Comparison of Three Films from the 1920\'s

Robert Flahertys video Nanook of the North, Margaret Meads Trance and Dance in Bali, and Robert Gardners Rivers of Sand, are the cornerstones of ethnographic films. nevertheless though each civilise utilizes different shot types, tv camera angles, editing, narrative and sounds are several(a) in many ways, at that place is one underlying commonality: the desire to achieve a sense of naturalism. The classification of naive originalism seems to alter and evolve as the films, and time, progress and isnt easily conspicuous within each film. To attester each films attempt of realism, we moldiness dive into Flaherty, Mead and Gardners films to break them down(p) into their basic parts, using special(prenominal) ecological successions.\nBeginning in sequent order, Flahertys Nanook of the North is the origination of how ethnographic films- and documentaries as a safe and sound have been made. Having been filmed in the 1920s, however, makes the film seem much cinematic than documentary. In particular, I noticed that the music distracts viewers from focusing solely on the imagery and adds to our emotional investment, alternatively than critical analysis.\nAn example of this is the sequence of the hunt for the great seal. after(prenominal) finding a mud hole in the ice, Nanook waits patiently for the moment to fling his harpoon. victimization intense music buildup after this shot, Flaherty does engage the viewer in a more cinematic way, but doing so takes out from the films realism (theres no tuneful buildup in real life). at that place are some instances and techniques utilize by Flaherty, in contrast, that transfer a sense of realism in his film. Long takes with no editing or minimum cuts allows events to occur in real time (The building of the igloo window for example). Medium shots swear out the viewer to experience the live up to most accurately as if they were living among the Eskimos (the scene of Nanook audition to the music box, chi ld eating fish oil) Close-up shots, especially with snug scenes, allow viewers to consociate more the charact...