three stages of iconology?

<ol> <li>Primary or natural level (what is shown), 2) Secondary or conventional stage (deeper meanings), 3) Intrinsic meaning or content (cultural significance).</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does Roger Fry believe art represents?

Art represents the actual life, the things that really happen to artists and in the world. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the analogy between abstract painting and music as discussed by Howells & Negreiros.

Both can evoke emotions and feelings through formal elements such as lines, shapes, sound, melody, and rhythm. Signup and view all the answers

Is all abstract art about expressing personal emotions?

No, it can also convey sensations or objectives that are not personal. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the two moments in the feeling of the sublime according to Immanuel Kant.

<ol> <li>A feeling of fear/awareness of smallness, 2) Rising above the fear for understanding.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How does Roland Barthes view the role of the 'linguistic message' in images?

It anchors the image's meaning. Signup and view all the answers

What does Berger mean by the mystification of art?

The concealment by 'experts' of what might otherwise be evident in artworks. Signup and view all the answers

Why do we value the uniqueness of artworks, according to Berger?

Because we associate the rarity of the artwork with its presumed spiritual value. Signup and view all the answers

How does the reproduction of artworks change their meaning?

It destroys the authority and mystification of art, allowing diverse uses and interpretations. Signup and view all the answers

Why might tourists flock to see famous masterpieces in art museums?

They want to brag and see the authentication of artworks, which gives them symbolic capital. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Reubens' Judgment of Paris (1639) considered problematic from a feminist perspective?

It uses an ancient Greek myth to represent nude female figures for the male gaze. Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinction between nakedness and the nude in art as explained by Berger?

The nude is an artistic genre objectifying female bodies; nakedness simply means being without clothes. Signup and view all the answers

Why do Berger's views suggest that Western painting and modern advertisements are similar?

Both present objects and bodies imbued with desirability. Signup and view all the answers

According to Berger, why is sexism prevalent in advertising?

Advertising targets women’s desires for love and reflects men's sexual desires. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the interpretation of Artemisia Gentileschi's work as 'symbolic vengeance' problematic?

It follows a common trope of women exercising power, rather than being an original expression of her experience. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two key points from Linda Nochlin's answer to 'Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?'

Obstacles women faced in being recognized and the notion of 'genius' being associated with men. Signup and view all the answers

Who is currently recognized as the first abstract artist within the Western art tradition?

Hilma af Klint. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Western art tradition considered patriarchal according to Linda Nochlin?

It reproduces stereotypes about women and favors male artists, disregarding the contributions of women. Signup and view all the answers

What defines queer art?

Art that depicts and celebrates non-normative gender and sexual identities, and challenges discrimination. Signup and view all the answers

Why are Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs considered queer works of art?

They depict nude black men instead of nude white women, subverting gender and racial expectations. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the criticism of Michael Ray Charles's work miss the point?

His images use irony and exaggeration to subvert racial stereotypes. Signup and view all the answers

Why does bell hooks criticize the view against Alison Saar's identity exploration?

She believes racial identity should connect with history, culture, and community, which Saar's work explores. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists includes the names of three key contributors to the invention of photography?

Nicéphore Niépce, Louis Daguerre, Henry Fox Talbot Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with the invention of photography?

There is no single inventor; it was a collective accomplishment. Signup and view all the answers

What does Roger Scruton mean when he argues that photography cannot be art?

Photographs are bound to their subject, meaning is limited to what they depict. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the camera obscura not considered an early photographic device?

The image produced cannot be fixed; it must be chemically fixed to a surface. Signup and view all the answers

Why are films particularly adept at expressing the human condition?

Their photographic, aural, and narrative qualities allow detailed storytelling. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists contains an element that IS NOT an important element of film grammar?

Character Development Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following lists contains an element that IS NOT an important aspect of mise-en-scene in cinema?

Script Writing Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between diegetic and extradiegetic sound in cinema?

Diegetic sound is intrinsic to the filmic world; extradiegetic sound is external and not part of the narrative. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Kuleshov Effect?

The effect by which two discontinuous shots create a 'third image' in the spectator's mind. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding Visual Arts Key Concepts

Ernst Gombrich critiques the "innocent eye" theory for failing to explain delays in achieving realism in art.
Gombrich's theory of "schemata" posits a historical process where artists developed techniques and forms for representing visual reality.
Iconology, as defined by Richard Howells and Joachim Negreiros, is the study of visual images and their meanings, analyzed in three stages: primary level (what is shown), secondary level (deeper meanings), and intrinsic meaning (historical context).
The Merode Altarpiece by Robert Campin is rich with iconographical symbols, such as Joseph's mouse trap representing God's capture of the devil and lilies symbolizing Mary's purity.
Roger Fry believes art transcends mere representation of reality, focusing on artists’ actual life experiences.
Howells and Negreiros draw parallels between abstract painting and music, emphasizing emotional expression through formal elements like lines and rhythm.
Abstract art is not solely about personal emotion; it can express sensations or have objective meanings.
Immanuel Kant's theory of the sublime involves a two-moment experience: feeling fear and then rising above that fear through understanding.
Roland Barthes argues that the written text accompanying an image anchors its meaning, influencing interpretation dramatically.
The three steps of Barthes' approach to 'myth' involve describing the overt image, interpreting its covert meanings, and unveiling deeper cultural significances.
John Berger discusses the mystification of art, where expert discourses obscure inherent meanings in artworks.
Berger asserts that we value the uniqueness of artworks due to their rarity, which is linked to perceived spiritual significance.
Reproducing artwork alters its meaning by eroding its authority and allowing diverse reinterpretations.
Tourists are drawn to famous artworks for status, authenticity, and the emotional connection to cultural symbols.
Feminist critiques of art, like Rubens' Judgment of Paris, highlight representations through the male gaze.
The distinction between "nakedness" and the "nude" lies in the objectification in the art genre versus a mere state of undress.
Both Western painting and advertisements create desirability around objects and bodies, reflecting similar conceptual frameworks.
Sexism in advertising is pervasive; ads target women’s desires for love and men’s sexual fantasies.
Artemisia Gentileschi's portrayal of powerful women reflects a larger trope rather than solely personal revenge for her trauma.
Linda Nochlin identifies barriers for women artists, including societal obligations and the traditional association of genius with male traits.
Hilma af Klint is now recognized as the first abstract artist in Western art.
The Western art tradition is patriarchal, reinforcing stereotypes about women's roles and downplaying female artists' contributions.
Queer art celebrates diverse identities and challenges discrimination against non-normative experiences.
Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs are considered queer due to their subversion of normative gender and race depictions.
Michael Ray Charles uses irony in his work to challenge rather than reinforce racial stereotypes.
Alison Saar's work critiques the notion that racial identity is solely based on appearance, instead advocating for cultural identification.
Historic contributors to photography include Nicéphore Niépce, Louis Daguerre, and Henry Fox Talbot.
Photography is a collective invention, lacking a singular inventor.
Roger Scruton argues photography is not art as it remains bound to its subject, lacking transcendence.
The camera obscura was not an early photography device as it could not fix images chemically.
Narrative films explore the human condition due to their ability to convey experiences through visual and auditory storytelling.
Elements like sound and editing are crucial to film grammar, while specific concepts may not align with mise-en-scene.
Diegetic sound exists within the narrative; extradiegetic sound is external to the story world.
The Kuleshov Effect creates emotional responses through the juxtaposition of images in film editing.
The jump-cuts in Godard's Breathless produce a jarring effect due to abrupt transitions.
Alfred Hitchcock's use of metric montage in Psycho’s shower scene emphasizes the relentlessness of violence through rhythmic editing.
Cinematic realism does not necessitate the use of non-professional actors; professional actors can depict realism as well.
Music videos and video games are seen as art forms for their emotive and meaningful expressions.
Comparisons of music videos to haiku emphasize the depth of meaning conveyed through synthetic imagery.

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Description

Explore key concepts in film studies, such as the impact of jump cuts in scenes and the definition of metric montage. Delve into the artistic nature of music videos and video games, and understand the comparison of music videos to haiku poetry, along with their political potential.