Surrealism and Montage (Soviet)

Key elements of surrealism:
- unconscious mind
Freud
- dreams
- human emotion and desires
- inner worlds of sexulaity

How is sexuality a key part of surrealism?

Surrealism adopts the view that women are made to represent higher values and of objects of desire.

What is a montage (soviet)?

The term 'montage' is loosely used to mean any sequence which combines images in a way that doesn't depict continuous action. 'Soviet montage' was born out of both ideology and necessity. Montage = editing.
Montage: combining shots that are depictive -- single in meaning, neutral in content -- into intellectual contexts and series. - Eisensteins


What is the purpose of a montage?

Montages can be edited to a song also they use montages from several different episodes, or from different periods of a character's life, as a kind of shorthand. 'Rhythmic montage' - where shot durations become flexible and take account of movement within the frame. 'Tonal' montage - where the emotional content of the images are also taken into account. 'Overtone montage' - combines all of these kinds of montage techniques. 'Metric montage' - in which the duration of each shot was worked out according to strict mathematical ratios. 'Vertical montage' - refers to how different aspects of the content of images work in combination with the soundtrack.


What role does sequencing and juxtaposition play in montage?

Sequence of alternating shots create tension that produces emotional response in the audience. A filmmaker creates a rhythm in film through juxtaposition. Like Eisenstein he employed 'intellectual montage': in one sequence he compares commuters on an escalator to sausages being extruded from a machine.


What is intellectual montage?

Cutting according to the shots' relationship to an intellectual concept.


Exploring Surrealism with Peter Capaldi
- begain in 1924, Paris
- 'unconscious mind' - codes
- bring objects not really associated with each other together
- Freud


Eisensteins Methods of Montage
Explaned Russian Montage
- Metric montage is cutting according to exact measurement
- Rhythmic montage is cutting according to content of shots
- Tonal montage is cutting according to emotional "tone" of the shots.
- Overtone montage is cutting according to the main tone and the overtone of the shots.
- Intellectual is cutting according to intellectual concepts and ideas.


Montage Notes
- Sergei Eisenstein, famous for this theories of montage.
- Eisenstein takes this principle of alternating shots even further, bringing it to a sort of orgasmic conclusion.
- Djiga Vertov applied these principles to his films
- He had to stop his work due to the prevailing demands of the "social realism"
Tom Barrance Notes
The Rules of Continuity
- 180 degree rule, which states that the camera has to stay on one side of the main 'axis of action'
- looking space
- eye-line match
- 'editing on the action' so that action seems smooth and continuous
Montage
- Eisenstein was the great theorist of montage in books such as 'Film Form'
- He developed a hierarchy of montage that increases in sophistication.
- Vertov used montage to and depict reality in a transparent way, as an alternative to the illusion of reality created by the continuity system.

The History of Cutting - The Soviet Theory of Montage
 Lev Kuleshov Workshop
Kuleshov Effect
- facial expression (3 shots)
- progession of the characters emotion
The meaning of film was not only in spatial composition but in the arrangement of shots
Creative Geography
D.W. Griffith - developed continuity through practice, film as enhanced threater within real space and time.
Sergei Eisenstein - developed montage through theory, breaking confines of space and time to make film a unique language.
Thesis + Anti-thesis = Synthesis

Ferguson's Gender Theory

How are Ferguson's ideas about the representation of women's magazine evident in this text?

In the 'bottled beauty' advert, Ferguson's ideas of representation of women's magazines is evident in this text as the woman who is being portrayed is shown to the imagery of a young female wearing or showing how women can applying make-up. This is shown through a close-up as the women positioned on the bottom right hand corner of the advert  is shown allaying make-up to her face. The theory can be applied to inspire women to look more presentable, the media influences them by provides products like skin products, 'bottled beauty'. This can objectify women which supports Van Zoonen's notion that women are objects in western patriarchal society. The man idea is to keep and get a man and to look beautiful.

Tokenistic
- because it provides a superficial representation of those groups in society that are often under-represented in order to convey an impression of equality and inclusivity.

In this 'Scandal' poster Kerry Washington seems to appear lighter than she actually is. This is done through the use of the high key lighting used in the image. This is an example of whitewashing, when a non-white person is made to appear to have white characteristics.

Exotic other can used to describe someone or something that is perceived to be different or foreign where that differences becomes a source of fascination or pleasure. For example, the way Huck put forward the image of the Kurdish women makes them look like an 'exotic other' as their interest is created through their differences.

Christmas Homework

How are representations of the young Kurdish women constructed? 

The young Kurdish women are being represented as extremely brave and strong in their own way. It is clear that these young Kurdish women are fed up and have had enough for being part of a patriarchal society, "We live in a world... dominated by men". These women want to see an immediate change to the society because they are clearly against the society they live in. They are speaking to be heard so a change can happen. There main purpose is to fight, not only for their freedom but everyone. These women are very confident in what they believe in and they will make it their mission to win a war against ISIS and the people who run their country. They also mention being inspired and motivated by previous female fighter, martys who have killed people to fight for what they believe in.

How do these representations reflect the industry context/ideology of Huck?

The ideologies of Huck and the representations created about these young Kurdish women and very similar in terms of what the magazine Huck provides and tries to put forward to their readers. The young women are fighting for equal rights and Huck believe truly in women having equal rights and that these women ( as mentioned before ) shouldn't be forced to live in a world ( a patriarchal one ), they support the idea of women being independent. The fact that Huck is so up to date with modern day conversations occuring in the world suggests they have a duty to allows their readers to also being updated with the current news and shows that Huck really puts an effort in to advise and interest their readers.

How is the audience positioned in relation to these representations?

The audience because of Huck and its somewhat big audience will be in favour of the young Kurdish women simply because Huck are in favour of them. Their messages will demonstrate a clear support towards the young women attracting the reader to also feel that way. The audience could also feel sympathy for these young girls, just because they know these women have to fight for something that could be avoided so easily. The stories mentioned will allow Huck's audience to again feel sorry for these women, as mentioned in the article about the girl who lost a friend. However, she does later mention that those experiences motivate them and inspire them to better everyone else's well-being.

How can bell hook' ideas be applied to the issues that are being discussed in this article?

The theory concerning bell hooks can be applied to the issues that are being discussed in this article in several ways. One example of this is the whole reason and purpose of the young women' actions, to end the patriarchal society that they live in and to end sexism as a whole. This idea can the used to the bell hooks' theory as people who are discriminated because of different factors which can not be acceptable because equal rights should be available to everyone, everywhere. bell hooks' is very pro-feminism and also supports the opinions of these young Kurdish women 'the idea that feminism is a struggle to end sexism, and patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination'. The statement used by bell hook' can be applied to the young Kurdish women because they believe that women should have more important roles in society other then just being a mother or just staying in the house which is what patriarchy is all about, this society doesn't allow for women to have the same rights as men which is why they find men dominating their lives.

How far are the same stereotypes evident in other key articles from the historical magazines you have studied? 

The Tide adverts show women doing house work, and made looking presentable for their man. This is an example of what the patriarchal society was like and how it is like for these young Kurdish women.

Applying Audience Theory to Tide and Water Aid Adverts

Flipped Learning - Audience theories

Tide Advert - Applying Theories

David Gauntlett's theory of identity 

Woman represented in the advert as role models of domestic perfection. The woman were being targeted by cleaning products or domestic products for advertising  because it was presented that domestic products would make a woman's life easier. This links to the use of the indirect mode of address which shows the woman being obsessed with the product. The hearts also signify her love for the product. Because the woman in the advert is represented in this way she is being a role model for other woman to also act in this way. 

bell hook's feminist theory 

hook's argues that lighter woman are considered more desirable and fit better into the western ideology of beauty, and the advert could be seen to reinforce this by only representing "modern", white woman. This is evident in the 'Tide' advert as a lighter woman is used as the main image which is shown in a close up. 

Judith Butler's Theory

Judith Butler

- most known for her book gender trouble

- which develops the theory of gender performativity 

What is gender? 

- a {set of expectations} that society defines for you. 

- that woman and men are supposed to act and walk and dress a certain way. 

- society assumes that gender roles like these. 

As a result of biology there is an assumption that if you are born female you will be a woman and you will be attracted to men. 

But is gender really neutral? 

- Butler say 'no'

- "gender is the repeated stylisation of the body, a set of repeated acts within a highly rigid regulatory frame that congeal over time to produce the appearance of substance". 

- she believes gender roles are constructed by society. 

- masculinity and femininity are not inherent. 

- it is excepted and compelled to act like its gender. 

Gender is a cultural meaning we attach to our biological sex which isn't true. 

It is just that culture coerces you to conduct that gender performance. 

Jessica Ennis in Podium Magazine

In what ways can we use van Zoonen and hooks’ theory to understand the representation of Jessica Ennis in Podium Magazine?

The representation of Jessica Ennis on the cover of Podium Magazine suggests that a female athlete like herself can still be a public figure for fashion and beauty. One of the cover lines contain a quote by Ennis which states "Im in tracksuits most of the time, so I do love to glam up and get my hair and make-up done". This gives the impression that Ennis does indeed enjoy looking 'glamorous' which is clear through the medium shot used as the main image for Podium Magazine. This supports van Zoonen's notion of the ideology relating to gender not being fixed. This is supported by the idea that sports is mainly associated with males especially in the past as the first woman who competed in the Olympics for athletics was in the year 1928. Also, the fact that she states that she's usually in tracksuits but still enjoys to put make-up on supports van Zoonen's idea of gender's not being fixed. However, you could argue that this cover of Podium Magazine goes against what bell hooks' stated, feminism should not be trendy or fashionable but instead it has a real purpose. 

Also, from the main image in the Podium Magazine we can clearly see that Ennis is wearing make-up and wants to look appealing to the audience to attract them into buying their product. She is wearing a unique costume of different materials which further emphasises this idea of being appealing to the audience. This supports what van Zoonen has argued about woman often being objectified where representation emphasises body and appearance. You could also argue that the representation of Ennis is going against what bell hooks actually believes about feminism which is that feminism is not meant to be trendy or fashionable instead it should have a real purpose. 

'Golden Girl' is a headline used to attract the audience. They have done this on purpose to link Ennis to her actual profession. Ennis is a very established athlete in the Olympics and a very decorated one winning many medals in her career. The use of the word 'golden' represents her success in the career of track and field. It's also a very appropriate word as Ennis has won one gold medal in the Olympics. This link to the costume chosen by her designer as it has elements of gold material on it. Again in another image we see her wearing a gold coloured dress and beside her is another quote "it will definitely take a personal best to win the gold medal in London". This gives the impression that she was determined to be beat herself (personal best) but in doing so he also won the gold medal. This suggests that she is a determined athlete. 

Because Ennis is retired it links to the reason why she isn't shown in her track and field costume. This is telling us that Ennis is moving forward after her career and is trying to be someone else outside of athletics. She is trying to be her own person and could be looked as inspirational to many other woman who are afraid of 'going outside the box'. She could be linking in to bell hooks as feminism having a purpose, Ennis could be encouraging other woman to be strong and not be afraid of doing something people aren't used to seeing.    

Lisbet van Zoonen and bell hooks feminist theory

Summary

Lisbet van Zoonen

- the idea that gender is constructed through language.
- its meaning varies according to context.
- woman's bodies being looked at as objects in western patriarchal culture.
- the codes used to describe male bodies are different from those to objectify the female body.
- you learn your gender as you grow up

bell hooks

- feminism is a political commitment rather than a lifestyle choice.
- sex determine the extent to which individuals are exploited.
- feminism is a struggle to end sexist oppression and domination.
- it has a purpose to correct any injustice in our society.

Extension task - Stuart Hall theory

 Both of these Slam magazines have their respective athletes in the middle of the frame. This shows their athletes are important in their sport and maybe considered as one of the best. Also, its an effective selling technique as if the audience see their favourite athlete on the cover on a Slam magazine they will be more intrigued into being it. Chamique (on the left) compared to James Harden, facial expression, looks more relaxed and less focused. James Harden is shown to have a more dominant stance to emphasise his importance. Slam magazine may have done this because Harden is a bigger figure in the sport of basketball and he's in the NBA which is a bigger business and has a bigger fan base than the WNBA. Also, to further emphasise the idea of importance, on the Harden magazine his name is in bold and in full capitals. Even though, Chamique has her name in  bold and full capitals he name is on the side of the magazine and its turned 90 degrees anti-clockwise to give the impression that she's not as important. This reflects the fact that woman are looked at less in sports compared to men. This links to the unfair pay that woman get compared to men in most sports.

Steve Neale - Genre Theory

In the duel scene from 'The Magnificent 7' directed by Antoine Fuqua we see evidence of Steve Neale's genre theory. Steve Neale stated that 'genre's may be dominated by repetition, but are also marked by difference, variation and change'. For example in the duel scene we notice that some key areas of the scene is familiar. The costume the character's were wearing compliment the context of a duel scene. Also, the setting of the scene is very arid. In various long shots we can see the scene is set on a desert. Also, the props used in the duel scene are very similar to what a duel scene would contain. Guns were shown to the viewer in close ups to increase tension and to create a tense atmosphere. However, in this scene we see this genre adapt and evolve. In this scene we see one of the competitors use a knife instead of a gun. This is evidence that the director Antoine Fuqua has tried to adapt or evolve this genre as most director's directing this genre would keep the 'stereotypes' of guns in a duel scene. One could suggest that Antoine Fuqua has decided to use knifes to make this movie categorise as a action genre along side the western genre. Antoine Fuqua had noticed what Steve Neale has stated and has decided to attempt to evolve the western genre. Steve Neale said 'genres are instances of repetition and differences'. I believe differences between media texts from the same genre are very important because the viewer wouldn't want to see the same key ideas in a movie. Repetition won't appeal to many audiences. A difference would interest the viewer as it will give them 'something new' to look forward to. Just like 'The Magnificent 7' there are similarities to other well-known western films, however, viewers or the audience will be more engaged to the differences that separate one text form another within the same genre. Also, Neale argued that audiences are derived from this mix of 'repetition and difference'. This is mainly because he noticed that if the genre didn't evolve the media texts would be predictable. I believe this is what Antoine Fuqua (the director) took into account when directing this movie. He wanted to gain a bigger following and he knew that audiences would be engaged in something different and unique. He also noticed that audiences find pleasure through recognising the same elements from a genre and comparing the differences presented in the same genre.

Barthes' Hermeneutic Code

NCIS Season 7 Episode 11 - Ignition                                                                                          12-9-17

In this episode a navy pilot is found dead in a secluded area, the team must battle a no-nonsense attorney with a hidden agenda.

Well, at the beginning of the episode a navy pilot is found dead attached to a jet pack in a secluded area. The Hermeneutic Code is used in the opening scene when there is a discovery of a body and it's straight away not clear whether it was a murder or an accident. Immediately, numerous questions are raised by the viewers because of this uncertainty.

As the episode progresses, more enigmas are revealed. The show reveals that the body discovered at the beginning of the episode was a murder which is obvious as if he died from natural causes then the CSI team wouldn't be investigating the situation. Throughout the process of analysing DNA and the evidence more questions are raised for example, the team find out information that the two CEOs of the company just divorced and the person who was murdered was working and being paid by both CEOs. They also reveal that Sayers (person who was murdered) was poisoned before he was attached to the jet pack.

The enigma raised towards the end is who killed Sayers'. In the end, the show reveals that Powell (who was working with Sayers) wanted 100 percent of the profits earned so he needed to eliminate Sayers. Just like most crime shows, enigmas are revealed towards the end of the episode. Just like most, there were many enigmas throughout the show and all of the questions raised were answered.