The Crowd dramatizes the plight of an average working man and provides different readings of the film of who is finally responsible for John Sims’ misery. Apart from the narrative itself, the spectator can make his own interpretation of the discourses aroused by the narrative with the help of cinematic style which offers nondiegetic elements and thereby defamiliarizes the viewer with the story.
This term paper will focus on the interplay between the cinematic devices and the discourses aroused in the narrative of The Crowd which contribute to the viewer’s insight and his determining of the responsible element(s) for John Sims’ failure. With respect to this, my thesis is: The cinematic devices in The Crowd combined with the discourses aroused in the narrative play an outstanding role in the viewer’s defamiliarization with the story and final understanding of the plot. The paper starts out with a theoretical introduction to narrative construction in film in order to provide the basis for a further analysis. This introductory chapter is further important as it shows that there is an interaction between the audience and the plot of a film, which plays a noticeable role in the interpretation of The Crowd. The subsequent chapter deals with a close analysis of scenes and themes in the film from a spectator’s point of view that depict the intimidating power of mass society, John Sims as a crowd-man and the influence of patriarchy, elements which contribute to John Sims’ failure. As a final step, I will draw a conclusion on the basis of the results from the analyses.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Framework
- 2.1 Narrative Construction in film
- 2.1.1 Plot and Story
- 2.1.2 Style and cinematographic techniques
- 3. Analysis from a spectator's point of view
- 3.1 The depiction of the crowd
- 3.2 The depiction of John Sims as a crowd-man
- 3.3 John Sims as a victim of patriarchy
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the interplay between cinematic devices and narrative construction in King Vidor's The Crowd (1928). The objective is to demonstrate how these elements contribute to the viewer's understanding of the protagonist's failure and the film's overall message. The analysis will explore how the film uses cinematic techniques to shape the spectator's interpretation of the story.
- The relationship between plot and story in film narrative.
- The impact of cinematic techniques (camera angles, shot distances) on viewer perception.
- The depiction of mass society and its effect on the individual in The Crowd.
- The portrayal of John Sims as a representative of the "crowd-man."
- The role of patriarchal structures in John Sims's struggles.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by establishing the central argument: that the cinematic devices in The Crowd, combined with the narrative, significantly influence the viewer's interpretation of John Sims's failure. It introduces the film and its main theme—John Sims's struggle to stand out from the mass society of New York—and briefly outlines the paper's structure, emphasizing the interplay between cinematic style and narrative discourse. The chapter highlights the film's ambiguity regarding responsibility for Sims's unhappiness, suggesting that the viewer's interpretation is shaped by both the narrative and the stylistic choices.
2. Theoretical Framework: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation for the subsequent analysis by discussing narrative construction in film. It distinguishes between "story" (fabula) and "plot" (syuzhet), emphasizing that viewers actively construct the story based on the cues provided by the plot. This includes both diegetic (within the story world) and nondiegetic (outside the story world) elements. The chapter also explores the role of cinematic style and techniques, such as camera angles and shot distances, in conveying meaning and influencing viewer perception. The concepts of low-angle shots highlighting importance and high-angle shots suggesting oppression are introduced, establishing the analytical tools for examining the film's visual language.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The Crowd, King Vidor, cinematic devices, narrative construction, plot, story, mass society, patriarchy, camera angles, shot distances, diegesis, nondiegesis, John Sims, urban reality, film analysis, spectator's point of view.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of King Vidor's *The Crowd*
What is the overall purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic paper analyzing King Vidor's 1928 film, The Crowd. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, offering a structured overview of the paper's content and arguments.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of *The Crowd*?
The analysis focuses on the interplay between cinematic devices and narrative construction in shaping the viewer's understanding of the protagonist's (John Sims) failure and the film's overall message. Key themes include the relationship between plot and story, the impact of cinematic techniques on viewer perception, the depiction of mass society and its effect on the individual, the portrayal of John Sims as a representative of the "crowd-man," and the role of patriarchal structures in Sims's struggles.
What theoretical framework is used in the analysis?
The analysis employs a framework that distinguishes between "story" (fabula) and "plot" (syuzhet) in film narrative, emphasizing the active role of the viewer in constructing meaning from the cues provided by the film. It also examines the role of cinematic style and techniques, such as camera angles and shot distances, in conveying meaning and influencing viewer perception.
How does the analysis approach the depiction of John Sims?
The analysis examines John Sims in multiple ways: as a representative of the "crowd-man," highlighting his struggles within mass society; and as a potential victim of patriarchal structures, exploring how these structures contribute to his unhappiness and failure.
What specific cinematic techniques are analyzed?
The analysis focuses on the impact of camera angles and shot distances on viewer perception. The concepts of low-angle shots (highlighting importance) and high-angle shots (suggesting oppression) are used as analytical tools to examine the film's visual language and its contribution to the narrative.
What is the significance of the distinction between "plot" and "story"?
The distinction between "plot" (syuzhet) and "story" (fabula) is crucial because it highlights the viewer's active role in constructing meaning. The analysis argues that viewers don't passively receive the story but actively create it from the cues provided by the film's plot, encompassing both diegetic and non-diegetic elements.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The introduction establishes the central argument—the influence of cinematic devices and narrative on viewer interpretation of Sims's failure. Chapter two provides the theoretical framework, distinguishing plot from story and exploring the role of cinematic techniques. The analysis chapters delve into the specific depiction of the crowd, Sims's role within it, and the impact of patriarchal structures. The conclusion synthesizes these findings.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: The Crowd, King Vidor, cinematic devices, narrative construction, plot, story, mass society, patriarchy, camera angles, shot distances, diegesis, nondiegesis, John Sims, urban reality, film analysis, spectator's point of view.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Claudia Rumms (Autor:in), 2016, The interplay between cinematic devices and plot construction in King Vidor’s "The Crowd", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/428986
