Auteur Recognition
analytical Essay
1839 words
The auteur theory was introduced in the film industry in 1954 when Francois Truffaut claimed that directors are significantly using their films to express their personal ideas (Thompson and Bordwell 33). The importance of the theory has been under criticism in the recent past. Critiques have questioned the basis for which a director would be recognized as “author.” Moreover, there have been concerns on whether the auteur is recognized more based on the creative aspects of the film or on the scripts that he/she chooses to display in the film. This paper would seek to assess the components of a director’s film that are highly influential in his recognition as an auteur. Auteur theory became a predominant issue in the film industry during or slightly after the Second World War. During that time, many French movies were sold to Europe so that the people in Europe could update themselves with what had transpired in France during the world war. Those who watched the films noticed that every collection had somewhat a personal signature associated with its director. There was a certain theme or style that dominated each specific collection. This notion drew the attention of the major stakeholders in the film industry into investigating why some of the directors would present the given qualities while others could not (Truffaut 103). From the onset, auteur theory would appear simple; its primary premise that the director under certain circumstances would be recognized as the author of the film (Thompson and Bordwell 105). However, the underlying question is what the issues and circumstances investigated for a director to be considered an auteur would be. Should they be the scripts that the directors choose to use or the dominant th... ... middle of paper ... ...his works. In summary, Hitchcock, Burton and Renoir were each considered auteur based on the dominant theme and the identical style that was evident in their film collections. Consequently, it is evident that an auteur is recognized more for the creative aspects of the film, that is the theme and style used and not the ideas/scripts that he chooses to use (Traffaut 147). Works Cited Auteur Theory. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/staffhome /siryan/screen/auteur%20theory.htm BBC. Auteur Theory in Film Criticism. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A22928772 Durgat, Raymond. Auteur and Dream Factory. Cambridge. 2007. Thompson, Kristin and Bordwell, David. Film History: An Introduction. New York. McGraw Hill, 2003. Truffaut, Francois. A Certain Tendency in French Cinema. Boston. Little Brown. 2009.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the auteur theory was introduced in the film industry in 1954 when francois truffaut claimed that directors are significantly using their films to express their personal ideas.
- Explains that auteur theory became a predominant issue in the film industry during or slightly after the second world war.
- Explains auteur theory's primary premise that the director under certain circumstances would be recognized as of the film, but the underlying question is what the issues and circumstances investigated for a director to be considered an
- Explains that the theory outlines what needs to be considered for a director to become an auteur.
- Argues that the auteur theory seems reasonable from the perspective of the state laws, since directors are the people responsible for the film in case of injunctions.
- Explains that the auteur theory argued that script writers have control over every other contributor, including the director, but the filmmaker has ultimate control and responsibility to influence the final output of the film.
- Argues that the theory fosters discrimination within the film industry by the hierarchies that it presupposes.
- Evaluates alfred hitchcock, tim burton, and jean renoir's films to assess the basis for which an auteur is recognized.
- Analyzes how hitchcock employed suspense in all his thriller movies. the female characters were blond and respectable but acted like animals when faced with difficulties or compromising situations.
- Explains that hitchcock portrayed innovative camera management techniques and was able to operate and direct films amidst the varied technological changes. he contributed to each of these stages of film development.
- Explains that the decision to recognize hitchcock as an auteur was based on the variety of movies he directed, the existence of a dominant theme in all his films, and the identical style employed in his collections.
- Explains that tim burton is another example of a director that was considered an auteur. after attending the college for the arts, burton became famous for animated films.
- Analyzes how burton's films were characterized by a dominant theme of misfit in the society. edward sccissorhands portrayed the theme in extremity.
- Analyzes how burton's films were characterized by a distinct style. he was known for employing stop-motion animations in all his films, such as "nightmare before christmas".
- Analyzes how burton reused actors and actresses in his films, including helena bonham carter and jonny depp. burton had a collection of films upon which the provisions of the auteur theory would be assessed.
- Analyzes how the judges evaluated burton's videos to enable his recognition as an auteur. they recognized that the films had a unique style that was only identical to burton.
- Explains that jean renoir, a french film director who could be considered an auteur, boasted of several films under his directorship.
- Analyzes how renoir exploited the unpredictability of human character in his film "the rule of the game." filmgoers identify with the ordinary perception of life that is exhibited in the film and attribute this to the theme.
- Analyzes how renoir coined the "poetic realism" style in his films and maintained it in all his works. he used a three-dimensional approach to every issue in the collection.
- Opines that the criterion would be very important to help the stakeholders in the industry to evaluate an auteur.
- Explains that every industry has a program for ensuring that the required standards are maintained and the key players are motivated to continue producing. business organizations run employee stimulating packages as well as promotional programs that would ensure that employees are rewarded for their extraordinary performances.
- Opines that the auteur theory should be encouraged and the key players in the film industry should work in tandem with the provisions of the theory so as to motivate the new film makers to create original and identical movie production within a properly coordinated framework.
- Explains that hitchcock, burton and renoir were each considered auteurs based on the dominant theme and identical style that was evident in their film collections.
- Explains that auteur theory in film criticism was retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/a22928772durgat, raymond.
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- What is an Auteur?analytical essayWhat is an auteur? Answer this question with detailed reference to one film director: Alfred Hitchcock
In this essay, the author
- Explains alfred hitchcock's answer to the question "what is an auteur?"
- Explains that alfred hitchcock is an ideal auteur, an artist with a signature style who leaves his own mark on every work he creates. he was influenced by german expressionists and admired their ability to express ideas in purely visual terms.
- Analyzes how hitchcock conveys the feeling that there is something not quite right about the sheriff.
- Analyzes how hitchcock expresses hannay's innocence, as opposed to the shadowy corruption of the dark policemen.
- Analyzes how hitchcock enhances the feeling of confinement by the power of the police by using symbolic manipulations of light and shadows.
- Analyzes how hitchcock strategically uses camera angles to present the correct psychology. the sheriff is associated with diagonal lines.
- Analyzes how hitchcock used the framing of the shot to convey the claustrophobic feeling of confinement.
- Analyzes how hitchcock expresses the horror of wrongful imprisonment through visual devices. he allows hannay to escape the confines of the sheriff’s office and walks amidst the people.
1433 wordsRead More - Spike Lee and Do the Right Thing Analysisanalytical essayThe auteur theory is a view on filmmaking that consists of three equally important premises: technical competence, interior meaning, and personal signature of the director. Auteur is a French word for author. The auteur theory was developed by Andrew Sarris, a well-known American film critic. Technical competence of the Auteur deals with how the director films the movie in their own style. Personal signature includes recurring themes that are present within the director’s line of work with characteristics of style, which serve as a signature. The third and ultimate premise of the Auteur theory is the interior meaning which is basically the main theme behind the film.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the auteur theory consists of three equally important premises: technical competence, interior meaning, and personal signature of the director.
- Explains that spike lee is an american film director, producer, writer, and actor known for his films that deal with controversial social and political issues.
- Explains that do the right thing was spike lee's first landmark film, which brought awareness to the racial tensions when people in a brooklyn neighborhood coexist.
- Explains that spike lee's personal signature in do the right thing is his leading role in the movie. he also frequently casts himself in his movies, including actor john turturro and joie lee.
- Analyzes how lee uses signs and symbols to display messages in his films, such as the opening sing of rosie perez dancing to "fight the power" by public enemy.
- Analyzes how spike uses more clothing symbolism with the characters of pino and vito, both sons of sal's pizzeria.
- Analyzes how lee's technical competence was increased compared to his first movies. the camera angle was used to create a feeling of uneasiness during the scene of the riot.
- Explains that lee's technical ability was the production of the song "fight the power" by public enemy. he used different music pieces to match the feelings of characters or the moods of scenes.
- Analyzes how spike lee used color in the opening scene of rosie perez dancing to "fight the power." the color technique is use of light and color increases visual power.
- Analyzes do the right thing's themes of racism, intolerance, and racial tension. the movie is written in a double-scene style of acceptance and alienation.
- Analyzes how lee created the racial slur montage scene in the movie to show how racism is destroying americans and the extremes racism can go to.
- Explains that spike lee's inside man is an american crime drama film. it stars denzel washington as detective keith frazier who is called in to get to the bottom of a bank robbery heist in manhattan new york.
- Analyzes how lee's signature move is the dolly shot, where the camera follows a subject and motion of the subject or its surroundings is involved.
1509 wordsRead More - The Birth Of A Nation Film Analysisanalytical essayAuteur theory holds that, ‘a director’s films reflect that director’s personal creative vision, as if he/she were the primary author. From the earliest silent films to contemporary times motion pictures have crossed over and both entertained and educated the viewing audience.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that auteur theory holds that a director's films reflect his/her personal creative vision, as if he/she were the primary author. from the earliest silent films to contemporary times motion pictures have crossed over and entertained and educated the viewing audience.
- Explains that filmmakers are social interpreters reflecting and commenting about society and the times. good films can raise awareness and be a start to addressing local and global issues.
- Analyzes how dw griffith's the birth of a nation and intolerance are the most well-known films that made social commentary in the early twentieth century.
- Explains that italian neo-realism set the stage for films that addressed the difficult social conditions brought about by world war ii in the 1940s.
- Explains that the indian new wave, also known as art or parallel cinema, set the stage for films that made social commentary.
529 wordsRead More - Spike Lee Kevin Smith and Alfred Hitchcock as Film Auteursanalytical essayIn the film industry, there are directors who merely take someone else’s vision and express it in their own way on film, then there are those who take their own visions and use any means necessary to express their visions on film. The latter of these two types of directors are called auteurs. Not only do auteurs write the scripts from elements that they know and love in life, but they direct, produce, and sometimes act in their films as well. Three prime examples of these auteurs are: Kevin Smith, Spike Lee and Alfred Hitchcock.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that auteurs are directors who take someone else's vision and express it in their own way on film. they direct, produce, and sometimes act in films.
- Describes kevin smith's journey from an unknown, low-budget filmmaker to a well-known and respected filmmaker. his films are about normal, middle-class life adding elements of humor, drugs, and the daily struggle of blue-collar workers.
- Explains that kevin smith was born and raised in red bank, new jersey. he grew up going to the same quick-e mart in which his first widely received film, clerks, took place.
- Explains that smith plays the same character in all of kevin smith's films. jay and silent bob are based on characters smith made up in his comic book.
- Analyzes how smith's films deal with a few twenty-somethings trying to overcome the basic obstacle of avoiding boredom. in his last film, "dogma," he tried to vent his anger about his religion and how boring it is.
- Explains that smith has taken everyday occurrences, added humor and obscenity, and crafted them into scripts and produced full-length films in which he also acted. after the film was fully shot, smith edited all of his films.
- Explains that spike lee stirred up controversy with the content of his films within the film world and had to create them with little outside help.
- Explains that shelton jackson lee was born in 1956 as the son of a jazz musician and an art professor. he became interested in the arts after graduating from moorehouse college. his graduate film, "the bed-stuy barbershop: we cut heads," received an academy award.
- Analyzes how lee's next film, "she’s gotta have it," reversed the stereotype of black men cheating on their girlfriends with, sometimes, many, different women. it attacked black versus white racism by telling the tale of a school where the "haves" were the light-skinned blacks
- Analyzes how spike lee's next film, "do the right thing," gained a lot more respect in the film world than "school daze," but was almost not released because people were frightened that it might cause mass riots.
- Explains how spike lee introduced america to the african-american's perspective and culture by himself, using fellow black-rights activists like oprah winfrey, janet jackson, tracy chapman, and magic johnson.
- Explains that alfred hitchcock is very serious about his films. he has felt the need to protect himself from actors, producers, and technicians who might offset the meaning of his works.
- Analyzes how hitchcock uses his reputation of "the man with the master mind" to direct his films with sheer brilliancy.
- Explains that hitchcock added special effects to make a silent film more realistic. he used film-staining techniques, ordinary household items, and many other techniques to keep audiences amused.
- Explains that hitchcock mastered the filmic language and used a great number of tools to make his films reach near-perfection. he trusted nobody besides himself in the process of filmmaking.
- Explains that kevin smith, spike lee, and alfred hitchcock are among the top filmmakers of history, the rank of film auteurs.
- Cites andrew, geoff, spike, and lisa jones. uplift the race: the construction of schooldaze.
2016 wordsRead More - Unified Uncertainty and the Auteur Theory of Film Criticismanalytical essayThere are no rules and regulations when it comes to creativity. The imagination of the artist and the creator determine what guidelines to follow, but that freedom consequently creates controversy when the piece needs to be evaluated for its true value. When French film director Francois Truffaut advocated the Auteur theory in 1954, it greatly influenced film criticism. The Auteur theory states that the director of a motion picture is the primary author of the film and that all elements reflect their personal creative vision. Theorists John Caughie and Andrew Sarris both express their concerns about the specifications of what makes a director an “auteur”, believing it to be an undefined and obscure theory.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the auteur theory, which states that the director of a motion picture is the primary author of the film and that all elements reflect their personal creative vision.
- Analyzes how john caughie believes that the principles of the policy of auteurism are criticized differently than any other art form, including romantic criticism.
- Argues that the auteur theory claims neither the gift of prophecy nor the option of extracinematic perception. the definition of "auteur" does not have any set rule on whether the director has to stay within their known cinematic style.
- Opines that the auteur theory exists, but individuals will never come to a unanimous conclusion as to what the exact components and requirements are to be considered an "auteur."
- Explains that the definition of an auteur has been a controversial topic for filmmakers since francois truffaut introduced it in 1954.
1080 wordsRead More - Kubrick Livesanalytical essayThe theory of authorship as applied to film directors is a subject that is argued extensively throughout the film world. The auteur theory was first introduced in the French film journal Cahiers du Cinema. Andrew Sarris who suggested that there are a group of filmmakers who fit into this category brought the theory to America. It states that in order for a director to be considered an auteur, there must be a consistency of style and theme across a number of films. Very few contemporary filmmakers fit into this category. One filmmaker, however, expanded his filmography over four and a half decades, and created a consistent theme and style. That director was Stanley Kubrick.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the theory of authorship as applied to film directors is argued extensively throughout the film world. sarris suggested that there are a group of filmmakers who fit into this category.
- Compares kubrick's use of music in a clockwork orange and 2001: a space odyssey.
- Analyzes how kubrick's films have definitive themes, such as his treatment of the protagonist in the killing, lolita and a clockwork orange.
- Analyzes how kubrick creates dualities through narrative structure and reinforces them visually by blatantly showing us the symbols.
- Analyzes how stanley kubrick used his own personal style to create a series of works with very similar themes. he believed strongly in the way music can affect the development of conflict.
1142 wordsRead More - The Influence Of New Hollywood Cinemaanalytical essayIt is no doubt that Martin Scorsese has heavily influenced the emulating of American film making from European influences. He is a prime example of a ‘New Hollywood Cinema’ director, not only from his ethnicity and background, but from his sheer interest in this form
In this essay, the author
- Opines that martin scorsese has heavily influenced the emulating of american filmmaking from european influences. he is a prime example of ‘new hollywood cinema’ director, not only from his ethnicity and background.
- Explains that the ‘new hollywood cinema’ era came about in the 1960s when cinema and film making began to change. big film studios were going out of their comfort zone to produce different, creative and artistic movies.
- Analyzes how the film taxi driver shows the innovative and fresh techniques of this ‘new hollywood cinema’.
- Describes the most significant changes that happened from the classical hollywood era to the new hollywood, how did european filmmaking influence american films, and martin scorsese's own direction influenced by his heritage.
- Explains that the beginning of the 20th century saw a new style of film being made, it overlooked all other american film production as the principal category.
- Explains that hollywood renaissance was inspired by the films of the french new wave or nouvelle vague, which began earlier in the late 1950's.
- Explains that martin scorsese has a strong italian background. his grandparents moved to america in the 1900's, and he was able to grow up in corona, queens.
- Explains that scorsese had severe asthma growing up and his parents, not knowing what medical advice to listen to, took him through every operation that was said to relieve him of this disease.
- Analyzes how one of the first images of film scorsese remembers is of a film containing roy rogers.
- Opines that scorsese was in a league of his own during the new hollywood era. his distinctive technique, approach to making films and power over production gives him that edge and advantage in his area of work.
- Analyzes how the influence of the french new wave and other european film sources is evident in scorsese's taxi driver.
- Analyzes how taxi driver borrowing ideas from european pictures is the voice over used in the movie. bickle's diet of white bread soaked in peach brandy refers to the film and the panic of him thinking he has cancer.
1150 wordsRead More - Black Swan Analysisanalytical essayArnheim’s body of theory suggests that the necessity of human intervention to implement plot, tropes, and culturally legible symbols raises a film to a higher level than a mere copy of reality, and that this interpretation and expression of meaning is “a question of feeling” or intuition on the part of the filmmaker. (“Film Theory and Criticism” 283) One consequence of effective directorial intervention is that differences in speed, stops and starts, and what would otherwise be jarring gaps in continuity can be accepted by viewers, because if the essentials of reality are present, th...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the film black swan qualifies as art by rudolf arnheim's standards because it displaces the viewer from their lived reality.
- Analyzes how arnheim's theory suggests that human intervention to implement plot, tropes, and culturally legible symbols raises the film to a higher level.
- Analyzes how arnheim discusses specific limitations that separate film from reality, and in turn prove how film is art.
- Analyzes how arnheim saw use of light and shadow as an important element in the creation of an artistic film. black swan focuses on contrast, limiting the color palette and banishing some altogether at pivotal moments.
- Analyzes how arnheim criticized the addition of sound technology to film because it took away the artistic essence of the medium.
- Explains that black swan is art because it experiments with the forms of color, sound, framing, and with editing of time and space.
982 wordsRead More - The Two-Tiered System of Allusionsanalytical essayIn Hollywood today, most films can be categorized according to the genre system. There are action films, horror flicks, Westerns, comedies and the likes. On a broader scope, films are often separated into two categories: Hollywood films, and independent or foreign ‘art house’ films. Yet, this outlook, albeit superficial, was how many viewed films. Celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with the use of seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects were considered ‘Hollywood films’. Films where unconventional themes like existentialism or paranoia, often with excessive violence or sex or a combination of both, with obvious attempts to displace its audiences from the film were often attributed with the generic label of ‘foreign’ or ‘art house’ cinema.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hollywood films can be categorized according to the genre system. celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects, were considered ‘hollywood films’.
- Argues that hollywood may be gradually losing its stigma as a money-hungry machine churning out predictable, unintelligent flicks for mass consumption.
- Explains how the two-tiered system allowed hollywood to remain faithful to the mass audience, yet popular among the rising film-literate generation.
- Explains that allusion in film history has become an important expressive device used by directors extensively to make comments about other films within their own films or vice-versa.
- Analyzes how tarantino pays homage to hong kong cinematic style of quick zoom shots which emphasized the expressions of the characters’ faces.
- Analyzes how ‘kill bill 2’ utilizes the two-tiered system of communication within the film. it is a samurai / action film about an ex-assassin who decides to take revenge.
- Analyzes how tarantino's technique is a 'post-modern collage', reinventing and combining genres into his films.
- Compares hollywood allusionists and post-modernism, stating that allusionism operates on a two-tiered system which garners both the film literate and non-film
- Analyzes how carroll asserts that a two-tiered system with allusions hinting of complex themes from great works by great directors will not add quality to the film itself.
- Analyzes how tarantino uses allusions to create an intertextual art, extending and allowing the film to be interpreted from various levels.
- Cites sergio leone's a fistful of dollars, american beauty, and robert zemeckis' back to the future.
- Compares the films scary movie, the simpsons, and taxi driver. the future of allusion: hollywood in the seventies and beyond.
1605 wordsRead More - Alfred Hitchcockexplanatory essayFilms were a great form of entertainment from their debut in the early 1900’s and continued to grow more popular over the years. The film making business hit a growth period in the 1920’s. In Hollywood, the assembly line “studio” system of producing a movie was changed and refined, and the famous studious that dominate Hollywood production today, such as Universal Studious, were being put together. Censorship regulations were being formulated for the first time, and Wall Street began to take a more prominent, powerful role in film making. It was the era of short silent films that were backed by organists who could play a variety of famous composers such as Beethoven, and Sousa, and who mastered other sound affects for further enhancement of the movie. It was a time when movies came and went quickly and films that had no pretense of being art were made in mass. Nobody ever expected a movie to have an afterlife. They were made only for entertainment and to make money, and were considered disposable back then. It took decades to develop movies as a concept of art. During this time of rapid change in the film making business, a certain aspiring director began his dream of working with cinema. Eventually, the talented and mysterious director, Alfred Hitchcock, played a huge part in establishing his and others’ masterpieces as an art.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that films were a great form of entertainment from their debut in the early 1900's and continued to grow more popular over the years.
- Explains that hitchcock's childhood was that of a lower class roman catholic child who attended church regularly. he was educated at the jesuits' st. ignatius college and studied engineering and navigation.
- Explains that hitchcock was drawn to the silver screen. he read every technical film magazine he could, was fascinated by edgar allan poe's mystery fiction and spent time at the local cinema.
- Narrates how hitchcock met his future wife alma reville, who worked for brompton oratory, during production of his film number 13. she oversaw initial script development through final post-production.
- Explains that the first film to bear the mark "directed by alfred hitchcock" was the pleasure garden in 1925. alfred's uncanny wit and cinematic flare came forth in this movie.
- Explains that the lodger was hitchcock's first authentic film and his first cameo appearance, which later became a trademark of his films. its success launched his career in england and he became the most successful and highest-paid director.
- Analyzes how hitchcock's blackmail made history by becoming the first british "talkie." in 1930, he released two films, juno and the paycock, and murder.
- Explains that hitchcock came to the united states to direct rebecca, which was nominated for eleven oscars and won the academy award for best picture. alfred did not receive it for this film, and never would.
- Explains that hitchcock made several films between 1950 and 1960, including dial "m" for murder, to catch a thief, and strangers on a train. rear window, vertigo, north by northwest and psycho sparked debates.
- Explains that hitchcock launched "alfred hickcock presents" in 1955, a television show that catapulted him from honored director and celebrity to icon.
- Explains that hitchcock received an honorary doctorate from columbia university before frenzy's release in 1972. the growth of his artistic reputation was supported by other developments at the time.
- Explains that alfred hitchcock lived a quiet and unostentatious life with his family, who preferred the comforts of home to the hollywood surroundings. he died at home in los angeles at the age of 80.
- Explains hitchcock's influence on critics and fellow filmmakers, citing his wide range of work and diversity of interpretations.
1739 wordsRead More