MED 274 Introduction to Film Final Exam Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcards for MED 274 Introduction to Film Final Exam Study Guide

Kinetoscope

An early motion picture device allowing individuals to watch short films through a peephole viewer.

The Kiss

Depicted one of the first on-screen romantic moments in 1896.

The Hollywood Studio System

Dominant from the 1920s to 1948, controlled all aspects of filmmaking.

Example Studios

MGM, Warner Bros., Paramount, 20th Century Fox, RKO.

Iconography

Visual elements and symbols consistently used within a genre or film style.

Example of Iconography

Dark alley with neon lights in film noir.

Motif

A repeated visual, sound, or thematic element.

Example of Motif

Recurring mirror reflections in Citizen Kane (1941).

The Paramount Case

Ended Hollywood’s monopoly over film production, distribution, and theaters in 1948.

Impact of The Paramount Case

Forced studios to sell their theater chains.

Screwball Comedy Genre

Features fast-paced dialogue, absurd situations, and gender role reversals.

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Katharine Hepburn plays an eccentric heiress who disrupts Cary Grant’s life.

Horror Genre

Films designed to evoke fear and suspense.

Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock revolutionized horror by focusing on psychological terror.

Western Genre

Centers on the American frontier, featuring cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws.

The Searchers (1956)

John Wayne portrays a morally complex protagonist on a relentless quest.

Fred Astaire

An iconic dancer and actor, known for effortless, smooth tap dancing.

Swing Time (1936)

Astaire’s legendary ballroom and tap performances paired with Ginger Rogers.

Humphrey Bogart

Famous for playing hard-boiled, morally ambiguous characters in film noir.

Casablanca (1942)

Bogart’s portrayal of Rick Blaine as a reluctant hero.

John Wayne

Known for portraying rugged, strong-willed cowboys and soldiers.

True Grit (1969)

Wayne plays a tough U.S. Marshal.

Narrative Economy

Films should efficiently use storytelling techniques.

Jaws (1975)

Spielberg strategically minimizes actual shark appearances.

Material Economy

The efficient use of physical resources in filmmaking.

Example of Material Economy

Classic horror films reused previous movie sets to save money.

Alexandre Astruc

Introduced the camera-stylo concept.

Camera-stylo

Directors should express personal artistic visions through cinematography.

Auteur Approach

The director is the central creative force of a film.

Auteur as Source

The director is the primary origin of creative vision.

Auteur as Brand Name

A director’s name can be used to market a film.

Auteur as Critical Construct

Some critics shape auteur identity after observing recurring themes.

Cahiers du Cinéma

A French film journal influential in developing auteur theory.

Alain Resnais

Experimented with memory and time in Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959).

Luis Buñuel

Known for surrealism, directed Un Chien Andalou (1929).

Camera as pen

Asserting that film should be as personal as writing.

Andrew Sarris

Popularized auteur theory in America.

The Lumière Brothers

Early documentary-style filmmakers.

Categorical, Abstract, Associational Forms

Different types of experimental film structures.

Nanook of the North (1922)

First major documentary.

Why We Fight (1942–45)

WWII propaganda series by Frank Capra.

Triumph of the Will (1934)

Controversial Nazi propaganda by Leni Riefenstahl.

Computer Animation

Digital animation revolutionized film.

Example of Computer Animation

First pioneered in Toy Story (1995).

Tex Avery

Introduced exaggerated character physics in Looney Tunes.

Chuck Jones

Mastermind behind Bugs Bunny and Road Runner cartoons.

Cel Animation Process

Traditional animation drawing on transparent sheets.

Transmedia Storytelling

Expanding stories across movies, games, TV shows, and books.

Film Adaptations

Many films are adaptations of literary works.

The Lord of the Rings

Example of Film Adaptations