Realism and Antirealism in Early Film
[Kathleen Brosnahan, History and Critisim of Film, 9/25/20]
Film is a diverse medium that has limitless possibilities. In the language of cinema, film can be described in many different ways including realism and antirealism. A good way to define realism and antirealism is to compare it to fiction and nonfiction in literature. Realism is similar to nonfiction, capturing real life as it is. Antirealism, in turn, is like fiction, and tells fantastical stories. However, unlike their literature counterparts, realism and antirealism exist on a spectrum rather than being solely black and white. This can be seen all the way from the birth of film in the early 1900s.
The Lumiere brothers were the pioneers of cinema. Not only were they the inventors of the revolutionary cinematographe, which could record and project film, they also were one of the first filmmakers ever. The work of the Lumiere brothers is a wonderful, crystal clear example of realism. Whether it be leaving the factory after a long day of work or a snowball fight on the streets of suburbia, their films capture everyday life in its purest form. Their work was so realistic and groundbreaking, they famously terrified audiences with Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat. Not only did the Lumiere brothers practically invent cinema, they laid down the framework for realism.
Unlike the laid back Lumiere brothers, George Melies wanted to take film in the completely opposite direction. Melies was an inspired magician who jumped on the opportunity to tell fantastical stories and bring his magic into film. In his famous film, Le Voyage Dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon), he did exactly that. He portrayed a group of wizard-like scientists being shot to the moon in a cannon, and while there they make many discoveries, including an alien race. This extreme dip into fiction cemented antirealism in film.
After the Lumiere brothers and George Melies entered the film scene, the interest of film moved into Britain. The legendary Charlie Chaplin made waves in cinema, and his influence still stands today. Chaplin had a diverse repertoire of works, but he specialized in slapstick comedies, including the famous The Gold Rush. Unlike the Lumiere brothers and Melies, Chaplin combined elements of realism and antirealism, which can be easily seen in The Gold Rush. He used realism to capture the more serious components of the story, such as surviving in the Yukon wilderness. For slapstick, Chaplin used antirealism, like eating a goulash for Thanksgiving dinner. Chaplin showed that there was a vast spectrum between realism and antirealism.
Cinema is rich with potential and can be used to tell stories from a man trying to survive on the beaches of Normandy, to flying off to a mystical land with a boy and his fairy. These opposites are defined by realism and antirealism, which are as old as cinema itself. These terms are like nonfiction and fiction, but stretch across a wide spectrum.
Film is a diverse medium that has limitless possibilities. In the language of cinema, film can be described in many different ways including realism and antirealism. A good way to define realism and antirealism is to compare it to fiction and nonfiction in literature. Realism is similar to nonfiction, capturing real life as it is. Antirealism, in turn, is like fiction, and tells fantastical stories. However, unlike their literature counterparts, realism and antirealism exist on a spectrum rather than being solely black and white. This can be seen all the way from the birth of film in the early 1900s.
The Lumiere brothers were the pioneers of cinema. Not only were they the inventors of the revolutionary cinematographe, which could record and project film, they also were one of the first filmmakers ever. The work of the Lumiere brothers is a wonderful, crystal clear example of realism. Whether it be leaving the factory after a long day of work or a snowball fight on the streets of suburbia, their films capture everyday life in its purest form. Their work was so realistic and groundbreaking, they famously terrified audiences with Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat. Not only did the Lumiere brothers practically invent cinema, they laid down the framework for realism.
Unlike the laid back Lumiere brothers, George Melies wanted to take film in the completely opposite direction. Melies was an inspired magician who jumped on the opportunity to tell fantastical stories and bring his magic into film. In his famous film, Le Voyage Dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon), he did exactly that. He portrayed a group of wizard-like scientists being shot to the moon in a cannon, and while there they make many discoveries, including an alien race. This extreme dip into fiction cemented antirealism in film.
After the Lumiere brothers and George Melies entered the film scene, the interest of film moved into Britain. The legendary Charlie Chaplin made waves in cinema, and his influence still stands today. Chaplin had a diverse repertoire of works, but he specialized in slapstick comedies, including the famous The Gold Rush. Unlike the Lumiere brothers and Melies, Chaplin combined elements of realism and antirealism, which can be easily seen in The Gold Rush. He used realism to capture the more serious components of the story, such as surviving in the Yukon wilderness. For slapstick, Chaplin used antirealism, like eating a goulash for Thanksgiving dinner. Chaplin showed that there was a vast spectrum between realism and antirealism.
Cinema is rich with potential and can be used to tell stories from a man trying to survive on the beaches of Normandy, to flying off to a mystical land with a boy and his fairy. These opposites are defined by realism and antirealism, which are as old as cinema itself. These terms are like nonfiction and fiction, but stretch across a wide spectrum.
Great intro paragraph, and strong synopsis of the roots of realism and antirealism. By the end, however, more detail, and inclusion of textbook terms is needed in your analysis of The Gold Rush to solidify the points made in your strong thesis. What techniques of story, scene construction, and editing were used to achieve a result that falls between realism and antirealism, as you have done such a fine job of establishing?
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