Untitled Quiz

Questions and Answers

What did David Bordwell suggest about the continuity system in Hollywood?

The continuity system developed in Hollywood subordinates staging to editing.

What are some characteristics of the first scene of Les Vampires?

Subtle choreography, flexible centering, use of architecture to plot action zones.

What traits did Sweden draw upon in the 1910s?

Local literature (correct)

English culture

Authentic costumes (correct)

Northern landscapes (correct)

What was Victor Sjostrom known for?

Lyrical intimacy, downplayed acting, and generating a clear center towards which moments converge. Signup and view all the answers

How does A Man There Was exemplify Swedish National Cinema?

It draws on national history and mythology, utilizes depth staging, and showcases its distinctive landscape. Signup and view all the answers

What did Yuri Tsivian describe as national film culture?

An arsenal of cultural tools used by a national cinema to claim a place in international filmmaking. Signup and view all the answers

What does medium specificity refer to?

An art form should adhere to the specific stylistic properties of its own medium. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following were techniques used in French Impressionism?

Quick cutting Signup and view all the answers

What are three principles of French Impressionist theory?

The nature of art, cinema as a unique art form, and photogenie. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by photogenie in French Impressionism?

Photogenie refers to the captivating aura that everyday objects obtain through film techniques. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized German Expressionism?

Radical distortion of reality to express emotion and inner realities. Signup and view all the answers

What were the two major styles in German Cinema of the 1920s?

German Expressionism Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of the Kammerspiel?

A psychological drama set in an enclosed space, focusing on character crises. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jean Epstein argue about the problem with cinema?

He criticized cinema as filmed theatre, being too plot-driven. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the influence of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?

It was controversial in the US. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key theme in interpreting Caligari?

It serves as an anti-authoritarian horror story reflecting on universal conscription. Signup and view all the answers

What are conventional aspects of Caligari?

Editing and cinematography Signup and view all the answers

What did the Freudian aspects of Caligari suggest?

It implies a vicarious pleasure in acting out suppressed desires. Signup and view all the answers

What was the production background of Doctor Caligari?

Screenwriters Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, directed by Robert Wiene. Signup and view all the answers

What is World Cinema?

National cinemas outside the USA, or national cinemas outside the western world. Signup and view all the answers

What is the time period and general purpose of Early Cinema?

1890s until roughly 1905-1910, a time of invention and experimentation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of early cinema? (Select all that apply)

Many films were tinted or toned Signup and view all the answers

What is Modernity in the context of cinema?

The socioeconomic and cultural transformations around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. Signup and view all the answers

What are the precursors to cinema?

Technologies that contributed to modernization and the culture of modernity. Signup and view all the answers

What categories can early cinema tech be broken into?

Optical toys, novelties, amusements, and scientific technologies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Phenakistoscope?

An early animation device with a spinning disk and a series of pictures to create the illusion of movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Zoetrope?

An early animation device that produces the illusion of movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Stereoscope?

A device that creates an impression of depth and solidity by viewing two photographs taken at slightly different angles. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Magic Lantern?

An early type of image projector employing painted pictures or photographs on sheets of glass. Signup and view all the answers

What is Daguerreotype photography?

An early photography technology using a sheet of silver plated copper. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Eadweard Muybridge?

A photographer known for analyzing motion through photography during the 19th century. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Etienne-Jules Marey?

A scientist who created a chronographic gun that could take 12 consecutive frames in a second. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the three major contributors to early cinema? (Select all that apply)

Thomas Edison Signup and view all the answers

What is the Kinetoscope?

An early motion picture exhibition device. Signup and view all the answers

What years were the early films 'Blacksmithing Scene' and 'Trapeze Disrobing Act' made?

'Blacksmithing Scene' in 1893 and 'Trapeze' in 1901. Signup and view all the answers

What were the names of the Lumière Brothers?

Auguste (1862-1954) and Louis (1864-1948). Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cinematographe?

An elegant and ingenious camera that is lightweight and portable. Signup and view all the answers

When and where was the first film screening?

December 28, 1895, at the Grand Café in Paris. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Lumière Brothers make cinema international?

By hiring camera operators to travel and shoot footage all over the world. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Georges Méliés?

A filmmaker known for major contributions such as trick films and stagecraft. Signup and view all the answers

What is tinting in early cinema?

Adding color to black-and-white film by soaking it in dye. Signup and view all the answers

What is toning in film?

Replacing silver particles in the emulsion with colored salts. Signup and view all the answers

What is vaudeville?

A variety program that included cinema as one module. Signup and view all the answers

What was the importance of vaudeville in the development of cinema? (Select all that apply)

Provided stability for film screenings Signup and view all the answers

What is Tom Gunning's thesis about Early Cinema?

It presents a series of views to the audience, focusing on exhibitionism. Signup and view all the answers

What are trick films?

Films that focus on technological attractions and aim for sensational or psychological impact. Signup and view all the answers

What defining characteristics marked the Transitional Era of cinema?

1908-1915, marked by industrialization and changes in production, distribution, and exhibition. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Nickelodeon Boom?

The period from 1905-1907 characterized by cheap, small theaters showing films. Signup and view all the answers

What trends helped usher in nickelodeons?

Changes in distribution, high demand for product and film exchanges. Signup and view all the answers

What was the move to features in the transitional area?

Film exchanges began renting films by length leading to multi-reel films. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did the transition to feature films have on cinema?

It increased film's status and attracted wealthier audiences. Signup and view all the answers

How did the transition to feature films affect Nickelodeons?

They could not sustain operations due to increased budgets and higher production costs. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized Classical Hollywood Cinema as a system?

A turn to movies as big business with standardized practices. Signup and view all the answers

What were the 'Big Five' studios?

Paramount, Warner Bros., Fox/Twentieth Century Fox, Metro, and RKO. Signup and view all the answers

What does vertical integration mean in the film industry?

A company controls production, distribution, and exhibition. Signup and view all the answers

What is standardization in filmmaking?

The ability to produce films quickly with uniform characteristics and quality standards. Signup and view all the answers

What is differentiation in film?

Creating something unique to separate one's film from others. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Star System?

A system where feature films motivated the signing of stars to lucrative contracts. Signup and view all the answers

What is The Continuity System?

An 'international style' of film that focuses on clarity and narrative effectiveness. Signup and view all the answers

What is intercutting in film editing?

An editing technique where action alternates between two locales. Signup and view all the answers

What is analytical editing?

Breaking down a single space into separate framings. Signup and view all the answers

What is an eyeline match in film?

When a character looks and we see what they see, but not from their perspective. Signup and view all the answers

What is shot/reverse shot?

Editing technique where two characters look at each other offscreen. Signup and view all the answers

What is consistent screen direction?

The playing space is kept coherent within a 180-degree layout. Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of WWI on American film?

America gained a foothold in the European market as Hollywood filled the production gap. Signup and view all the answers

Why couldn't European companies compete with American companies during WWI?

The large U.S. market allowed Hollywood to invest in higher-quality films at lower prices. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized France in the 1910s?

Rapid expansion marked by three major companies: Pathé, Gaumont, Film d'Art. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pathé?

Founded in 1896, it was the largest film production company in the world by 1905-1906. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Max Linder?

Pathé's biggest star during the early years of cinema. Signup and view all the answers

What is Gaumont?

A film production company founded in 1895 known for its important directors. Signup and view all the answers

What are serials in film?

Action-oriented thrillers that are released in multiple episodes. Signup and view all the answers

What is Film d'Art?

Founded in 1908, it aimed to establish cinema as an upper-class art form. Signup and view all the answers

What were Kristin Thompson's two goals for cinema?

Clarity and expressivity. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Louis Feuillade?

A prolific filmmaker who made at least 500 films for Gaumont. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Les Vampires'?

A 1915 film known for its poetic quality and juxtaposition of everyday life with fantastical elements. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

World Cinema

Definition encompasses national cinemas outside the USA and the Western world, emphasizing key movements and moments in film history.

Early Cinema

Timeframe: Early 1890s to around 1905-1910.
Characterized by invention and experimentation, where film was a novelty rather than an industry.

Characteristics of Early Cinema

Filmed in single shots with one camera position, usually lasting about one minute.
Exhibited in mixed variety formats akin to vaudeville.
Many films were visually enhanced through tinting, toning, or hand-coloring.
Approximately 80% of films produced between 1895-1925 are now lost.

Modernity

Defined by socioeconomic and cultural transformations at the turn of the 20th century, including industrialization and urbanization.
Marked by rapid technological advancements and complex sensory experiences in media.

Precursors to Cinema

Cinema developed from numerous overlapping technologies that contributed to modernization rather than being a singular invention.

Early Cinema Technology Categories

Divided into optical toys, novelties, and amusements, as well as scientific technologies.

Animated Devices

Phenakistoscope: Early animation device with spinning disks to create the illusion of movement.
Zoetrope: Gave the effect of motion by displaying successive phases of drawings or photos.
Stereoscope: Created depth perception by viewing two slightly different photographs together.
Magic Lantern: Projected images using painted glass sheets, lenses, and light sources.

Photography Technologies

Daguerreotype: Early photography using a silver-plated copper sheet exposed to light.
Eadweard Muybridge: Pioneered motion studies through sequential photography of moving subjects.
Etienne-Jules Marey: Developed the chronophotographic gun for rapid sequence photography.

Key Figures in Early Cinema

Thomas Edison: Innovator in the American cinema landscape.
Lumière Brothers: Pioneered photography and documentary-style films.
Georges Méliès: Known for incorporating special effects and fantasy elements into his films.

Early Exhibition Devices

Kinetoscope: A device for viewing early motion pictures.
Kinetograph: Edison’s motor-powered camera used for filming.

The Black Maria

Edison's production studio, recognized as America’s first movie studio.

Pioneering Films

Blacksmithing Scene: Released in 1893.
Trapeze Disrobing Act: Released in 1901.

Lumière Brothers' Contribution

Internationalized cinema by sending operators worldwide to film and exhibit local scenes.

Georges Méliès' Innovations

Major developments in trick films, stop motion, and fantasy storytelling.

Film Coloring Techniques

Tinting: Adding color by dyeing, often mechanically applied.
Toning: Chemical process replacing silver particles in emulsion for color enhancement.

Vaudeville's Role in Cinema

Provided a structured exhibition venue, fostering audience expectations and a significant marketing model.
Contributed to stability, modular programming, and affordability, appealing to working and middle classes.

Tom Gunning's "Cinema of Attractions"

Early cinema emphasized spectacle and direct engagement with audiences, highlighting exhibition rather than narrative depth.

Transitional Era (1908-1915)

Marked by industrialization changes leading to more standardized filmmaking, impacting production and distribution practices.

The Nickelodeon Boom (1905-1907)

Small, low-cost theaters offering continuous film viewings, accessible primarily to working and middle-class audiences.

Trends Leading to Nickelodeons

Increased demand for films and efficient rental systems prompted the boom, alongside an influx of European films.

Shift to Feature Films

Film exchanges began renting films based on length, leading to the rise of multi-reel films by 1912.

Rise of Feature Films in Italy

Italy produced elaborate, lengthy films such as Quo Vadis and Cabiria that shaped the feature film format.

Impact of World War I on American Film

Hollywood expanded its European market share, compensating for halted European productions and dominating foreign distribution.

France in the 1910s

Rapid film expansion with major companies like Pathé, Gaumont, and Film d'Art leading the industry.

Pathé Company

Established in 1896, became the largest film producer worldwide by 1905, excelling in vertical and horizontal integration.

Max Linder

Pathé's biggest star, contributing significantly to the company’s success.

Gaumont Studio

Founded in 1895, known for influential directors such as Alice Guy and Louis Feuillade.

Serial Films

Divided into episodes with action-driven plots and cliffhangers, exemplified by The Perils of Pauline.

Film d'Art

Established in 1908, aimed at cinematic prestige by adapting literary works and casting theater stars.

Kristin Thompson's Historical Perspective

Critiques past views prioritizing film independence from theater over complexities in narrative and technique.

Louis Feuillade

Prolific filmmaker at Gaumont between 1906-1925, involved in diverse genres and significant narrative contributions.

Les Vampires (1915)

Noteworthy for blending everyday settings with fantastical and nightmarish elements in film narrative.

Staging and Depth by David Bordwell

Emphasizes European filmmaking's focus on complex staging over editing, distinguishing it from Hollywood’s continuity.

Sweden in the 1910s

Incorporated national traits, such as local literature and landscapes, with directors like Victor Sjöström shaping its cinema.### Swedish National Cinema
A Man There Was (1916) exemplifies Swedish National Cinema through its historical themes, incorporating Swedish mythology and classical literature.
It features a unique style characterized by depth staging, restrained acting, and an overarching sense of austerity.
The use of Sweden's distinctive landscapes enhances its narrative and visual storytelling.

National Film Culture

Defined as an arsenal of cultural tools used by a national cinema to gain recognition in international filmmaking.
The term emphasizes the significance of unique cinematic expression over geographical placement within national culture.

Medium Specificity

Art forms should focus on their inherent stylistic properties, utilizing what each medium does best without imitating others.

French Impressionism

Emerged in the 1920s with filmmakers both in and outside the industry, advocating for radical approaches to film, psychological depth, and visual beauty.
Techniques include blurred images, superimposition, close-ups, and innovative camera placements to enhance emotional and sensory experiences.

Three Principles of French Impressionist Theory

Art must deviate from reality to evoke emotions indirectly instead of making explicit statements.
Cinema is considered a distinct art form, independent from theater, with unique capabilities.
Photogenie describes the evocative quality of images that reveal hidden meanings, providing a sense of otherness.

Mise-en-scene

Involves a director’s control over all elements in the frame, including setting, lighting, costumes, and actor performances.

German Cinema between the Wars

The Weimar Republic (1918-1933) saw a paradox where the film industry thrived despite severe economic and political challenges, partly due to foreign film bans.
Ufa, or Universum Film Aktiengesellschaft, operated as a leading film studio in Germany similar to Hollywood.

Styles in German Cinema

German Expressionism was influential in international cinema, characterized by artistic storytelling that distorts reality to express internal emotions.
Kammerspiel focused on intense psychological drama within confined settings featuring a small number of characters.

German Expressionism in Arts

Movement spanned numerous artistic forms, promoting radical distortion to express emotional truths through unconventional visual styles.
Expressions in painting relied on exaggerated figures, unrealistic colors, and nontraditional perspectives.

Characteristics of Kammerspiel

Typically featured slow pacing, short timeframes, and intense focus on character crises.
Notable films include Sylvester, The Last Laugh, and Michael with shared screenwriter Carl Mayer.

Modernism in Art

Represents a cultural shift favoring innovation, experimentation, and originality over traditional realism.
Marked by self-conscious art practices that challenge established norms through diverse techniques and forms.

Reflexivity

Encourages viewers to consider the creation process and its impact, often drawing attention to artistic mediums themselves.

Avant-garde

Emphasizes new and experimental ideas that challenge and disrupt conventional cultural and artistic norms.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Renowned for its innovative artistic approach as an alternative to mainstream Hollywood films, contributing to the emergence of art cinema.
Created by a talented team including Hans Janowitz, Carl Mayer, and director Robert Wiene.

Interpretation of Caligari

Intended as an "anti-authoritarian horror story," critiquing the concept of mandatory military service by portraying the protagonist as a victim.

Potential Issues in Caligari

The narrative may undermine its political commentary by framing psychological madness as the source of its conflict.
Elements of expressionism become universal, moving away from specific political meanings.

Conventional vs. Non-Conventional Aspects

Conventional elements include editing and character motivations.
Non-conventional aspects comprise unique expressionist visuals and narrative structures, like plot reversals.

Freudian Aspects of Caligari

Explores themes of desire and responsibility, depicting Caligari as both a threatening figure and a seductive manipulator.
Suggests a psychological excuse for impulsive violence, aligning with darker human instincts.

Influence of Caligari on Hollywood

Contributed to the development of horror and film noir genres, perceptible in films like Dracula and The Big Combo.

Dmitri Kirsanoff

An independent filmmaker operating outside of the studio structure, known for Ménilmontant as his notable work.

Ménilmontant

Features no intertitles, creating a sense of ambiguity regarding plot events.
Combines rapid editing with poetic storytelling to evoke a powerful emotional response from the audience.

Jean Epstein on Cinema

Critiques conventional cinema for adhering to predictable plot outcomes, advocating instead for an approach that resonates with the organic rhythms of life.
Views cinema as a transformative art form, capable of presenting a deeper, mystical reality through photogenie.

Role of Psychology in German Expressionism

Reflects internal psychological states projected onto the visual world, transforming reality to depict characters’ inner experiences.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.