Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

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Auteur The Story Tellers of Film Mass Communication Hum 3: Film Appreciation Ateneo de Davao University

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Transcript of Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Page 1: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

AuteurThe Story Tellers of Film

AuteurThe Story Tellers of Film

Mass Communication

Hum 3: Film Appreciation

Ateneo de Davao University

Mass Communication

Hum 3: Film Appreciation

Ateneo de Davao University

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Auteur TheoryAuteur Theory

“auteur” – author (French) Theory advances that film reflects the

director’s personal creative vision Director’s creative touch as distinct from

the collective and industrial process of filmmaking

Director outshines the studio interference

“auteur” – author (French) Theory advances that film reflects the

director’s personal creative vision Director’s creative touch as distinct from

the collective and industrial process of filmmaking

Director outshines the studio interference

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Genre and Auteur Theory

The auteur theory is different to the genre theory as auteur draws our attention towards what is

different between film, rather than what is similar.

Many media texts are meant to be consider as a product of individuals creativity and many are simply ‘products’ for instants, Tim Burtons Nightmare before Christmas is an auteur as you recognize his individual style of gothic tones where as Heat magazine writer is not an auteur as it is a generic product.

Genre theory focuses on... Auteur theory focuses on...

Generic similarities. Individual stylistic features.

How texts are determined by historical/ social/ political contexts.

How texts are determined by artists’ creativity.

How texts emerge as commercial products from an industry.

How texts emerge as part of an artists body of work.

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Legal ImplicationLegal Implication

Film as a work of art The auteur, the creator of the film, is the

original copyright holder (under the European Union law).

The director is the author or one of the authors of a film (largely because of the auteur theory).

Film as a work of art The auteur, the creator of the film, is the

original copyright holder (under the European Union law).

The director is the author or one of the authors of a film (largely because of the auteur theory).

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European OriginsEuropean Origins

European Cinema More individualized than Hollywood cinema Style of Filmmaking: Small crews and

independence More intimate and less dependent on master

narratives and stereotypes beloved by Hollywood

Post WWII: explosion of strong independent filmic intelligence

European Cinema More individualized than Hollywood cinema Style of Filmmaking: Small crews and

independence More intimate and less dependent on master

narratives and stereotypes beloved by Hollywood

Post WWII: explosion of strong independent filmic intelligence

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Jean-Luc GodardJean-Luc Godard

“Your camera movements are ugly because your subjects are bad, your casts act badly because your dialogue is worthless; in a word, you don’t know how to create cinema because you no longer even know what it is.”

“Your camera movements are ugly because your subjects are bad, your casts act badly because your dialogue is worthless; in a word, you don’t know how to create cinema because you no longer even know what it is.”

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• In America, a few years later, Andrew Sarris, developed auteur theory through the writings of ‘The Village Voice’

• He used the theory as a way to further analysis of what defines serious work through the study of respected writers/directors.

• In America, a few years later, Andrew Sarris, developed auteur theory through the writings of ‘The Village Voice’

• He used the theory as a way to further analysis of what defines serious work through the study of respected writers/directors.

Andrew SarrisAndrew Sarris

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Introduced in the 1950’s by French film directors like Francois Truffaut who advocated a focus on the contribution directors made on the style and form of film, he quoted...

“A true film auteur is someone who brings something genuinely personal to his subject instead of producing a

tasteful, accurate but lifeless rendering of the original

material”

Introduced in the 1950’s by French film directors like Francois Truffaut who advocated a focus on the contribution directors made on the style and form of film, he quoted...

“A true film auteur is someone who brings something genuinely personal to his subject instead of producing a

tasteful, accurate but lifeless rendering of the original

material”

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The Birth of the AuteurThe Birth of the Auteur

Started as myth of “individual creator” Grew from political and economic issues

between U.S. and France after WWII Popularity of US films threatened the viability

of the country’s own cinema New Wave of filmmakers: Francois Truffaut,

Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer and Claude Chabrol

Started as myth of “individual creator” Grew from political and economic issues

between U.S. and France after WWII Popularity of US films threatened the viability

of the country’s own cinema New Wave of filmmakers: Francois Truffaut,

Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette, Eric Rohmer and Claude Chabrol

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Auteur Theory: Origins• The term ‘Auteur Theory’ originated from Andrews Sarris’s essay ‘Notes on the Auteur Theory’ in 1962. Auteur theory draws on the work of cinema enthusiasts who wrote ‘Cahiers du Cinema’ and argued that a directors vision should be reflected in their films.• Absolute Auteurs: - Alfred Hitchcock - Akira Kurosawa - Jean Renoir• Alexandre Astruc’s concept of the ‘caméra-stylo’ (camera pen) promotes directors to wield cameras as writers use pens and to guard against the obstacles of traditional storytelling.

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French FilmmakersFrench Filmmakers

American directors were placed as model filmmakers in France.

The French discovered the “personal style” of the American directors.

Despite the anonymity and mass production of Hollywood studio system: personal style emerged.

Continuity discovered across a group of films: style of the director

American directors were placed as model filmmakers in France.

The French discovered the “personal style” of the American directors.

Despite the anonymity and mass production of Hollywood studio system: personal style emerged.

Continuity discovered across a group of films: style of the director

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Auteur TheoryAuteur Theory

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Principles of Stylistic Continuity

Principles of Stylistic Continuity

Studied extensively by film critic Andrew Sarris

Based on the given: the director as the controlling force in the structure of the film(a) Technical competence(b) Coherent personal style(c) consistent view of the world/ a coherent set of attitudes and ideas

Studied extensively by film critic Andrew Sarris

Based on the given: the director as the controlling force in the structure of the film(a) Technical competence(b) Coherent personal style(c) consistent view of the world/ a coherent set of attitudes and ideas

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Stylistic ContinuityStylistic Continuity

• Truffaut expressed that directors should use the mise-en-scène to imprint their vision on their work.

• Andre Bazin and Roger Leenhardt also expressed that the director brings the film to life and uses it to express their feelings on the subject matter.

• An auteur can also use lighting, setting, staging, and editing to add to their vision.

• According to Andrew Sarris in his ‘Notes on the Auteur Theory’, a director must accomplish technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms of how the movie looks and feels, and interior meaning.

• Truffaut expressed that directors should use the mise-en-scène to imprint their vision on their work.

• Andre Bazin and Roger Leenhardt also expressed that the director brings the film to life and uses it to express their feelings on the subject matter.

• An auteur can also use lighting, setting, staging, and editing to add to their vision.

• According to Andrew Sarris in his ‘Notes on the Auteur Theory’, a director must accomplish technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms of how the movie looks and feels, and interior meaning.

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John FordJohn Ford

Use of Monument Vallet as landscape for his imaginary West;

Vision of Western landscape, settlement, domesticity, of Indians as force of the land, outlaws as impediments to lonely heroes.

Use of Monument Vallet as landscape for his imaginary West;

Vision of Western landscape, settlement, domesticity, of Indians as force of the land, outlaws as impediments to lonely heroes.

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Alfred HitchcockAlfred Hitchcock

Use of “cross tracking”

Variations of shot/ reverse shot in which the character, walking and looking at a threatening object

Use of high angle shot: show character in a vulnerable state

Use of “cross tracking”

Variations of shot/ reverse shot in which the character, walking and looking at a threatening object

Use of high angle shot: show character in a vulnerable state

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David FincherDavid Fincher

Use of dark mise-en-scene created across the horizontal line of the Panavision screen

Use of dark mise-en-scene created across the horizontal line of the Panavision screen

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Ingmar BergmanIngmar Bergman

Intense close-ups of a character in a profound state of existential despair

The cinematic angst of Soren Kierkegaard

Intense close-ups of a character in a profound state of existential despair

The cinematic angst of Soren Kierkegaard

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Rainer Werner FassbinderRainer Werner Fassbinder

Framing of characters in doorways or behind doors

Images of men driving the road from city to city

Framing of characters in doorways or behind doors

Images of men driving the road from city to city

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Chris CunninghamChris Cunningham

Chris Cunningham is a British music video film director and video

artist. Chris has worked on many projects and has produced;

music video’s, video art, short films, commercials, music

production, photography, and a novel.

Cunningham is known for his warped style and disturbing imagery, he has worked and

produced music videos for the likes of; Aphex Twins, Bjork, Placebo and Madonna. He

Won multiple awards, including break through video at the MTV awards for his video

‘All in love.’

As well as producing music video he has also produced commercials for; Gucci, Play

station and orange.

Chris Cunningham is a British music video film director and video

artist. Chris has worked on many projects and has produced;

music video’s, video art, short films, commercials, music

production, photography, and a novel.

Cunningham is known for his warped style and disturbing imagery, he has worked and

produced music videos for the likes of; Aphex Twins, Bjork, Placebo and Madonna. He

Won multiple awards, including break through video at the MTV awards for his video

‘All in love.’

As well as producing music video he has also produced commercials for; Gucci, Play

station and orange.

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After watching several music videos and also commercials that Chris Cunningham has directed I believe that I can establish his distinctive auteur signature style which is;

•Fast paced editing and sharp cuts are used in nearly all of his videos he has produced, this disorientates the audience as it creates; confusion, mystification and a non-linear narrative.

•It reflects the horror genre by using gothic imagery such as; black crows.

•Lots of canted camera angles are used and nearly all the camera work seem to be

•hand held to create more dramatic, dizzying movement to illustrate the aggression in the video’s maybe?

• All of his video’s I certainly believe are entropic, as he uses strange, unrealistic objects, sequences and people. The CGI editing used to morph people into horror characters creates entropy as this is not typical of a mainstream music video such as; creepy children.

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Aphex Twins- Come to DaddyAphex Twins- Come to Daddy In class we altogether analysed Chris Cunningham’s music video for the Aphex Twins, this

video is a great example of Cunningham’s auteur signatures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Az_7U0-cK0

This music video is a perfect example of

Cunningham's signature auteur;

-There is fast pace editing to reflect

and illustrate the action and also to

build tension and confuse and create

excitement for the audience.

- This video seems to be inspired by

the horror genre as there are several

elements to the video which reflect it such as; creepy children, the evil spirit, the gaunt creature

and also the settings are; grungy, derelict, gloomy because of the low light and shadows created.

In class we altogether analysed Chris Cunningham’s music video for the Aphex Twins, this video is a great example of Cunningham’s auteur signatures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Az_7U0-cK0

This music video is a perfect example of

Cunningham's signature auteur;

-There is fast pace editing to reflect

and illustrate the action and also to

build tension and confuse and create

excitement for the audience.

- This video seems to be inspired by

the horror genre as there are several

elements to the video which reflect it such as; creepy children, the evil spirit, the gaunt creature

and also the settings are; grungy, derelict, gloomy because of the low light and shadows created.

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- Canted camera angles are used, the shot is rotated to its side, this creates confusion for the audience but it also looks; creative and arty as Cunningham has used editing software to create a TV image with bad signal which mesmerises the audience. As well as canted camera angles Cunningham uses nearly all hand held camera work as this creates the illusion of; chaos, thrill and excitement.

-This particular video by Cunningham is incredibly entropic as it contains main unsuspecting imagery in a music video. What makes this video so entropic is it contains main shocking elements which include; an old lady, evil spirit on the TV who then with special effects make up comes out of the TV and transforms in a gaunt creature and finally children are represented as demon which is scary but instead of just being scary child Cunningham has morphed everyone to look like the Aphex Twins.

- Canted camera angles are used, the shot is rotated to its side, this creates confusion for the audience but it also looks; creative and arty as Cunningham has used editing software to create a TV image with bad signal which mesmerises the audience. As well as canted camera angles Cunningham uses nearly all hand held camera work as this creates the illusion of; chaos, thrill and excitement.

-This particular video by Cunningham is incredibly entropic as it contains main unsuspecting imagery in a music video. What makes this video so entropic is it contains main shocking elements which include; an old lady, evil spirit on the TV who then with special effects make up comes out of the TV and transforms in a gaunt creature and finally children are represented as demon which is scary but instead of just being scary child Cunningham has morphed everyone to look like the Aphex Twins.

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Madonna- Frozen by Chris Cunningham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS088Opj9o0&ob=av2e

As I am investigating auteur’s I have decided to look at ‘Frozen’ music video to see if

there are any similarities to Come to daddy which suggests that Chris Cunningham is

an auteur of music videos as he will have signature things which makes him

recognisable.

- The most distinctive auteur signature of Cunningham is the horror genre inspiration. Horror is obvious a big influence on him as both Frozen and Come to daddy have horror tones to them. This video particularly represents this by using; Madonna becoming ravens, dark imagery is shown, the lighting is very dark but also calming in a sense. Finally the way Madonna is dressed is rather gothic as you can see she is wearing black floating garments.

Madonna- Frozen by Chris Cunningham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS088Opj9o0&ob=av2e

As I am investigating auteur’s I have decided to look at ‘Frozen’ music video to see if

there are any similarities to Come to daddy which suggests that Chris Cunningham is

an auteur of music videos as he will have signature things which makes him

recognisable.

- The most distinctive auteur signature of Cunningham is the horror genre inspiration. Horror is obvious a big influence on him as both Frozen and Come to daddy have horror tones to them. This video particularly represents this by using; Madonna becoming ravens, dark imagery is shown, the lighting is very dark but also calming in a sense. Finally the way Madonna is dressed is rather gothic as you can see she is wearing black floating garments.

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- The camera angles are not completely unusual, unlike Come to daddy which is very obvious that hand held canted camera work had been used in this video but there seem that steady camera work maybe on a tripod has been used to create either very; high, low, long close up shots.

- The editing is illustrated by the beats and rhythm of the song, so when the song sped up so did the video which creates, tension and excitement.

- Like Come to daddy this music video is very entropic and this could be a auteur signature from Cunningham. What makes Frozen entropic is the setting is unusual for a music video as Madonna seems to be in a disserted desert which is not glamorous which Madonna is famous for being. The special effects when Madonna turns into ravens and a dog are mesmerising and is once again a signature auteur of Cunningham.

- The camera angles are not completely unusual, unlike Come to daddy which is very obvious that hand held canted camera work had been used in this video but there seem that steady camera work maybe on a tripod has been used to create either very; high, low, long close up shots.

- The editing is illustrated by the beats and rhythm of the song, so when the song sped up so did the video which creates, tension and excitement.

- Like Come to daddy this music video is very entropic and this could be a auteur signature from Cunningham. What makes Frozen entropic is the setting is unusual for a music video as Madonna seems to be in a disserted desert which is not glamorous which Madonna is famous for being. The special effects when Madonna turns into ravens and a dog are mesmerising and is once again a signature auteur of Cunningham.

Page 27: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Samuel BayerSamuel BayerSamuel Bayer is a well respected American director of music videos but also over the past 15 years he has also produced commercials for Nike, directed films such as 2010’s Nightmare on Elm street and short video’s . Bayers has worked alongside some of the best, legendry music artists and has produced memorable music videos. His clients include;

•Nirvana, •Ozzy Osbourne •Iron Maiden•Sheryl Crow•The Rolling Stones •Marilyn Mason• Aero Smith •Blink 182 •Greenday

He has won several awards over his career and swept the floor at MTV’s music awards in 2007 with Greenday’s record ‘Boulevard of broken dreams which he collected 7 moon awards for, including; best rock music video.

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After watching several music videos and also commercials that Samuel Bayer has

directed I believe that I can establish his distinctive auteur signature style which is;

The editing pace is in sync with the beat of the music, so when the music is slow less cuts and longer shots are used but when the beat becomes increased so do the shots and cuts. This mimicking editing illustrates the music which creates more emotions such as; excitement, tension and connection.

Reflects the gothic horror genre as dark imagery and the look of the videos are quite depressing.

Live performances from the artist and focus on them with close up shots.

The shots are always moving, either panning, tracking or slight zooming in or out. By doing this it creates energy as if each shot was stationary it would be bland and boring. Even though the shots are always moving he uses a tripod and either manually with the camera zoom in or out or in the editing suite he does this with advanced technology.

His videos are certainly entropic as he mixes up stereotypes and uses usual imagery but what is redundant is the locations he chooses to film them in e.g. school hall.

After watching several music videos and also commercials that Samuel Bayer has

directed I believe that I can establish his distinctive auteur signature style which is;

The editing pace is in sync with the beat of the music, so when the music is slow less cuts and longer shots are used but when the beat becomes increased so do the shots and cuts. This mimicking editing illustrates the music which creates more emotions such as; excitement, tension and connection.

Reflects the gothic horror genre as dark imagery and the look of the videos are quite depressing.

Live performances from the artist and focus on them with close up shots.

The shots are always moving, either panning, tracking or slight zooming in or out. By doing this it creates energy as if each shot was stationary it would be bland and boring. Even though the shots are always moving he uses a tripod and either manually with the camera zoom in or out or in the editing suite he does this with advanced technology.

His videos are certainly entropic as he mixes up stereotypes and uses usual imagery but what is redundant is the locations he chooses to film them in e.g. school hall.

Page 29: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Smells like teen spirit- Nirvana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg&ob=av3e

When talking about auteur it means if that the director has signature techniques used in his

work. To investigate if Samuel Bayers is an auteur I have decided to look and analyse two of

his music video’s; Smells like teen spirit and Disposable teens. Smells like teen spirit was his

first ever music video he directed, it will be interesting if this music video has a similar style

to his more contemporary videos.

- The editing of this video is illustrative to the music as the cuts are in sync with the beat of the music.

The beginning of the song is very slow paced and drab so the editing reflects this, long takes are used to

emphasise the depressing tone to the music. When the chorus kicks in the editing becomes increased,

more shots are used which creates a; fun, energetic vibe which is illustrated by the extras moshing. No

shot is stationery through out this video each are either; panning tracking or zooming in or out. Slight

canted camera angles are used when the music becomes more aggressive this creates abstract shots

which are dissertating.

Smells like teen spirit- Nirvana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg&ob=av3e

When talking about auteur it means if that the director has signature techniques used in his

work. To investigate if Samuel Bayers is an auteur I have decided to look and analyse two of

his music video’s; Smells like teen spirit and Disposable teens. Smells like teen spirit was his

first ever music video he directed, it will be interesting if this music video has a similar style

to his more contemporary videos.

- The editing of this video is illustrative to the music as the cuts are in sync with the beat of the music.

The beginning of the song is very slow paced and drab so the editing reflects this, long takes are used to

emphasise the depressing tone to the music. When the chorus kicks in the editing becomes increased,

more shots are used which creates a; fun, energetic vibe which is illustrated by the extras moshing. No

shot is stationery through out this video each are either; panning tracking or zooming in or out. Slight

canted camera angles are used when the music becomes more aggressive this creates abstract shots

which are dissertating.

Page 30: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

- The mise en scene in this music video is reflective of the horror/ gothic genre as it is dark, murky and grungy. The lighting has a orange tint to it and is spotlighted on Kurt Cobain who is the lead singer, this makes the artist stand out from the merged crowd. Smoke is used which obscures frames at times, both the lighting and smoke combined create confusing effects in the frames e.g. the close up of Cobain (bottom right).

- This music video is entropic as certain stereotypes have been broken in this video. In the screen prints below I have focused on the cheerleaders. The set up of this video is at a school which Nirvana are performing at so cheerleaders are present to energises the crowd. In this case the cheerleaders are not your stereotypical American sweet heat, instead they are; ‘ugly,’ aggressive, tattooed and muscular. The extras who are destroying the instruments was entropic for the time the video was produced

(1991) and has influenced other rock bands to do the something similar. - The redundancy aspect of this music video is the location in which it is set in. nirvana are performing at a school which is slightly boring but how the mise en scene is created makes it seem that it is set at a concert, the basket ball hoop in the background tells me that it is set in a school hall.

- The mise en scene in this music video is reflective of the horror/ gothic genre as it is dark, murky and grungy. The lighting has a orange tint to it and is spotlighted on Kurt Cobain who is the lead singer, this makes the artist stand out from the merged crowd. Smoke is used which obscures frames at times, both the lighting and smoke combined create confusing effects in the frames e.g. the close up of Cobain (bottom right).

- This music video is entropic as certain stereotypes have been broken in this video. In the screen prints below I have focused on the cheerleaders. The set up of this video is at a school which Nirvana are performing at so cheerleaders are present to energises the crowd. In this case the cheerleaders are not your stereotypical American sweet heat, instead they are; ‘ugly,’ aggressive, tattooed and muscular. The extras who are destroying the instruments was entropic for the time the video was produced

(1991) and has influenced other rock bands to do the something similar. - The redundancy aspect of this music video is the location in which it is set in. nirvana are performing at a school which is slightly boring but how the mise en scene is created makes it seem that it is set at a concert, the basket ball hoop in the background tells me that it is set in a school hall.

Page 31: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Disposable teens-Marilyn Mason http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKkiCFOE-Ic&ob=av3e

As I am investigating auteur’s I have decided to look at ‘Disposable teens’ music video to

see if there are any similarities to Smells like teen spirit which suggests that Samuel

Bayer is an auteur of music videos as he will have signature things which makes him

recognisable.

- The first similarity to Smells like teen spirit is the pace of editing, I mentioned that I found that Bayers tended to pace the edits to the beat of the music this is true for both music videos I have watched. Disposable is a mental rock song which tends to have several beats merged in the dong but Bayers focuses on singular beats e.g. A drum note. The edits in Disposable are not as fast a Smells like teen spirit but I would argue that there are more shots in this video as there is more characters being portrayed e.g. The Pope, A human piranha ect...

Disposable teens-Marilyn Mason http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKkiCFOE-Ic&ob=av3e

As I am investigating auteur’s I have decided to look at ‘Disposable teens’ music video to

see if there are any similarities to Smells like teen spirit which suggests that Samuel

Bayer is an auteur of music videos as he will have signature things which makes him

recognisable.

- The first similarity to Smells like teen spirit is the pace of editing, I mentioned that I found that Bayers tended to pace the edits to the beat of the music this is true for both music videos I have watched. Disposable is a mental rock song which tends to have several beats merged in the dong but Bayers focuses on singular beats e.g. A drum note. The edits in Disposable are not as fast a Smells like teen spirit but I would argue that there are more shots in this video as there is more characters being portrayed e.g. The Pope, A human piranha ect...

Page 32: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

-The gothic/ horror genre is definitely reflected in this music video both by the mise en scene and the artist himself. This include; spotlight and strobe lighting, misty smoke, religious imagery, blood, animal dissection and the colour black.

-In both videos there are liveperformances from the artist which is redundant but in this video Marilyn Mason takes on different characters in each performance which makes itmore entropic than Kurt Cobain’s performance. In both videos they perform in front of what seems to be fans but by the end of the videos they become a riot which in Disposable is exaggerated as body/ police guards are geared up with protectors and batons.

- The shots in this video have subtle movement but not as much as Smells like teen spirit, the camera once again either; pans, tracks, zooms in or out. The camera movement seems to kick in the chorus section as this is the most dramatic tone to the song as it is moshery, this is reflected in slight hand held camera work.

-The gothic/ horror genre is definitely reflected in this music video both by the mise en scene and the artist himself. This include; spotlight and strobe lighting, misty smoke, religious imagery, blood, animal dissection and the colour black.

-In both videos there are liveperformances from the artist which is redundant but in this video Marilyn Mason takes on different characters in each performance which makes itmore entropic than Kurt Cobain’s performance. In both videos they perform in front of what seems to be fans but by the end of the videos they become a riot which in Disposable is exaggerated as body/ police guards are geared up with protectors and batons.

- The shots in this video have subtle movement but not as much as Smells like teen spirit, the camera once again either; pans, tracks, zooms in or out. The camera movement seems to kick in the chorus section as this is the most dramatic tone to the song as it is moshery, this is reflected in slight hand held camera work.

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AuteurismAuteurism

Central point: identification of the director’s stylistic traits, view of people in the world, ideas about politics, history, social order, psychology, sexuality and power

The director’s structure of basic thematic and stylistic traits

A kind of abstract pattern of ways of seeing and understanding the world cinematically

Central point: identification of the director’s stylistic traits, view of people in the world, ideas about politics, history, social order, psychology, sexuality and power

The director’s structure of basic thematic and stylistic traits

A kind of abstract pattern of ways of seeing and understanding the world cinematically

Page 34: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Jean RenoirJean Renoir

“A director really makes just one film in the course of his career.”

Auteur Theory: made film studies possible as an academic discipline.

French discovered auteur within the Hollywood production.

It is a redemption of the anonymity of the Hollywood.

“A director really makes just one film in the course of his career.”

Auteur Theory: made film studies possible as an academic discipline.

French discovered auteur within the Hollywood production.

It is a redemption of the anonymity of the Hollywood.

Page 35: Session 11 auteur theory: Film Appreciation Course

Critique of Auteur TheoryCritique of Auteur Theory

• Starting in the 1960s film critics began to criticise the auteur theory’s focus on the authorial role of the director.

• One reason for this is the collaborative aspect of film making.

• Aljean Harmetz argued that the auteur theory “collapses against the reality of the studio system”.

• The New Critics argued that speculation about an author’s intention was secondary to the words on the page as the basis of the experience of reading literature.

• Starting in the 1960s film critics began to criticise the auteur theory’s focus on the authorial role of the director.

• One reason for this is the collaborative aspect of film making.

• Aljean Harmetz argued that the auteur theory “collapses against the reality of the studio system”.

• The New Critics argued that speculation about an author’s intention was secondary to the words on the page as the basis of the experience of reading literature.