Movie rhythm

Subject guarantor:

Tomáš DORUŠKA

Name of lecturer(s):

Tomáš DORUŠKA

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

Key terms: RHYTHM, METER, MATURITY CURVE, TENSION AND SURPRISE, GRADATION, STYLIZATION, FORMALIZATION

A preselection of analyzed film examples: Rhythm 21 (Richter), The Battleship Potemkin (Eisenstein), The Deserter (Pudovkin), Berlin, Symphony of a Metropolis (Ruttmann), Adebar (Kubelka), Psycho (Hitchcock), Easy Rider (Hopper), The Cremator (Herz), Running Bull (Scorcese), Man from Acapulco (de Broca), Koyaanisquatsi (Reggio), The Pianist (Haneke), Lorna's Silence (Darden Bros.), Blood Simple (Anderson), Skyfall (Mendes)

Mode of study:

The Film Rhythm lecture is an introduction to the theory and practice of neglected issues of film rhythm. In the introduction the phenomenon of rhythm will be presented in general and through science, philosophy and art. From examples of the use of rhythm in art (music, architecture, painting) the particulars of film rhythm will be derived. Diverse perspectives on perception and the artistic use of rhythm in film will be presented. Fixed rhythmic figures of film language and artistic efforts to surpass grammatic conventions will be analysed in selected film examples.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

none

Recommended optional programme components:

Basic knowledge of the Avid editing software.

Course contents:

RHYTHM

„The art of beautiful movement“

Augustinus

Rhythm is an inseparable part of life and the basis for thinking about time - alternation of day and night, high tide and low tide, systolic diastolic heatbeat, alternation of lightning and dark during a film screening. In art rhythm is a way to articulate time and space as an aesthetic function. The brevity of a cinema piece and the unambiguous understanding of its rhythm prevents this - the structure of a film is polyrhythmic. Film rhythm is a complex, not easily understood audio-visual phenomenon which creates a specfic experience of time - this is its unnaturalness ripped from real time.

The FILM RHYTHM course is an introduction to the theory and practice of the mentioned issues of film rhythm. The introduction will present the phenomenon of rhythm in general and across philosophy and art. Using examples of rhythm in art (music, architecture, painting) we will derive the particulars of film rhythm. Diverse perspectives of perception and the creative use of rhythim in cinema will be presented. Using selected film examples, the fixed rhythm figures of film language and creative efforts at grammatical conventions overcoming this.

Recommended or required reading:

Preliminary selection of film sample analyses: Rhythm 21 (Richter), Battleship Potemkin (Eisenstein), The Deserter (Pudovkin), Berlin: City Symphony (Ruttman), Adebar (Kubelka), Psycho (Hitchcock), Easy Rider (Hopper), The Creamator (Herz), Running Bull (Scorsese), Man from Acupulco (de Broca), Koyaanisquatsi (Reggio), The Pianist (Haneke), Lorna's Silence (The Darden Bros.), Blood Simple (Anderson), Skyfall (Mendes)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

modul

Assessment methods and criteria:

Zá/1 za 100% účast

Course web page:

Note:

This module is intended for all FAMU students and recommended particularly for Editing Dept. students.

Schedule for winter semester 2013/2014:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2013/2014:

Date	Day	Time	Tutor	Location	Notes	No. of paralel
25.04.2014		09:00–17:00	DORUŠKA T.	Učebna KSS Lažanský palác		paralelka 1

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Animation - Master (optional subject)
• Documentary Film - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Documentary Film - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Animation - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Scriptwriting and Dramaturgy - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Scriptwriting and Dramaturgy - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Film Directing - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Film Directing - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Cinematography - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Cinematography - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Production - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Production - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Audiovisual Studies - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Editing - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Editing - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Sound Design - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Sound Design - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Photography CZ - Bachelor (optional subject)
• Photography CZ - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Audiovisual Studies - Master (faculty subject, optional subject)
• Restoring of Photogrphy (optional subject)