Spike Lee's Auteur Theory
Auteur theory is an important mode of film criticism that indicates the extent of the director’s involvement in the final output of the film. As it has been previously mentioned, Spike Lee’s films express certain notions about race that emerge from his personal viewpoint as well as from his political and aesthetic beliefs. The focal point of this chapter is the auteur theory and its relativity to Spike Lee. In order to prove the connection between the theory and his works, it is necessary to refer to Lee’s biography, since both his background and distinguishable personality have contributed to his technical skills as well as to his unique style as a film director. The particular chapter will also include the synopsis as well as the technical analysis of each film correspondingly. The term auteur was introduced for the first time in the famous 1954 article “Une Certaine tendance du cinéma français” (“A Certain Tendency of the French Cinema”) , which was written by François Truffaut and was published in the French magazine Cahiers du cinema (Notebooks on cinema). Truffaut along with the editor of the Cahiers magazine, André Bazin, as well as other film critics such as Jean-Luc Godard, Eric Rohmer, and Jacques …show more content…
By that he meant that the success of an artistic project depends on the stylistic qualities of the author, and not on the work itself. Based on the specific argument, Truffaut stated in a provocative way that “there are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors”. Thus, Truffaut praised the remarkable visual style that is reflected in the director’s body of work (the film) through a consistency of themes. He also believed that even if a film is produced collectively, the director’s artistry outshines any further interference from the film
Spike Lee As He Lambast's Hollywood
371 Words | 2 PagesAn Honorary Oscar for Spike Lee as He Lambasts Hollywood Spike Lee has never been one to mince words, and his views on the lack of diversity in Hollywood are well known. Lee was been nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for "Do the Right Thing" in 1990 and again for "4 Little Girls" in 1997. While he did not win either time, his blanking from the academy ended Saturday night when he received an honorary Oscar at the Governor 's Awards. (According to Rolling Stone, Lee did receive a "Student Academy Award" in 1983 for his NYU thesis film Joe 's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.)
What Is The Mood Of Spike Lee's Later Films
534 Words | 3 PagesSpike Lee is known to be one of the most innovative and talented filmmakers living today. His films touch upon controversial topics such as racism and religion which has gained a great admiration by numerous of people. Lee’s first feature film, She’s Gotta Have It gained praise by welcoming a change in the representation of African American cinema. Although this film was a success, if Lee had to remove a scene from the film, the sex scene between Nola and Greer would be the one.
Common Place By George Anderson As An Auteur
248 Words | 1 PagesFor a director to be an auteur, he or she must exert their own creative insight throughout all aspects of their cinematic works, such as the cinematography, all the way to the characterisation of each role. Anderson is a perfect example of an auteur because he communicates his stories through a signature camera style, and a narrative that conveys the humanness that one does not expect to find underneath the pompousness and flamboyant cinematic elements. Despite create a form of detachment from the viewer to the film (such as meticulous use of symmetry and miniatures), the current events that surround him allows him to create hidden links that we can relate to. He uses his films as a form of social commentary. In a world where brutality is commonplace, Anderson uses the obscure violence in his films to raise questions about society’s own ethical issues, while also relating the struggles the characters personally face to his audience.
Title Sequence Analysis
2613 Words | 11 PagesIntroduction I have structured my dissertation question and objective through conducting research on a topic that I have come to have an increased interest in. The development of introduction/ title sequences in movies over the past 50 years with respect to typography and other influencing factors. To adequately address this topic, I feel the need to answer a number of questions relating to the details contained within each title sequence. In order to achieve a just conclusion, I will compare and contrast 2/3 directors, producers and their influences.
Similarities Between Tim Burton And Epilog
748 Words | 3 PagesThe films are based on the director’s experiences and childhood. Through experimentation and innovation, deep messages can be seen by audiences. This can be more easily displayed because of
David Lynch And Alfred Hitchcock
341 Words | 2 PagesThis premise states that a director has to develop a personal signature or personal style that is identifiable across all his or her films in order to be considered as an auteur. This is displayed by showing recurring, themes, motifs and habitual characteristics of style in their films. The third, and last premise, focuses on the “interior meaning” of the film. This refers to the relationship between the director and his influence on the interior meaning of a film. In order for any director to be labelled as a true auteur, he or she has to successfully tick off the above mentioned three premises of criteria in their films.
Tyler Perry Movies: What Makes A Good Auteur Director?
136 Words | 1 PagesIf the director is well known the movie would get popular viewing from the audience because viewers would use their knowledge on the authors past work to assume how well the new movie will be. For instance, ever since my mother notice that most of Tyler Perry movies is based on a true story with a church theme she watches all his movies and is an advocate for them as well. The reason for Todd Hayes success is he has mastered how to be a good auteur director because his cast understands where is stand and how he is going to produce the movie he is making. Even though I agree with the auteur theory in a way, I do find it unfair if the credit isn’t equally shared with everyone who contributed in the film.
Analysis Of The Avant-Garde Cinema
2051 Words | 9 PagesA cornerstone of film studies has been and still is, David Bordwell. Despite the film industry having developed aggressively
Essay On Spike Lee
581 Words | 3 PagesI seldom watch indies before because I usually watch films for entertainment. A independent film could be meaningful when it has audiences appreciate it, otherwise what the filmmaker has done and his/her personal vision that the filmmaker attempts to express would be a mug’s game. Confined to a filmmaker’s thoughts, there is no expectation that every audiences can accept ideas of that indie. Hopefully, target audiences of indies are those who are sophisticated and watch movies not just for entertainment. Watching indies give those audiences a chance to ponder over their lives and society where they live in.
Western Genres Of Western Analysis
1513 Words | 7 PagesThat for any films to try and be different need time for people to adapt. A perhaps example of how critics vast knowledge of genre in fact works against them as it may blind them to great art because it does not fit into this mold they made up that is in essence imaginary. As Andre Tudor puts it genre is what we collectively believe it to be. The critics fail to give adequate praise to Leone who actually saved a dying genre. Pg1of5
Pros And Cons Of Steven Spielberg
1697 Words | 7 PagesIn 1954, Francois Truffaut a french film critic published an article entitled “A Certain Tendency of French Cinema”. His article was about his concern of the current state of French cinema. Truffaut stated that French cinema was suffering from a “tradition of quality”. In 1957 another French film critic, André Bazin, wrote an article called “La Politique des Auteurs.” According to Staples, it was in this article that auteur theory was first discussed.
An Auteristic Look At The Life Of Martin Scorsese
1098 Words | 5 PagesMoney is a Powerful Drug Nadja Riggs riggsn1@go.stockton.edu Film Theory & Criticism COMM – 3400 An Auteristic Look at the Life of Martin Scorsese Throughout the course of this paper, I will dive deeper in to what exactly defines Martin Scorsese as the talented director that he is to this date. Scorsese has made films that have pushed the boundaries, challenged the way we are supposed to view a film, and … Taxi Driver Taxi Driver was Martin Scorsese’s fifth film, and it helped elevate the careers of Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster. This film premiered on February 7, 1976 in New York City. The film raked in $28.3 million, and was nominated for five Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Actor/Actress in a Leading/Supporting Role,
Nelson Kubbrick Sparknotes
1042 Words | 5 PagesThere is an inherent truth that most film critics seem to believe with Stanley Kubrick, that he was an obsessive, detailed oriented genius. That no area of his films was left to chance, giving every decision and detail meaning. This association of filmmaking masterclass with Kubrick is so fascinating that is has led people, like the author Thomas Allen Nelson to develop an obsession with decoding a Kubrick's obsession. In this book, Nelson takes great care to go through all of Kubrick's filmography, even delving into his lesser know documentaries he did at the beginning of his career.
Semali Language In Cinema
1567 Words | 7 PagesAccording to Christian Metz, the analysis of cinema or films is related to art, which refers to the study of expressiveness, as effectively pointed that cinema is mainly a denotation process and represents to have specified language. The term language is only being presented metaphorically and without any association to ontological commitments to represents distinctive modes of cinema analysis as well as interpretations. This represents an extended tendency in terms of art to make usage of effective language elements to reflect the seriousness as well as rigor of a specific mode of in recognition or the extended status a certain form of art and genre. According to the known theorist of film Christian Metz, language terms are not specifically for the purpose of rhetorical embellishment (Larsson, 2014, p. 152). In consideration to the research analysis of Metz, it can be suggested that the main purpose behind linguistics of films is to quality specific film for the analysis of language semiotics, and the best way is to compare film to another language such as English that already qualified for such analysis approach.
Heroic Epic Theory
1605 Words | 7 PagesThis theory will greatly help to explain the content of the movie since there are some scenes and concepts/ideas in this movie that represent another idea or partly signify other ideas. The use of Saussure’s theory will make the process of discussion easier and surely beneficial to the scholars who interested in doing similar
More about Spike Lee's Auteur Theory
Spike Lee As He Lambast's Hollywood
371 Words | 2 PagesWhat Is The Mood Of Spike Lee's Later Films
534 Words | 3 PagesCommon Place By George Anderson As An Auteur
248 Words | 1 PagesTitle Sequence Analysis
2613 Words | 11 PagesSimilarities Between Tim Burton And Epilog
748 Words | 3 PagesDavid Lynch And Alfred Hitchcock
341 Words | 2 PagesTyler Perry Movies: What Makes A Good Auteur Director?
136 Words | 1 PagesAnalysis Of The Avant-Garde Cinema
2051 Words | 9 PagesEssay On Spike Lee
581 Words | 3 PagesWestern Genres Of Western Analysis
1513 Words | 7 PagesPros And Cons Of Steven Spielberg
1697 Words | 7 PagesAn Auteristic Look At The Life Of Martin Scorsese
1098 Words | 5 PagesNelson Kubbrick Sparknotes
1042 Words | 5 PagesSemali Language In Cinema
1567 Words | 7 PagesHeroic Epic Theory
1605 Words | 7 Pages