film week two

Strike (Stachka)

A 1924 Soviet silent film by Sergei Eisenstein depicting a factory workers' strike, emphasizing class struggle and oppression.

Montage Editing

Eisenstein's technique of juxtaposing contrasting images to create meaning through their collision, rather than continuity.

Dialectical Montage

A form of montage that synthesizes conflicting images to provoke an intellectual response and stimulate critical thinking.

Expressive Cinematography

The use of exaggerated angles, extreme close-ups, and distorted perspectives in film to enhance emotional impact.

Symbolism

The use of images representing abstract concepts; in Strike, machinery symbolizes capitalist oppression.

Nonlinear Storytelling

Narrative structure that presents events in a non-sequential order, emphasizing collective struggle over individual heroes.

Marxist Film Theory

A critical perspective that analyzes films in terms of class struggle and capitalist oppression, often advocating for revolutionary consciousness.

Brechtian Alienation Effect

A theatrical technique that encourages viewers to critically analyze rather than emotionally engage with the performance.

Proletkult theatre troupe

A Soviet cultural movement focused on working-class theater, with which Eisenstein collaborated during Strike's production.

Kuleshov Effect

A film theory concept demonstrating how audience perception is shaped through the juxtaposition of sequential images.

Animal Metaphors

Symbolic representations in film, where characters or elements are likened to animals to illustrate attributes or critique society.

Intellectual Montage

A montage technique emphasizing the philosophical implications arising from the collision of images.

Formalist Film Theory

A film theory that prioritizes artistic form and stylistic elements in film over realistic portrayals of life.

Mass Cinema

A film style aimed at large audiences, emphasizing broad appeal rather than specialized or avant-garde techniques.

Juxtaposition for Symbolism

A technique that places contrasting images or scenes together to create metaphorical meaning.

Cinema as an Ideological Tool

The concept that film can serve to promote or challenge ideological perspectives, shaping audience beliefs and perceptions.

Shock and Awe of Spectatorship

The intense emotional experience crafted through rapid cuts and contrasting visuals, designed to keep viewers engaged.

Editing as a Political Tool

The practice of using film editing to convey a political message or critique societal structures.

Mise-en-scène

The arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a film, crucial for creating mood and atmosphere.