西方电影文化-评论7.ppt

1、Narrative,Restricted / Unrestricted / Mix Momentum Suspense Subtext Stake-raising Pacing,Critical Perspective,The pleasure of watching a film comes from: Content and Formal The traditional way of approaching content is through analysis of Theme The other main theoretical approaches: Auteur, Structur

2、alism Theory, Feminism and Gender Studies, Psychoanalytic Theory, Ideology Theory,Theme,The theme of a film is its main point. Theme is the controlling idea of the film. In addition to constituting a general comment about life, the theme is also the central and controlling idea; it unifies the film

3、and makes it intellectually and emotionally coherent. Theme is that center of gravity around which all the other elements of the film (genre, character, narrative, style) imperceptibly revolve.,Theme,It means that we should not expect to find a films theme spelt out to us unambiguously in the form o

4、f a statement or argument. The theme will emerge gradually from, and be expressed through, the films genre, characters; narrative, and style. Theme only properly exists when it is fully integrated into the film as a whole Theme: Variable and Diverse vs Invariable and Immutability Multiple theme,Main

5、 Stream Cinema Theme,1. Broad Human Concerns （广泛的人类问题 ） Themes commonly reflect the most basic and universal human concerns such as love (whether romantic or affectionate), the nature of humanity, ethical concerns, the meaning of human existence, and the possibility (or impossibility) of a divine fo

6、rce guiding human affairs. Examples: universal themes such as the nature of love (The English Patient) and the nature of beauty (American Beauty).,2. Life Philosophies（人生哲学） Theme is a generalized comment on life, but it is rarely expressed as a statement of that kind. More commonly, films will pres

7、ent a hero whose lifestyle is, at the same time, a life philosophy; and, through the relative success or failure of that character, we assess the validity of that philosophy. Conversely, we may observe the validity of the opposing life philosophy by watching the fortunes of the antagonist. Examples:

8、 Forrest Gump (in Forrest Gump),Main Stream Cinema Theme,3. Religious and Ethical Concerns (宗教和伦理) The West is a fundamentally Christian culture, and although the influence of formal religion and the established Churches has declined over recent decades, the power of the Christian faith to determine

9、 the shape of ones spirituality and ethical values remains strong. Some films focus on the spiritual aspects of religion (such as the desire to transcend the everyday world or to know God) while others focus on the ethical values that derive from religion (such as the notions of sin and of evil). Ex

10、amples: The Matrix reflects a Christian ideal of transcendence; Seven is concerned with the notion of sin; and The Shining presents an idea of supernatural evil.,Main Stream Cinema Theme,4. Historical Issues （历史问题） Themes commonly emerge as responses to specific historical periods or events, especia

11、lly if they are foundational and/or controversial and/or have a continuing relevance today. In the West, the history of the Roman Empire has been a regular topic because it brought the West into being as a coherent political and geographical entity (e.g. The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire), Cleop

12、atra, Gladiator). With regard to modern history, the Vietnam War - probably the most controversial American war of the twentieth century - is such a common thematic concern that it has also become the basis of a subgenre. Examples: the Vietnam War is the explicit subject matter of Apocalypse Now and

13、 the history of late twentieth-century America constitutes an important stage on which the themes of Forrest Gump are played out.,Main Stream Cinema Theme,5. Nations and National Characteristics （国家和国民特征） Films are produced by men and women from certain nations for consumption by target audiences wh

14、o also belong to certain national groups. For this reason, they often respond on a thematic level to national concerns. They may do so by presenting characters who embody certain aspect of their national character, or by exploring the consequences of national values and attitudes. Examples: James Bo

15、nd embodies aspects of the English ideal, and Super Man for American,Main Stream Cinema Theme,6.Social/Cultural/Technological Changes （社会、文化与技术的变革） Cinema is a living art form, and as such it tends to respond rapidly to social, cultural, and technological changes. Films concerned with change (of wha

16、tever kind) provide the audience with a space in which to visualize and adapt to its consequences. Examples: the idea of hyperreality underlies The Matrix; the media on human emotions is a thematic concern in American Beauty,Main Stream Cinema Theme,7. Social Problems Films sometimes provide a forum

17、 in which certain pressing social problems can be presented. In part it is a consciousness-raising activity that brings social problems to light. In part, it is a way for the audience to deal imaginatively with the problems - to consider possible causes, to imagine possible consequences, and to hypo

18、thesize possible solutions. Examples: the dysfunctional family is a thematic concern of American Beauty, and criminality is an issue in The Godfather.,Main Stream Cinema Theme,The Lord of the Rings,76th Oscar 指环王3：王者无敌The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King,Achilles(阿喀琉斯) Candide(康迪德) Cinderella（灰姑娘 ） Circe（喀耳刻） Faust（浮士德) Orpheus（俄耳普斯） Rmeo and Juliet Tristan ( The love triangle) The Wandering Jew,最