Criticism: The Criticism: The Major LensesMajor LensesWays of looking at film Ways of looking at film

as literatureas literature

The Lenses:The Lenses:

FormalismFormalism Historical/BiographicalHistorical/Biographical ArchetypalArchetypal MarxistMarxist FeministFeminist PsychologicalPsychological MoralMoral GenreGenre

Terms to RememberTerms to Remember

LensLens CriticismCriticism SubjectiveSubjective ObjectiveObjective Invalid OpinionInvalid Opinion Valid OpinionValid Opinion CredibilityCredibility

GOAL OF CRITICISMGOAL OF CRITICISM

CriticismCriticism= An attempt to evaluate = An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective manner as credible and objective manner as possible.possible.

Evaluating means “judging”Evaluating means “judging” Most reactions to works of art ARE Most reactions to works of art ARE

subjective. After all, ART attempts subjective. After all, ART attempts to both entertain (appeal to the to both entertain (appeal to the audience’s emotions- satisfy an audience’s emotions- satisfy an emotional need) AND inform.emotional need) AND inform.

GOAL OF CRITICISMGOAL OF CRITICISM

SubjectiveSubjective = personal, = personal, emotional reaction.emotional reaction.

ObjectiveObjective = assessment based = assessment based on as much specific, fact on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible.based criteria as possible.

Objective criticismObjective criticism attempts attempts to employ a specific and to employ a specific and informed vocabulary.informed vocabulary.

Discriminating between Discriminating between validvalid and and invalidinvalid opinions opinions

““Opinions are like a******s, Opinions are like a******s, everyone has one.”everyone has one.”

InvalidInvalid opinionopinion = an often = an often inarticulate judgment inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely expressed through entirely subjective terms. An opinion subjective terms. An opinion which lacks credibility.which lacks credibility.

Example: “I think the movie Example: “I think the movie sucked because it was stupid sucked because it was stupid and boring.”and boring.”

Discriminating between Discriminating between validvalid and and invalidinvalid opinions opinions

ValidValid opinionopinion = an attempt to evaluate a = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through objective means. A work of art through objective means. A valid opinion is valid opinion is crediblecredible..

Example: “Because the climax never Example: “Because the climax never appears to arrive as a result of the hero’s appears to arrive as a result of the hero’s repeated high stake attempts to repeated high stake attempts to overcome the obstacle, the script fails to overcome the obstacle, the script fails to create, in the audience, a strong create, in the audience, a strong empathetic investment in the hero’s empathetic investment in the hero’s struggle.”struggle.”

Credibility Credibility = believability= believability

LENS =LENS =

LENS =LENS = Simply a tool through which one Simply a tool through which one

views or sees something.views or sees something. The choice of lens affects how The choice of lens affects how

and what one sees.and what one sees. The choice of lens empowers one The choice of lens empowers one

to understand and interpret.to understand and interpret. The choice of lens serves as a The choice of lens serves as a

means of objective criticism, means of objective criticism, thereby leading toward thereby leading toward developing a valid, credible and developing a valid, credible and informed opinion.informed opinion.

1. Formalism *1. Formalism *

Looks at the work of art Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, body its formation, shape, body and structure.and structure.

Also referred to asAlso referred to as “structuralism”“structuralism”

1. Formalism *1. Formalism *

Most commonly employed critical Most commonly employed critical lens.lens.

Study of art based upon how it is Study of art based upon how it is created (or built)created (or built)

Perhaps the most “objective” lens as Perhaps the most “objective” lens as its vocabulary is specific and its vocabulary is specific and definable.definable.

Employs terms such as: Employs terms such as: plot, plot, character, allegory, symbolism, character, allegory, symbolism, balance, conflict, contrast, etcbalance, conflict, contrast, etc..

2. Historical: *2. Historical: * Looks at and evaluates a work of art Looks at and evaluates a work of art

based upon the based upon the historicalhistorical, , culturalcultural and other and other outsideoutside elements elements influencing its creation and how they influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are manifested and (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the work.reflected in the work.

Also sometimes called Also sometimes called BIOGRAPHICALBIOGRAPHICAL – as it also will often – as it also will often consider the biographical relevance consider the biographical relevance of the author to the creation of a of the author to the creation of a piece.piece.

3. Archetypal:3. Archetypal:

Looks at a work of art as a symbolic Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common (shared) representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and ideas inherent in all cultures and stories. stories.

Uses constant comparisons between Uses constant comparisons between various works. Asks “What does this various works. Asks “What does this piece share with other pieces?”piece share with other pieces?”

Seeks to find the threads that tie the Seeks to find the threads that tie the tapestry of human existence tapestry of human existence together.together.

4) MARXIST:4) MARXIST:

Looks at a work of art as a Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class).(lower class).

Looks at the evils inherent in the Looks at the evils inherent in the quest for wealth and exploitation.quest for wealth and exploitation.

5) FEMINISM:5) FEMINISM:

Looks at a work from the Looks at a work from the feminine perspective. feminine perspective.

Sees works as political Sees works as political manifestations of male manifestations of male dominance over art, dominance over art, commerce and history.commerce and history.

5) FEMINISM:5) FEMINISM:

Sometimes attacks films as Sometimes attacks films as pushing a male-sexist agenda pushing a male-sexist agenda which seeks to both objectify which seeks to both objectify and oppress women. (women and oppress women. (women seen as either sex objects or seen as either sex objects or victims)victims)

Sometimes praises films that Sometimes praises films that break with traditional images break with traditional images and roles of women.and roles of women.

6) PSYCHOLOGICAL:6) PSYCHOLOGICAL:

Evaluates a work from the Evaluates a work from the psychological or behaviorist psychological or behaviorist perspective. perspective.

Sees art as manifestations of Sees art as manifestations of subconscious desires. subconscious desires.

Also referred to as Also referred to as PSYCHO-PSYCHO-SEXUALSEXUAL. Uses physicians as . Uses physicians as Freud, Jung and Erickson among Freud, Jung and Erickson among others as starting points.others as starting points.

7. Moral7. Moral

Looks at a work and Looks at a work and assesses its value from a assesses its value from a moral perspectivemoral perspective

Sees the work within Sees the work within either a Religious, Ethical either a Religious, Ethical or Legal framework.or Legal framework.

8) GENRE:8) GENRE:

Looks and evaluates a work from Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or within the artistic context or category it represents. For category it represents. For instance Western, Horror, Film instance Western, Horror, Film Noir, Musical, etc.Noir, Musical, etc.

Establishes and evaluates work Establishes and evaluates work based upon the rules, based upon the rules, conventions and guidelines of a conventions and guidelines of a specific genre.specific genre.

                                                                       

                      

   

       

                                                                                                       

   

   

   

Famous Critics (film and Famous Critics (film and culture)culture)

Roger EbertRoger Ebert Pauline KaelPauline Kael Molly HaskellMolly Haskell Richard SchickelRichard Schickel Danny PearyDanny Peary Robert Hughes*Robert Hughes* Howard Zinn*Howard Zinn* Peter BogdanovichPeter Bogdanovich Martin ScorseseMartin Scorsese Joseph Campbell*Joseph Campbell*

Terms to RememberTerms to Remember

LensLens CriticismCriticism SubjectiveSubjective ObjectiveObjective Invalid OpinionInvalid Opinion Valid OpinionValid Opinion CredibilityCredibility

The LensesThe Lenses

FormalismFormalism Historical/BiographicalHistorical/Biographical ArchetypalArchetypal MarxistMarxist FeministFeminist PsychologicalPsychological MoralMoral GenreGenre

LENS QUIZLENS QUIZ

1) ______________=1) ______________= An attempt to An attempt to evaluate a work in an articulate, evaluate a work in an articulate, detailed, credible and objective detailed, credible and objective manner as possible.manner as possible.

2) ______________ = Simply a tool 2) ______________ = Simply a tool through which one views or sees through which one views or sees something.something.

3) ______________ =personal, 3) ______________ =personal, emotional reaction.emotional reaction.

4) ______________ assessment based 4) ______________ assessment based on as much specific, fact based on as much specific, fact based criteria as possible.criteria as possible.

5) ______________ = believability5) ______________ = believability 6) ______________ = an often 6) ______________ = an often

inarticulate judgment expressed inarticulate judgment expressed through entirely subjective through entirely subjective terms. An opinion which lacks terms. An opinion which lacks credibility.credibility.

7) _____________ = an attempt to 7) _____________ = an attempt to evaluate a work of art through evaluate a work of art through objective means. objective means.

8) ______________ = Looks at the work of 8) ______________ = Looks at the work of art strictly within its terms- its art strictly within its terms- its formation, shape, form, body and formation, shape, form, body and structure.structure.

9) ______________ = Looks at a work of 9) ______________ = Looks at a work of art as a dramatization of the economic art as a dramatization of the economic struggle between the bourgeois (upper struggle between the bourgeois (upper class) and the proletariat (lower class).class) and the proletariat (lower class).

10)10) _______________ = _______________ = Looks at a work Looks at a work from the feminine perspective.from the feminine perspective.

11)11) ______________ = ______________ = Looks at and Looks at and evaluates a work of art based upon evaluates a work of art based upon the the culturalcultural and other and other outsideoutside elements influencing its creation elements influencing its creation and how they (the elements) are and how they (the elements) are manifested and reflected in the manifested and reflected in the work.work.

12)12) _____________ _____________ Looks and evaluates a Looks and evaluates a work from within the artistic context or work from within the artistic context or category it represents. For instance category it represents. For instance WesternWestern, , HorrorHorror, , Film NoirFilm Noir, , MusicalMusical, etc., etc.

13) _____________ Looks at a work and 13) _____________ Looks at a work and assesses its value from a moral assesses its value from a moral perspective.perspective.

14)14) _____________ _____________ Looks at a work of art as Looks at a work of art as a symbolic representation of common a symbolic representation of common (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and (shared) ideas inherent in all cultures and stories.stories.

15) _____________ = 15) _____________ = Evaluates a Evaluates a work from the psycho-sexual or work from the psycho-sexual or behaviorist perspective.behaviorist perspective.

Name Three famous critics:Name Three famous critics: 16)16) 17)17) 18)18)