Over the past weeks, we have discussed the power of photography. A power that allows creators to manipulate their art by cropping and editing images. Now, as we begin to look at early films we realize that not much changes regarding the power of the creator. Films help to capture a series of images, to display motion that resembles real life situations. As time goes on, film will continue to challenge reality with its use of green screens, graphic manipulation and special effects that has the ability to recreate our definitions of reality.
In the silent film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a german horror movie that was directed by Robert Wiene in 1920, was able to manipulate audiences through its various depictions of shapes and conceptions of reality. Through its initial use of silence, Wiene was able to cancel out the effects of sound. Sound is able to allow viewers to visualize reality by utilizing a sense that is integral in our aspect of reality. By replacing actual spoken words from actors with intertitles, Robert Wiene was able to control the reality that was depicted to us. Similar with the use of captions, that take the attention away from viewers to sometimes focus on the text rather than the video allows the creator to get away with video manipulation that may not be seen by the viewers due to a distracted focus.
The cinematography of the silent film was able to create a facade of reality through its use of special effects. From the distorted geometric shapes of landscapes and backgrounds, viewers were able to visualize the creator’s settings and locations. By utilizing music, Robert Wiene was also able to capture the heightened scenes of his film. The loud and creepy violin and other instruments in the back created a sense of suspense during scenes such as the kidnapping, where the sudden crescendo and forzando of the music frightened many viewers.
If I were to create a modern-day murder mystery in New York City I would definitely incorporate the sounds of the city. Sounds such as the squeals from subway tracks, taxi drivers honking at one another and sirens being heard in the distance. These sounds would help to capture the attention of viewers, possibly giving me the window of opportunity to manipulate the reality of the film without the audience realizing. Scenes of the multitude of people could be used to drive home the main theme of the murder mystery by reminding audiences of reality, finding a killer in the streets of New York City is very unlikely in a city with 8.5+ million people. Overall, manipulation of senses is what made the silent horror film scary and will have the same effects for my own horror film.
– Abishek Johnson (AJ)
