GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM 2:METROPOLIS

Lecture 13

EXPRESSIONISM VS. IMPRESSIONISM

• Both are interested in representing interiority• Impressionism grounds itself ultimately in the

objectivity of the external world: “A real world exists” – Two kinds of subjectivity:

• A) perspective of a character in the form of a flashback, hallucination, dream

• B) perspective of a character pervades everything

• Expressionism eschews objectivity altogether– externalizes inner feelings in the mise-en-scene– it prefers the second kind of subjectivity (B)– Thus, it confuses the subjective and the objective

THE ASYLUM

Inside the framing-story Outside the framing-story

WHAT ARE THE STYLISTIC FEATURES OF EXPRESSIONIST FILM VS. IMPRESSIONIST FILM?

Impressionism1. Mise-en-scene/pro-filmic:

naturalistic• Location/outdoor shooting

2. *Innovates in the area of camerawork (i.e. the enframed image):

• Superimposition• Distortions• Masks• Filters• Soft focus• Mobile camera• Variety of angles and heights

3. Transforms image of nature using photographic means: defamiliarizes nature: photogénie

4. *Innovates in the area of editing• Continuity based on graphic, rhythmic,

associative, connotative relations between shots

Expressionism1. *Innovates in the area of mise-en-

scene (i.e. the pro-filmic)• Sets: artificial not natural• Costumes• Props• Acting• lighting

2. Enframed image/camerawork• Unobtrusive• Stationary camera• Eye-level• Straight-on angle

3. Replaces the image of nature with art: substitutes for nature

4. Editing• Unobtrusive• Continuity

o Shot/reverse shoto Cross-cutting

FROM MENILMONTANT: CAMERAWORK AND GRAPHIC, RHYTHMIC, ASSOCIATIVE, AND CONNOTATIVE MONTAGE IN

FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM