“The Disposable Camera” theorizes the relationship between the cinematic image and energy resources. Framed by the emergent carbon-neutral cinema, the recent UCLA report on the film industry’s environmental footprint, as well as common perceptions about digital sustainability, “The Disposable Camera” posits that cinema has always been aware of its connection to the environment, the realm from which it sources its power, raw materials and, often enough, subject matter. But because the natural environment is so inextricably embedded within film’s basic means of production, distribution and reception, its effects remain as overlooked as they are complex. “The Disposable Camera” argues that cinematic history and theory can and indeed ought to be reappraised against the emerging ascendancy of environmental politics, all films; as such, all cinema could logically be included within the analytical parameters of this project. Primary focus, however, is given to documentary cinema, as well as notable experimental and narrative films. Selected texts do not overtly represent an environmental issue; rather, they reflexively engage with and theorize themselves as films, thus addressing the technological, industrial, and resource-derived essence of the moving image. Of import here are films that reveal how specific formal or aesthetic choices evidence and critique the ideology attached to resource consumption and/ or abuse. While it composes a distinctly environmental trajectory of the cinematic image, this project likewise historicizes and critiques these same stages and also challenges the utopian and/ or apocalyptical tendencies challenging eco-politics. Additionally, “The Disposable Camera” is committed to mapping out the shift from a distinctly tangible celluloid-based cinematic infrastructure to the ostensibly immaterial form of digital filmmaking. Indeed, the tension that now pits cinema’s material past against its immaterial future corresponds with the decline of natural reality on the one hand and the rise of cyber realities on the other, a parallel condition that fully evidences the increasingly palpable overlap between environmental and cinematic politics.

Since the 1970s, the soundtrack in Hollywood has come of age as a complex and sophisticated site of cinematic art. Greater combinations of sounds expressing a wider spectrum of tones, textures and volumes can be heard at the movies more than ever before, while behind the scenes, the number of personnel producing them has grown considerably. Moreover, this era has witnessed a proliferation of different artistic and professional approaches to sound. This thesis provides a detailed and wide-ranging picture of these developments and how they were ultimately affected by changes within the American film industry. Drawing on a range of accounts by contemporary sound practitioners and critics, the thesis explores sound production practices, focusing on the sound designer and composer, their creative choices, collaborative relationships - or “sound relations” - and the technologies they employ. The soundtrack is also examined in terms of “sonic style”: the ways in which sound effects, music and the voice function variously in the service of contemporary film narration and genre. It is argued that Hollywood sound production practices and styles have diversified to a high degree, particularly during the last three decades. Industrial realignments on the “New Hollywood” landscape in the 1970s and the integration of the independent and major sectors throughout the 1990s have introduced greater flexibility to mainstream filmmaking norms. These events have played key roles in the expansion of its different sonic styles and working practices in contemporary Hollywood. I take George Lucas and David Lynch, their respective sound design partners Ben Burtt and Alan Splet and composers John Williams and Angelo Badalamenti, and identify distinctions between their professional modus operandi and sonic styles to illustrate the growing diversification within the industry. Most importantly, these examples are used to demonstrate both the intricacy and variety that characterises the styles and crafts of the contemporary Hollywood soundtrack.

The emphasis of this research is on the social, economic, and cultural factors generating the New Taiwan Cinema between 1982 to 1986. The study consists of four chapters. Chapter I introduces the background and parameters of the topic. Chapter II discusses the factors which nurtured the rise of New Taiwan Cinema. It also provides historical background information on Taiwanese films. Chapter III discusses the definition and characteristics of New Taiwan Cinema and its major filmmakers and films. Chapter IV focuses on the issue of the end of New Taiwan Cinema. This chapter also covers the general situation of the Taiwanese film industry after 1986.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / This dissertation examines existing attempts to answer the question "Can film philosophize?" (the"CFP question") and offers an original, affirmative account of the possibility of philosophizing by means of film. Focusing OD. narrative fiction films, this dissertation shows how the practice of philosophy can be transformed, and its powers expanded, through its encounter with the realm of moving images. The first chapter presents the groundwork for such a discussion, laying bare the scope of the various theoretical bases through which film and philosophy have been thought to intersect. The chapter follows the threads of extant discussions, from (a) explicitly philosophical approaches to film ("philosophy of film") to (b) in-depth studies of film's thematic constructs ("film theory") and (c) proposals of the symmetry or even fusion of film and philosophy ("film-philosophy"). Each of the three subsequent chapters addresses one of three possible answers to the CFP question.Chapter two focuses on a conservative approach ("the exclusivist thesis") that negates the possibility of any meaningful philosophical capacity in film. Chapter three considers a more moderate view ("the inclusivist thesis") that acknowledges the cinematic capacity for philosophical argumentation, in a manner that is unique, but only partial. The fourth and last chapter introduces an innovative perspective ("the integralist thesis") that countenances a unique cinematic potential to philosophize by insisting on a radical conception of the practice of philosophy itself. To reach this ultimate conclusion, the dissertation elaborates two crucial features of film - the non-linguistic nature of its narrative and the role played by the audience in film - and shows that exclusivists and inclusivists fail to take these features into consideration (largely owing to the principles from which these theorists set out to answer the CFP question). Exclusivists and inclusivists argue that film cannot philosophize (at least not properly) because philosophizing is an essentially linguistic endeavor and film is not.If, however, those crucial features are taken into account, it becomes apparent that exclusivist and inclusivist approaches alike are fatally flawed. The dissertation concludes, in conversation with the integralists, with an affirmation of film's philosophical potential.

This study examines the relationship between the African consciousness of African American college students at a Southeastern college and the opinions they express in response to questioning about how Black people are represented in the four Hollywood movies: House Party, House Party 2, New Jack City, and Malcolm X. This study was conducted by (a) measuring the African Self-Consciousness of the subjects and (b) subjecting their interview responses regarding how the four movies represent Black people to content analysis. Twenty subjects divided evenly according to high and low African Self-Consciousness Personality scores and gender, were interviewed about the movies. / The study found that there is a relationship between African Self-Consciousness and the types of responses that subjects express. Differences in the responses of subjects with a high and low African consciousness were seen when comparing the depth and substance of their responses and the frequency of their responses in certain coding categories. While subjects with a high and low African Self-Consciousness rated the didactic and entertainment value of the movies in a similar manner, they differed in their explanations of exactly what they found entertaining or educational. There were few gender differences in the responses to the movies, but there were differences in that males rated the movies favorably overall and females were more critical of the way that women were represented. / Theoretically, the study provides a critical test for the theory of selective perception in operationalizing African consciousness as a personality element that influences film perception. Results reinforce arguments that the world view of spectators, not just their race, gender, and so forth, should be considered when examining their responses to movies. / The study also adds to empirical film audience literature which is lacking in media studies. It adds to literature focusing on African American film audiences. Further, it adds to literature addressing the qualitative evaluation of film audiences. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-12, Section: A, page: 4295. / Chair: C. Edward Wotring. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.

Friedrich Duerrenmatt was one of the most important German-language writers of the post-World War II period. He was the most produced playwright in German-speaking countries between 1964 and 1974, with 213 productions during that ten-year period. Eight of Duerrenmatt's thirty plays and adaptations of three of his prose works were produced in one form or another (play, film or opera) in America. These productions included six on Broadway, two national tours, four off Broadway, two off-off Broadway, and others in at least fifteen regional theatres and numerous semi-professional theatres. He was awarded the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for best foreign play in 1959 for The Visit. Two major films and one opera based on his works were presented in the United States. / The purpose of this study was to document the history of Friedrich Duerrenmatt's plays on the American stage. The emphasis was on the productions, the people involved, and the critical and popular response to the productions. The organization of the study was as follows: The American productions of each play were discussed in chronological order of their first mounting in the United States, beginning with the 1958 production of Fools Are Passing Through in New York and ending with the 1994 Milwaukee Repertory Theater production of The Visit. The study included all professional productions, including plays, films, and operas, which were mounted in the United States and which were either written by Duerrenmatt or derived from a literary work by the playwright. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-11, Section: A, page: 4207. / Major Professor: John Degen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

A tese Cinema, circuitos culturais e espaços formativos: novas sociabilidades e ambiência na Bahia (1968-1978), tem como objetivo principal investigar a triangulação existente entre o Clube de Cinema da Bahia (CCB), o Grupo Experimental de Cinema (GEC) e as Jornadas de Cinema da Bahia como um espaço formativo de uma cultura cinematográfica em Salvador entre os anos 60 e 70, possibilitando a emergência de críticos, cineclubistas, diretores, entre outras atribuições, funções e modalidades de participação no universo cinematográfico. Nesta perspectiva, compreendermos o cinema como uma prática cultural que se estabelece através de redes de sociabilidade, formação e aprendizagem, reconhecendo-os, como elementos principais no campo cinematográfico em Salvador no período. Assim, por meio da sua documentação interna (boletins, correspondências, ofícios, programas, relatórios, catálogos, fichas de inscrição, entre outros), cobertura jornalística e entrevistas com alguns então participantes e organizadores, interessa-nos recompor a sua trajetória através das suas atividades, tais como cursos livres e profissionalizantes, mostras, seminários e realização de filmes. A partir desta documentação, observamos a atuação de Walter da Silveira e especialmente de Guido Araújo, estabelecendo com seu esforço curatorial diversas parcerias pessoais e institucionais em diferentes pontos do Brasil e algumas vezes em outros países. Assim, eles conseguiram promover uma rede de formação em permanente diálogo tanto na própria Bahia, quanto com outras iniciativas semelhantes em outros estados, inserindo o campo cinematográfico baiano e seus frutos na história do cinema brasileiro. / The tesis Cinema, cultural circuits, and formative spacies: new possibilities and environment in Bahia (1968 - 1978), has as a main goal investigating the relations among \"Clube de Cinema da Bahia (CCB)\" - Bahia Cinema Club, the \"Grupo Experimental de Cinema (GEC)\"- Experimental Cinema Group, and \"Jornadas de Cinema da Bahia\"- Bahia\'s Cinema Jouney as a formative space of the cinematic culture of Salvador between the 60\'s and the 70\'s, enabling the growth of the class of critics, film enthusiastics, film directors; among other atributions, functions and types of participation in the cinematic universe. In this perspective , we understand cinema as a cultural practice that stablish itself throug sociability nets, formation and learning, recognizing them as principal elements in the cinematic field in that period of time. Therefore, through its internal documentation (reports, mails, documents, programs, catalogs, applications, and others), press coverage and interviews with its formers participants and organizers , we are interested in rebuild its trajectory trough its activities , as free courses and professional ones, exhibitions, seminars and film productions. From this documentation, we observed the acting of Walter da Silveira and specially of Guildo Araújo, who stabilished with his curatorial effort many personal and institutional partneships in many points of Brazil and some times in other countries. Thus, they could promote an information net in permanent dialog in Bahia, as with other equal projects in other states, inserting the cinematic field of Bahia and its profits in the Brazilian Cinema History.

O êxito de uma obra artística autêntica depende de vários mecanismos sociais que possibilitem sua permanência. Muito além de comprovar qualidade, o autor precisa deixar claras as condições de sua proposta diante do universo criativo que elegeu e, sobretudo, aprender o funcionamento de suas regras. Assimiladas, ele deve - a cada novo trabalho - articular contínuas negociações que viabilizem a ampliação da mensagem produzida. É o que tem feito Pedro Almodóvar no decorrer de sua trajetória no cinema, desde a estréia do primeiro longa-metragem no circuito comercial em 1980. Esta análise demonstra como foram - e são - os caminhos - complexos e estreitos - dentro do campo cinematográfico que o conduziram ao sucesso. / The outcome of any authentic artistic work depends on various social mechanisms that make its permanence possible. More than just validating quality, an author needs to highlight the conditions of his proposal against the creative universe that he has chosen and, more than anything, to learn the functionality of its rules. Once this is assimilated, the must - in every single new work - articulate continuous negotiations that make possible an extension of the resulting message. That is what Pedro Almodóvar has done throughout his cinematic career since his first long film was released to the commercial circuit in 1980. This analysis highlights how cinematographic fields were complex and narrow in the past and continues to be - paths that have nonetheless led him to succeed.

Esta tese pretende somar esforços a outras pesquisas que se dedicam à compreensão da organização social da produção de bens/serviços culturais e artísticos. Tomando como objeto a produção cinematográfica que vem sendo caracterizada como o \"novíssimo\" cinema brasileiro (uma produção de cinema feita por jovens realizadores, com baixos orçamentos e em estruturas organizacionais menos especializadas e hierárquicas, que começa a se organizar no início dos anos 2000 e passa a ganhar reconhecimento público no país no fim da primeira década do século XXI), o trabalho se desenvolve a partir de dois objetivos. O primeiro, compreender o \"novíssimo\" cinema a partir do posicionamento de seus realizadores dentro do grande campo do cinema brasileiro, que configura um conjunto específico de práticas e representações. O segundo objetivo é trazer elementos para contribuir para uma discussão sobre produções culturais/artísticas do tipo independente a partir da observação do caso do cinema, buscamos construir uma categoria de independência que pode ser utilizada para a compreensão de outros contextos de produção simbólica / This thesis aims to contribute to the comprehension of the social organization of the production of cultural and artistic goods/services. Considering as a target the cinematographic production that has been characterized as the \"novíssimo cinema brasileiro\" (\"brand new\" Brazilian cinema, in reference to Brazilian 1960\'s \"new wave\", meaning a production made by young filmmakers with low budgets and less specialized and hierarchical organizational structures, which begins to get organized in early 2000 and gain public national recognition by the end of 21st century\'s first decade), this thesis is developed based on two goals. The first is to comprehend \"novíssimo\" cinema taking into account the positioning the filmmakers occupy in the larger Brazilian cinema field, which triggers a set of specific practices and representations. The second goal is to bring elements that contribute to the discussion of cultural/artistic productions known as \'independent\' from the observation of the cinema case, we seek to build a category of independence that can be used for understanding other contexts of symbolic production

O objetivo deste trabalho é a pesquisa dos processos para realização cinematográfica, em especial os que lançam mão de tecnologia digital, e a proposição de um modelo de tecnologia alternativa para a realização de film transfer. Tomando como objeto os principais processos para realização cinematográfica, discutimos seu fluxo de trabalho, equipamentos, vantagens, desvantagens e buscamos estabelecer paralelos com as tecnologias alternativas, de maneira a acumular conhecimento para a elaboração do modelo. O modelo de tecnologia alternativa para film transfer sugerido é o resultado da adaptação, numa premissa de baixo custo, de tecnologias de vanguarda evidenciadas nas reflexões sobre a realização. / This work objective is the research of the filmmaking process, particularly when utilizing digital technology, and the proposal of an alternative technology model to accomplish film transfer. Assessing the major filmmaking processes, we discuss their workflow, equipments, advantages, disadvantages and attempt to establish parallels with alternative technologies, in a way that knowledge is amassed towards the definition of said model. The proposed alternative technology model for film transfer results from the adaptation, restricted by a low cost premise, of high end technology ascertained during the reflections on the filmmaking process.