André Bazin's Film Theory

Flashcards on André Bazin's Film Theory

Cahiers du cinéma

French film journal established by Bazin

Bazin's Anti-Formalism

Believed that realist representation of the world is crucial to the importance of the cinema. He stated, 'Cinema attains its fullness in being the art of the real'.

Camera's Role

Bazin argued that it mechanically records reality, and for the first time, there intervenes only the instrumentality of a nonliving agent between the originating object and its reproduction.

Photographic Image

credible, there was a real object in front of the camera

Fingerprint of Reality

photons on the celuloid

Bazin’s ‘Objectivity Axiom’

Film is the tracing of reality on celluloid, linked to reality, and immediately comprehensible to the viewer

Signification

Result of cinematic style, abstract signs, filmmakers preference

Significance

Result of cinematic form, rejection of style and revealing real nature

Unadorned Cinematic Reality

Simple cinematographic recording is good

montage types

Abstract, psychological, Bazin’s ideal