African Film & Social Impact; week 1 readings

Three categories of artistic communication

Performance, Representational, Recording

What makes film unique among the arts

It can record and translate all other art forms

Diagram A Art Spectrum

Places art forms on a scale from realistic to abstract

Most abstract art form

Music

Diagram B Modes of Discourse

Shows the relationship between observer, artwork, and medium

Diagram C Rapports de Production

Highlights political, psychological, technical, and economic factors

Code in Monaco's theory

A shared system of meaning such as language or symbols

Trope in Monaco's theory

A recurring theme or symbol meaningful within a cultural context

Impact of digital technology on film

Undermines trust in realism due to manipulation tools

Democratization of art

Consumers influence or co

Film versus novel

Film is visual and time

Film versus theater

Film uses close

Film versus painting

Photography freed painting from realism leading to abstraction

Film versus music

Both are time

Camera obscura limitation

It could only project images but not record them

Key invention enabling photography

Light sensitive emulsion

Analog versus digital

Analog stores continuous signals while digital uses binary data

Persistence of vision

Creates the illusion of movement from still images

Standard frame rate for sound film

24 frames per second

Types of lenses

Normal, wide angle, and telephoto

Depth of field

The range of distance in which objects appear acceptably sharp

Zoom lens

A lens that changes focal length during a shot

Maltese cross mechanism

Allows film to advance frame by frame in the camera

Steadicam

A stabilizing rig for smooth handheld shots

Aspect ratio

The proportional relationship between the width and height of the screen

Anamorphic lens

Compresses a widescreen image onto standard film stock for later expansion

Generational loss

Degradation of image quality with each copy removed from the original

Digital video versus film

Digital now rivals or surpasses traditional film in most areas

Recording arts

Art forms that capture data from real life such as film or audio

Proscenium style filming

Early film technique that imitated theater with a fixed camera

DW Griffith's contribution

Moved the camera to guide viewer perspective dynamically

Purpose of spatial orientation

Prevents audience confusion about character placement

180 degree rule

Maintains consistent screen direction by not crossing the axis between subjects

Breaking the 180 degree rule

Can be used for dramatic impact if motivated by strong action

30 degree rule

Requires at least a 30 degree camera angle change between consecutive shots

Screen direction

Visual continuity of motion from one shot to the next

Right to left movement

Creates psychological tension for left to right readers

Film time compression

Shortens boring moments without drawing attention to time jumps

Film time elaboration

Stretches dramatic or emotional moments to build impact

Familiar image

A recurring shot or object used to create thematic or emotional unity

Example of visual symmetry

Repeated tracking shots in Notorious entering and exiting the mansion

Dramatic economy

Reusing established elements to reduce complexity and enhance clarity

Purpose of elaboration

Highlights emotion suspense or prepares the viewer for what is coming

Jump cut effect

A jarring visual that disrupts continuity and draws attention to editing