The Studio System

The Studio System

s paper1 In about 250 words, post your Affective Response– what you think and felt about the film, and why. (“Affective,” not to be confused with “effective,”is a term from psychology. It relates to moods, feelings, and attitudes. The makers of a movie are trying to get you to feel something, or actually, to have many feelings. This fourth part of the assignment is meant to raise your awareness of why you feel what you feel when watching the movie.) . In about 100 words each, please reply to: 1The movie I watched was City Lights by Charlie Chaplin. I did not read too much about the film details beforehand, so I did not know it was going to be a silent film. This was the first silent film I watched and I thought that it might have been difficult for me to comprehend the storyline. However, I thought the silent film made me feel more focused and involved in the movie, and as a result, more attached to the movie, because I had to do a lot of interpretation. I feel like with silent films, they allow you to put yourself more in the characters’ shoes because you have to sort of create your own storyline when interpreting the film. In addition, the use of Charlie Chaplins’ exaggerated emotions made the times when he was sad, more noticeable and have more of an affect on you. I think it was more depressing and emotional to see him in a state of sadness (when he told the woman he was going away) because you were used to him acting comedic. Moreover, I think the optimistic plot made the audience, and myself, hopeful about your own life. This movie was directed in 1931, towards the beginning of the Depression, so this movie could have been used to give hope to people going through tough times. The woman’s financial and physical health in the end created a sense of hopefulness that things will work out in the end, leaving you on a high note when finishing the film. 2 The movie I watched was “City Lights (1931)”. When I first saw it was a black and white movie I felt like I was watching an ancient artifact on my screen. When the feelings of hyperbole ended I was left with uncertainty. The only time I watched a Charlie Chaplin movie was Junior year of high school during a unit I do not recall. I’m glad my open-mindedness was something I could rely on because once I got to the end of the film I was slightly disappointed that it ended. The no dialogue style of the film is a very foreign thing so it forced me to pay attention to other details like facial expressions and body language. The movie wants to feel many different emotions and tries to poke fun at these emotions with witty humor. For example, the love story and the struggles Charlie goes through to make her happy. It makes you think what would you do in that situation. When something embarrassing happens I just think what if I swallowed a whistle and then it sounded like it when I hiccuped? Overall this movie was an eye-opening experience to know that even if older films do not have things modern films do, it doesn’t mean it takes away from their greatness and the experience they give you.