Moving Images, Understanding Media

198 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media

Analysis: Non-Narrative Moving Images

Meaning through Image—Until now, narrative fi lm has been a central concern

of our analytical work. For this Analysis exercise, you will watch a series of non-

narrative and narrative short subjects, including Th is Unfamiliar Place by Eva

Ilona Brzeski and Perpetual Motion by Kimberly Miner (see included DVD),

to investigate stylistic choices and visual forms observed in motion pictures that

may or may not assume as their central concern the telling of a story.

For each sequence, indicate the following:

1. Narrative –First of all, discuss the content of the motion picture. Is there
   a narrative of connected events that form a discernable story, or is it a
   non-narrative motion picture? Why do you come to this conclusion?


2. Image
   a. What is seen in the frame?
   b. How would you describe the camerawork? Is there a
   particular approach to the use of the camera in relation to
   perspective, framing, or movement?
   c. What are the qualities of light, dark, and color?


3. Editing
   a. What is the pace of the editing? Is it constant or are there
   noticeable shift s or patterns in the editing?
   b. Is editing used to establish particular ideas in the footage?
   How are editing and motion control (variable frame rates to
   create slow or fast motion) used to establish a pace that helps
   to set a tone or style to the movie?


4. Sound
   a. What is heard during the motion picture?
   b. Is sound used to add coherence to the motion picture? Is the
   absence of particular sounds used to help to establish its lack
   of narrative? (For example, not hearing the voices of people
   who are clearly talking.)
   c. How is sound used to establish a style and tone to the fi lm?
   Is it used in contrast to the images or only to accentuate the
   pace and visual qualities of the images?

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