Response to Questions 1 through 3:

1. Corrigan and White define cinematography as “the art and science of motion picture photography” and “the use of the camera to create images for a film or video” (The Film Experience, 6th ed., p. 111). They further explain that cinematography involves “all aspects of image capture, including camera placement, movement, composition, lighting, and color” (p. 111).
2. In my own words, cinematography is the process of using the camera to tell a story. It is the art of creating images that evoke emotion, convey meaning, and transport the audience to another world. Cinematographers use a variety of techniques, such as camera placement, movement, composition, lighting, and color, to create specific effects and moods.
3. I have chosen the film Vertigo (1958) by Alfred Hitchcock for this assignment.

Response to Question 4:

4. I have chosen the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994) by Frank Darabont for comparison to Vertigo.

Response to Question 5:

5. Both Vertigo and The Shawshank Redemption feature beautiful and evocative cinematography. However, there are also some key differences in the cinematography of the two films.

Vertigo is a classic film noir, and its cinematography reflects this. The film’s noir aesthetic is characterized by stark contrasts between light and dark, and by a heavy use of shadows. The cinematography is also used to create a sense of vertigo and disorientation, which is appropriate for the film’s story about a man who suffers from acrophobia.

The Shawshank Redemption, on the other hand, is a more traditional drama. Its cinematography is more subdued and less stylized than the cinematography of Vertigo. However, Darabont’s use of camera placement, movement, and composition is still very effective in creating a sense of atmosphere and mood.

One common element in the cinematography of both films is the use of symbolism. In Vertigo, Hitchcock uses the spiral staircase to symbolize the protagonist’s descent into madness. In The Shawshank Redemption, Darabont uses the image of the bird to symbolize the protagonist’s hope for freedom.

Response to Question 6:

6. Periodization is the division of time into periods. In the context of film, periodization is the division of film history into different periods, such as the silent film era, the classical Hollywood era, and the New Hollywood era.

The periodization of film can change the interpretation of the images onscreen. For example, a viewer watching Vertigo in the 1950s would have had a different interpretation of the film’s images than a viewer watching the film today. This is because the viewer in the 1950s would have been familiar with the conventions of film noir, while the viewer today may not be.

Another example is The Shawshank Redemption. A viewer watching the film in the 1990s would have had a different interpretation of the film’s images than a viewer watching the film today. This is because the viewer in the 1990s would have been more aware of the issue of mass incarceration in the United States.

Conclusion

The cinematography of both Vertigo and The Shawshank Redemption is essential to the films’ success. Both films use cinematography to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and to convey meaning to the audience. However, the cinematography of the two films differs in some key ways. Vertigo features a more stylized and noir-inflected cinematography, while The Shawshank Redemption features a more subdued and traditional cinematography.

The periodization of film can change the interpretation of the images onscreen. This is because viewers in different eras will have different expectations and understandings of film.