The History of Cutting - The Soviet Theory of Montage

The History of Cutting - The Soviet Theory of Montage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYedfenQ_Mw

Here is a short documentary which I found on Soviet Montage, which describes the history of film and how it was used in the past. I think this is interesting because of it's history and how it has crafted cinema today.

This documentary tells us about Lev Kuleshov who was a very important figure in Soviet Montage and Film Theory. He is also an important figure in film history because he founded the worlds first Film School in Moscow in 1969. Although he wanted to create Soviet Montage he was also interested in the effect that film has on people. As an aspiring film maker and editor, this is interesting because my work is all about creating something that has an effect on the viewer. The film making and editing techniques which I have learn about through this year of University can all be used to create something which effects the viewer in some way, whether that be humor or something emotional it is still an effect.

I looked at some of his work previously in this blog titled The Kuleshov experiment, where he looked at Juxtaposition in films and how certain clips can change how the viewer sees a situation. For example he would show food, then cut to a mans face and naturally the viewer would think the man is hungry. In another take, he would show a woman who has passed away and then when it cuts to the mans face we would see that he looks sad. This is interesting because it shows how editing is important.

The documentary also teaches us about another crucial figure in film history, Sergei Eisenstein. Eisenstein created a film called Battelship Potemkin (1925) which is very famous for the Odessa Steps scene.

I find it very interesting to research film theories. One film theory which I am familiar with is Marxist film theory, this theory is one of the oldest theories and it is about expressing an idea (Communist) through film. Karl Marx was a man who wrote theories about philosophy and society, and his ideas were represented in film. Some of the key ideas about Marxist film theory is that individuals matter to the world and someone alone can make a difference.

Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times (1936)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJTVtXK92Fc

This film by Charlie Chaplin can have Marxist film theory applied to it, this film is based around the work place and labor which links into Marxist film theory because of it's themes about work and labor and money.