Final film blog

     While this may be my last film blog, it is not the last time I apply film theory in my daily life. I have learned so much in this class from the book, from my peers, and most of all from my professor. At the beginning of the semester, I had no idea how much detail went into film theory, although, after learning all I have throughout the semester, I can confidently say this class will change my perspective on cinema forever. While reading Kevin McDonalds film theory, I was able to discover added information on timelines that I did not know existed. Whether we were learning about Christian Metz in French theory, bell hooks and the male gaze, or even just a class discussion, I was able to find lessons that were meaningful to me in all of them. I still remember watching breathless on one of the first days of class in the beginning of the semester, although if I were to rewatch that movie, I would have a vastly unique perspective of what I thought of it at first. Never would I have imagined discussing structuralism with a group of peers, although looking back on it, it was one of the most interesting discussions I have ever had. We were able to discuss real problems like racism, sexism, and other key issues in our society, all while keeping it civil and collected.  

  

     As I move forward from this class, my biggest take away is to be open minded to all opinions, all perspectives, and remember everybody has a different background. I have never been in a classroom where everyone was given a platform to speak freely about their opinions, although I thought that was the most interesting aspect of the semester's material. Having meaningful discussions with a group of similarly aged people about controversial topics could get out of hand, although my peers were all very enthusiastic and supportive of every topic that was mentioned. 

  

    Not only would I have these conversations in the classroom, but I would also then bring them home and continue the same conversation with my friends, family, and loved ones. I felt the need to share what we were talking about in class, mostly because I thought they were interesting topics that people should know more about. My favorite assignment that we worked on during the semester was the fascination project. I thoroughly enjoyed this, mostly because we were able to pick topics that interested us and go into detail to explore them further. After learning a little bit about bell hooks from Kevin McDonald’s book, she caught my attention to where I wanted to learn more. Thankfully, the fascination project let me delve deep into the details to learn more about her life story. After drafting a paper about her messages and journey, I was able to give a presentation to my class about what I had discovered about her. Having the freedom to write about whatever we wanted in our blog posts helped spark my creativity to use our class material effectively. Film theory has impacted my life, in multiple ways, so I will never forget the experiences and lessons that I have learned throughout the semester.  

Theory After Film Theory

    Film theory has adapted into something new and larger than ever, although it has also changed into something and has never been before. When reading chapter 5, Theory after film theory, I noticed a big shift in what was happening and is still developing. The author, McDonald, discusses how popular entertainment has become more political and more prevalent in today’s culture. For example, McDonald claims counterculture, spurred new intellectual, formations, and fostered a generation of scholars, who practiced structuralism along with elements of feminism, black power, and gay, liberation in pursuit of universal cooperation. Film theory has developed into an academic practice, generating the latest ideas and concepts. When I think about all the movies that fit the criteria for our current culture, I am happy to say that film is a brilliant platform to describe ideas, spread awareness through creativity, and educate people through political excitement.  

   

    As McDonald describes it as political modernism, aesthetics, and theory, variously overlap although they never move at the same rate. In our current state of the world having films that would describe a situation in extensive detail is a beautiful yet dangerous thing. McDonald claims that in the current movement with a growing number of political challenges calling for direct engagement, there is a powerful sense that the Academy and intellectual work must be aligned with activist effort on the ground. McDonald is incredibly careful with his words, yet he describes the film industry in today’s culture perfectly. Towards the end of the film theory book, it goes into detail about the Internet, and how it could be used effectively to disarm confusion. Technology has been used to produce innovative ideas that are difficult to describe in detail, although it can also be a weapon that can change everything. While I do agree that technology and the Internet have impacted Cinema, it gives a new platform to young voices, who have similar beliefs as those already in the film industry.  

   

    There are a lot of movies now that have become very political. For example, in class we discussed Marilyn Monroe and the new film based on her life. In that movie, they add very graphic scenes to inhibit other political viewpoints. Directors use their platform to discuss their own personal beliefs and morals, although I think that can be extremely dangerous. The more that I think about what McDonald is saying, the more I agree with him. He discusses the limitations of film theory and how theorists can only dabble in fields that extend far beyond what can be covered in his book. McDonald has written, incredibly knowledgeable, detailed, and influential book that I am sure will stand the test of time. There are a lot of interesting details that might inspire people to start behaving, acting, or even thinking differently. As I drew closer towards the end of the book, I noticed he touches on the things that I am starting to become familiar with in my life. For example, McDonald starts discussing DVDs and how they impacted the world. Digital media has taken over a lot of film culture due to availability and convenience. Till this day it remains true with Netflix, Disney+, or any other streaming service that provides films directly to your couch.  

Post Theory, 1996-Present

 

    For this week's blog post, I wanted to talk about how film theory has impacted the present times. After reading chapter 4 of McDonald’s book, I have noticed that even today film theory plays a significant role today. The thing about film theory is, it is constantly changing based on what is going on in the current state of the world. According to McDonald, by the end of the 20th century, film theory was a distinct scholarly discourse. I know this to be true, mostly because they have film theory courses in college now which I am currently taking. McDonald goes on to discuss how film theory gained recognition and was integrated into the Anglo-American university system, often as part of humanity departments like literature. It is also interesting that we have so much more material now to work on in the film theory world. Films have been around for much longer, so there is more history, knowledge, information, and problems. McDonald claims that despite its overall success film theory is at a turning point. The current state of film theory that we are in is called Post theory, and it does come with a lot of shifts.  

  

    When I look at some of the older films we have watched in class, I would think that movies today would get a lot more praise, and approval, because they are a lot more complex in terms of equipment, material, budget, and even popularity. I have learned over our film theory discussions that is simply not the case. Well, we may have more resources to put into movies today, nothing will ever compare to a lot of the classics that were constructed to be a masterpiece. According to McDonald, the innovative approach promised, unrenewed focus on the general principles of sound scholarship: a pragmatic emphasis on problem solving and developing evidence supported. McDonald then goes on to say the only real benefits of these shifts is their ability to introduce unfamiliar terms and figures, expanding the overall range of intellectual resources at the disposable film studies. 

  

    It is incredibly interesting to think that just with some time, film would have such a major shift with culture. While reading about the shift and culture, I discovered through McDonald that the change is not good or bad, it is simply different. Eventually, films will take another shift to where they will become much different once again. What I have discovered during the semester of school in film theory class is that whether you were watching an old, black-and-white movie, or a new box office hit, they all have something to offer. They all have something that other movies do not, they all have different perspectives, and mostly they all have different histories. I will continue reading as film theory develops more throughout the years, and I look forward to what will come next. 

Cognitive Film Theory

    For this week's blog post, I wanted to discuss a topic called “Cognitive Film Theory” which was discussed by Kevin McDonald in chapter 4. The turn to a Storico poetics coincided with a second major development in the post theory growing interest in cognitivism or cognitive science as an alternative to psychoanalysis, and French theory more generally. Cognitivism became so much more popular, because people were interested in finding out more about the development and ways of thinking. Focus on the mental activity that takes place within the audience's brain, particularly the central object of the film. Good directors will consider how the audience feels, whether they are laughing, sad, or just the overall mood for the movie experience. I have always thought it was so interesting how people can change their moods from one scene to the next into a completely different mindset. Hugo Munsterberg is a prevalent figure in the cognitive film theory era, mostly because of his general knowledge of the subjects, philosophy and psychology that contributed to most of his work. According to McDonald, psychology was rooted in new developments taking place in Germany, and its formation as a professional discipline was contingent on ambitious American students studying abroad in the importation of expatriate academics like Munsterberg. 

     Going into psychology a few years ago, cognitivism was something that stuck out to me right away, mostly because it is the process of how we think. I have always had a strong connection to the world of psychology due to individual experiences, so it is remarkably interesting to see how it plays into film theory. I always look out for different signs and cues in films that indicate psychological issues or mental illnesses. Even looking for something like anxiety, depression, or even overall stress in the characters faces or body language is one of my favorite aspects of film. When I think about psychoanalysis in film, I think of the basics like free association and dream analysis. Most movies depict psychoanalysis as a person laying on a red couch, eyes closed, talking aloud to a therapist with a clipboard in his hand. This imaging is the stereotypical way of how therapy is perceived by film, although one thing that I do not like is that films never really show it working. 

     In the book, the later years were when cognitivism was firmly established within film studies in which the new generation sought to address or expand on the questions left open by Bordwell and others who were interested in the topic. While cognitive film theory was dedicated to visualizing mental activities, ranging from attention, perception, and memory, it was more about how the audience felt. As the theory became more popular, people wanted to see the correlation between cognition and emotion. 

  

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

 

This week for film class, we have continued to work on presentations. After I finished my presentation, I noticed someone after me talking about a new Netflix movie called All Quiet on The Western Front. As the presenter continued to talk about the psychodynamic theory and how it related to the film, I was too busy writing down the name of the movie so I could watch it at home. I love films based on military events, so this one did not disappoint me. As a matter of opinion, I thought that this was the best movie I have seen in a long time. All Quiet on The Western Front is a 2022 film that takes place in 1914, World War 1 Germany. It was directed by Edward Berger, who did not shy away from goriness and blood. There is a certain amount of realism when it comes to bloody war scenes, although this movie was so intense and realistic that it made me feel like I was in the bunker as well. While watching it, I started to get sad, mostly because I know things like this story happened a lot in that war. Unfortunately, it did not get much better as the film went on, mostly because the war lasted so long throughout the movie.  

     The movie starts out with the main character Paul Baumer and his classmates enlisting in the army to serve their homeland. They are then drafted, although they looked so happy to know what they were getting themselves into. They are driven to the military camp where they were cheering and laughing to be on the way there. It was at this moment when I noticed that these were just kids. These 17-year-old kids are not ready to be holding a gun, let alone having to use it to shoot people and defend themselves with it. It is so sad to see them walk into the base knowing that they think it is going to be fun, mostly because I am familiar with war and the terrors that can come from it. When they were picking up their uniforms, the main character Paul, received a uniform that had someone else's name on it. I discovered in class that they would take the uniforms off dead soldiers and give them to the new soldiers because they did not have enough supplies and money for them. As the movie continues, it only gets more real and scary, which made me really start to get scared for Paul and his classmates.  

     One thing that really made me feel a lot of emotions during this movie was the fact that these kids had no idea what they were getting into. Seeing them all cheer to defend their country is so heartbreaking because they do not know what they are about to do. There were so many signs saying “fight for your country, make us proud!” and people congratulating them on fighting for their country that it seemed like a wonderful thing to do. The classmates even had fathers who pushed for them to fight for their country to honor the family name. After hearing something like that, it almost sounds like going to war is a fun activity. That is why they had no idea that they were going to see men right next to them get a bullet through their skull, or intestines falling on the found from an enemy grenade. These high school students were forced to grow up and see real tragedy which they were clearly not ready for. I would recommend this movie to anyone that loves war movies or just really enjoys a highly developed, detailed, historic film. 

A Bronx Tale (1993)

 

This week, my family and I chose to rewatch the well-known classic Bronx Tale. Directed by Robert De Niro in 1993, the movie takes you through the main character Calogero's or “C” journey through the Italian dominated neighborhood. Taking place in the 1960s, C is taken under the wing of the mob boss Sonny who is feared in the neighborhood. C’s dad did not want him around Sonny or his group, although he disobeyed him and continued to be the high potential member of his future mob career. When C falls in love with his African American classmate, Jane, the repercussions threaten the whole neighborhood.

    This movie did an amazing job at creating an incredibly realistic perspective of the Bronx in the 1960s. Everything from the clothes, mannerisms, to scenery reflected well on that time. I felt like I was transported to a new world that revolved around violence, crime, and gambling, although you really enjoy the ride. What I really enjoyed about this movie more than anything was the suspense. Every scene felt like there was something amazing that was going to happen, except the clock kept ticking. Every scene in that movie had an iconic quote that is still reflected on today. For example, at one point in the movie C asked Sonny at his bar “Is it better to be loved or feared?” When I heard this the first time as a kid watching the movie, I assumed that love was the obvious answer, although as I grow and mature that answer is not as clear anymore.  

 

 Sonny chooses to be feared because he feels like he has more control of his life. I have always appreciated the honesty in that answer and him as a character in this movie. He is one of the most iconic characters of all time, mostly because he has such an interesting persona around him that he makes people admire but fear him. As C continues to hang around with Sonny, he continues to gain respect in the neighborhood without ever doing anything. At one point in the movie, a random person gives C free food and special treatment just because he has seen him with Sonny more than once. C's dad, however, did not fear him and went up to Sonny directly to tell him to stay away from his son. Unfortunately for Sonny however, towards the end of the movie you really start to see what happens when you are feared instead of loved. 

Concepts of the Gaze

 Shane Rollins 

This week in film class, we continued to talk about the gaze. Unfortunately, while researching for my fascination project, I noticed a lot of unfair treatment. I am researching the different perspectives of bell hooks who were incredible for the black female community. She gives a lot of various points of view that help us get a better understanding of their mistreatment. While thinking about a lot of quotes and work, I started to think about how many movies that are filmed from a black woman perspective, and I fell silent. In fact, I could barely think about movies with a black women protagonist, although there are some that have made huge box office numbers.  

  Being a white male, it is hard to put myself in the shoes of bell hooks, so I must use my imagination the best that I can to be able to try and understand the struggles that she has been through. Writing her first book at the age of nineteen, she became a prolific writer giving everyone the ability to see a fraction of what her life has been like. She shows remarkably interesting perspectives that would help shape our culture in significant ways. I have always been an endorser of multicultural films because that would give more people a relatability factor to the same film. For example, the movie Green Book shows two different perspectives of a black man during segregation and a struggling Italian in the Bronx. A lot of people can relate to that movie in unique ways, mostly because it has a strong message that still relates to our world today.  

  I am going to start paying more attention to different perspectives in film. I have always had such a narrow mind when it comes to diverse cultures in cinema, so looking out for that will help me locate my film experience. Film culture has gotten much better in recent years when it comes to relatability, so it is important to keep growing as a culture. There have also been a lot of extremely popular public figures discussing the topic, which has helped influence your directors to make a change. That said, we have much more improvement to make before we can say that our culture is diverse enough.