A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
American Expressionism
Describe what you think American Expressionism means.
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
American Expressionism is rooted in the German Expressionism tradition in that it combines abstract elements with reality and real issues of the day to create a commentary. Film Noir is the epitome of American Expressionism because its use of abstract elements refers to the new techniques that filmmakers applied to make a film, such as camera angles, lighting, intense sound design, and use of black & white even despite the prevalence of color film. However, these new abstract and very stylized techniques were applied to make a commentary on the issues of the day, such as the disillusionment of traditional American values after WWII. I noticed that film noir also deconstructs the traditional view of women in the 40s and 50s by making the female characters of a film into the femme fatale, possibly to create an alternative view of femininity at the time. In summary, American Expression became a truly American cinema because of its expressive film techniques and its ability to connect to the discontent of American audiences in the mid 20th-century, while still satiating audiences' need for exhilarating plots, heavy dialogue and, in general, a spectacle.
As Leah stated, American expressionism definitely stemmed from German expressionism due to the emigration of many German filmmakers during WWII. American expressionism took the form of the film noir style, which moved away from the generic Hollywood formula and style of filmmaking. Hollywood typically focused on producing films on mass to create maximum efficiency and profit, but film noir films favored a more artistic and unique style that was not as easily reproduced. The stylized techniques such as unbalanced compositions and low-key lighting are staples of the form. As mentioned before, many of these films commented on social issues and cast perceptive looks at their own American way of life. The counterpoint between dialogue and image within these films achieved a dramatic effect that resonated with American audiences. The anti-hero also became a character within these films, another demonstration of how this expressionist phase deviated from classic Hollywood films. Therefore, American expressionism refers to the innovative filmmaking techniques that helped support stories that related to a variety of genres such as the gangster film, the gothic romance, and the melodrama.
The germans are partially to thank for American expressionism, since the majority of the German expressionist came over to the U.S. during WWII and influenced the change from mass production to higher quality. American expressionism is essentially the introduction of alternative film techniques to create a more complex and vivid experience. This was accomplished by a number of techniques that fall into the film noir category of film. This techniques were more complex shots that move dynamically through space, intricate lighting that favors shadows and non traditional plot structures. American expressionism is when the art beating out the business side of filmmaking.
American Expressionism began after World War II from influence from German immigrants, as my classmates have mentioned above. Expressionism was a result of American society after the war. Many traditional values began to go out the door and people started to think more about the meaning of life and started to move away from their communities and traditional ways of life. Expressionism refers to consciously using new experimental techniques of film to draw emotional effect from viewers. Like Will said, expressionism promoted more art films than films made for the masses in the standard Hollywood studio system. Film noir is a genre of American Expressionism, and was the first real American genre. It's artistic nature displayed new techniques and methods of lighting, sound montage, camera angles and frames, and more. Aspects of filmmaking were used not just in a physical reality sense, but also to evoke emotional experiences from the audience to add to the experience of the film. Characters also started to change to the anti-hero and the femme fatale, another result of the thoughts and sentiments of American citizens during the time.
American expressionism is inspired by german expressionism that was a much more abstract, artistic form of film. It played with shadows, camera angles and contrast of light and dark. American expressionism truly started with the introduction of film noir, after Citizen Kane's break through cinematographic experience and images to the current WWII-era audiences. Film noir is american expressionism because of its unique style and innovative techniques that made for more mysterious and racy films. The WWII-era audiences were beginning to take the shift into the more liberal late 40s - 1950's decade (in terms of film portrayals). The current american cinema was truly born out of the film technique, images, dialogue and spectacles that have grown and developed immensely to now.
All of my classmates make a good point of where American Expressionism rooted from but to me if was more than that. It was when filmmakers started to really take pride in their work and get everything so detailed down to lighting, editing, and costuming to really show an intense significant meaning. When walking films today we tend not to think about the dramatic lighting or costuming because we are so use to it due to repetition. American Expressionism was the first of its time and really made audiences stop and realizing what was happening within the film. The filmmakers had to take risks during this time and they were not sure if audiences were going to respond positively to their art and cinema coming together. Luckily audiences responding well and still to this day, like Nicolette said we are based off this original idea.
As has already been stated, American Expressionism stemmed off of German Expressionism. Knowing that Welles was influenced by German Expressionism for Citizen Kane, I think American Expressionism really came to life with the release of the movie and the development of the Film Noir style. At this time, more advanced techniques and a more artistic approach to a film started to emerge in film in America. Filmmakers were starting to experiment with lighting, interesting shots, and other design elements that could evoke a certain mood in the audience. With American expressionism, the artistry in a film started to become a major focus.
The origins of American Expressionism date back to the post-WWII period in the United States. It was a time during which artists were heavily influenced by abstract art. These new works were heavily stylized with exaggerated lighting and camera angles, and sometimes with grand sets. Two of the most famous American Expressionist filmmakers were Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles. It's no secret that Hitchcock's films used exaggerated shadows and camera angles to instill a sense of horror or fear in the audience. Before the American Expressionist movement, however, there was the German Expressionism movement of the 1920's. The films produced during this time period were, without a doubt, the inspirations for many of Hitchcock's and Welles' films. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919), for instance, was a German Expressionist masterpiece that used revolutionary shadowing, camera angles, lighting, and stylized set design to create a horror film that still scares viewers today.
Like most other students have said, German Expressionism heavily influenced American Expressionism. Unlike the early films, like Train Pulling into a Station, which focused on capturing reality. American Expressionism focused on evoking emotion to give the audience a specific experience or meaning. The styles of Film Noir films reflect American Expressionism very well. Film Noir typically had darker, more melodramatic plots, and used light and dark strategically to accomplish the different moods and emotions. American Expressionism used the technological advancements to portray more abstract ideas that actually ended up portraying life more realistically. American Expressionists took great risks in their films, and also tried to challenge the audience and make them think, rather than give them exactly that they wanted and/or expected.
9 comments:
American Expressionism is rooted in the German Expressionism tradition in that it combines abstract elements with reality and real issues of the day to create a commentary. Film Noir is the epitome of American Expressionism because its use of abstract elements refers to the new techniques that filmmakers applied to make a film, such as camera angles, lighting, intense sound design, and use of black & white even despite the prevalence of color film. However, these new abstract and very stylized techniques were applied to make a commentary on the issues of the day, such as the disillusionment of traditional American values after WWII. I noticed that film noir also deconstructs the traditional view of women in the 40s and 50s by making the female characters of a film into the femme fatale, possibly to create an alternative view of femininity at the time. In summary, American Expression became a truly American cinema because of its expressive film techniques and its ability to connect to the discontent of American audiences in the mid 20th-century, while still satiating audiences' need for exhilarating plots, heavy dialogue and, in general, a spectacle.
As Leah stated, American expressionism definitely stemmed from German expressionism due to the emigration of many German filmmakers during WWII. American expressionism took the form of the film noir style, which moved away from the generic Hollywood formula and style of filmmaking. Hollywood typically focused on producing films on mass to create maximum efficiency and profit, but film noir films favored a more artistic and unique style that was not as easily reproduced. The stylized techniques such as unbalanced compositions and low-key lighting are staples of the form. As mentioned before, many of these films commented on social issues and cast perceptive looks at their own American way of life. The counterpoint between dialogue and image within these films achieved a dramatic effect that resonated with American audiences. The anti-hero also became a character within these films, another demonstration of how this expressionist phase deviated from classic Hollywood films. Therefore, American expressionism refers to the innovative filmmaking techniques that helped support stories that related to a variety of genres such as the gangster film, the gothic romance, and the melodrama.
The germans are partially to thank for American expressionism, since the majority of the German expressionist came over to the U.S. during WWII and influenced the change from mass production to higher quality. American expressionism is essentially the introduction of alternative film techniques to create a more complex and vivid experience. This was accomplished by a number of techniques that fall into the film noir category of film. This techniques were more complex shots that move dynamically through space, intricate lighting that favors shadows and non traditional plot structures. American expressionism is when the art beating out the business side of filmmaking.
American Expressionism began after World War II from influence from German immigrants, as my classmates have mentioned above. Expressionism was a result of American society after the war. Many traditional values began to go out the door and people started to think more about the meaning of life and started to move away from their communities and traditional ways of life. Expressionism refers to consciously using new experimental techniques of film to draw emotional effect from viewers. Like Will said, expressionism promoted more art films than films made for the masses in the standard Hollywood studio system. Film noir is a genre of American Expressionism, and was the first real American genre. It's artistic nature displayed new techniques and methods of lighting, sound montage, camera angles and frames, and more. Aspects of filmmaking were used not just in a physical reality sense, but also to evoke emotional experiences from the audience to add to the experience of the film. Characters also started to change to the anti-hero and the femme fatale, another result of the thoughts and sentiments of American citizens during the time.
American expressionism is inspired by german expressionism that was a much more abstract, artistic form of film. It played with shadows, camera angles and contrast of light and dark. American expressionism truly started with the introduction of film noir, after Citizen Kane's break through cinematographic experience and images to the current WWII-era audiences. Film noir is american expressionism because of its unique style and innovative techniques that made for more mysterious and racy films. The WWII-era audiences were beginning to take the shift into the more liberal late 40s - 1950's decade (in terms of film portrayals). The current american cinema was truly born out of the film technique, images, dialogue and spectacles that have grown and developed immensely to now.
All of my classmates make a good point of where American Expressionism rooted from but to me if was more than that. It was when filmmakers started to really take pride in their work and get everything so detailed down to lighting, editing, and costuming to really show an intense significant meaning. When walking films today we tend not to think about the dramatic lighting or costuming because we are so use to it due to repetition. American Expressionism was the first of its time and really made audiences stop and realizing what was happening within the film. The filmmakers had to take risks during this time and they were not sure if audiences were going to respond positively to their art and cinema coming together. Luckily audiences responding well and still to this day, like Nicolette said we are based off this original idea.
As has already been stated, American Expressionism stemmed off of German Expressionism. Knowing that Welles was influenced by German Expressionism for Citizen Kane, I think American Expressionism really came to life with the release of the movie and the development of the Film Noir style. At this time, more advanced techniques and a more artistic approach to a film started to emerge in film in America. Filmmakers were starting to experiment with lighting, interesting shots, and other design elements that could evoke a certain mood in the audience. With American expressionism, the artistry in a film started to become a major focus.
The origins of American Expressionism date back to the post-WWII period in the United States. It was a time during which artists were heavily influenced by abstract art. These new works were heavily stylized with exaggerated lighting and camera angles, and sometimes with grand sets. Two of the most famous American Expressionist filmmakers were Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles. It's no secret that Hitchcock's films used exaggerated shadows and camera angles to instill a sense of horror or fear in the audience. Before the American Expressionist movement, however, there was the German Expressionism movement of the 1920's. The films produced during this time period were, without a doubt, the inspirations for many of Hitchcock's and Welles' films. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919), for instance, was a German Expressionist masterpiece that used revolutionary shadowing, camera angles, lighting, and stylized set design to create a horror film that still scares viewers today.
Like most other students have said, German Expressionism heavily influenced American Expressionism. Unlike the early films, like Train Pulling into a Station, which focused on capturing reality. American Expressionism focused on evoking emotion to give the audience a specific experience or meaning. The styles of Film Noir films reflect American Expressionism very well. Film Noir typically had darker, more melodramatic plots, and used light and dark strategically to accomplish the different moods and emotions. American Expressionism used the technological advancements to portray more abstract ideas that actually ended up portraying life more realistically. American Expressionists took great risks in their films, and also tried to challenge the audience and make them think, rather than give them exactly that they wanted and/or expected.
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