The Language of Film
Title
The Language of Film
Description
"The language of film cannot be treated as the French language is, or the printed language. Film is a language only in the sense that Dance is, or Painting." This unique and up-todate book explores the elements of filmic expression, or language, from both creative and perceptual points of view. The Language of Film:
Unlike any other book on the film, this volume deals for the first time with all elements of message: angle, lighting, composition, movement, thrust, tempo, lens characteristics, stock characteristics, and so on. It also describes the effects of such relatively modern elements as color voiding, jump cutting, and forced logic structures.
The Language of Film is designed for film makers, filmgoers, and critics. The film maker will find names for what have been intuitive procedures. The filmgoer will find evidence to support his opinions about directors and their techniques. The critic may be persuaded to approach the film experience on its own terms, in its own language.
- traces the linguistic and mechanical development of the medium
- describes the content implications of image and sound
suggests contributions of editing and montage - examines the cohesive envelopes of plot, theme, narrative organization, and histrionics
- deals with the role of meaning in the modern film
- discusses the actors' contribution to the total message
- it takes an overview of nonlinguistic modes of the film pure, the avantgarde, and the underground film
Unlike any other book on the film, this volume deals for the first time with all elements of message: angle, lighting, composition, movement, thrust, tempo, lens characteristics, stock characteristics, and so on. It also describes the effects of such relatively modern elements as color voiding, jump cutting, and forced logic structures.
The Language of Film is designed for film makers, filmgoers, and critics. The film maker will find names for what have been intuitive procedures. The filmgoer will find evidence to support his opinions about directors and their techniques. The critic may be persuaded to approach the film experience on its own terms, in its own language.
Subject Matter
Filmmaking
Publication Year
1970
Publisher
Prentice-Hall
Language
English
Files
Collection
Citation
“The Language of Film,” The Bruce Lee Library Research Project, accessed May 15, 2025, https://www.bruceleelibrary.jamescbishop.com/lib/items/show/1749.