HUM110 question

Continuity editing simply gets rid of the boring parts of a narrative. We are used to this technique. If you were watching a film or a television program and saw a character taking five minutes to walk from one place to another, with every moment of the walk being filmed, you would probably grow uncomfortable and wary: Something is wrong here. Will wild dogs suddenly appear and pursue the character? Or will a shot ring out? If neither of these things happens and the character arrives safely at his or her destination, you would be shaking your head. Filmed narrative avoids weirdness such as this.

 

Classical editing works to get the best effect out of every scene by guiding the viewer through the scene. The four episodes about to be seen depend heavily on this technique. (It sounds negative, but it is not.)

 

Reaction shots also guide the audience. For example, two characters are arguing and a third is listening. One of the first two says something that is extreme; the next shot shows the reaction of the third character, who indicates to the audience how the comment is to be understood.

 

Montage editing is the display of a group of related images, one after the other, in no logical or chronological order. The idea is to produce an impression. You will see a good example in "The Pickle Story" as we see a montage of the faces of Andy, Barney, and Opie when they try to eat as many pickles as they can stand.

 

Tracking shots involve the camera moving at the same speed as a character or a vehicle. Someone is walking down a sidewalk; the camera matches the pace. A car is rolling down a street; the camera, in a separate vehicle, is moving alongside at the same pace. By and large, when directors want to show results, they use editing; when they want to emphasize process, they use tracking.

Minority Representation Report (through Module 3)

 

Module 1

Leave It to Beaver: policeman with Irish accent (comfortable stereotype)

 

Module 2

I Love Lucy: Ricky Ricardo, Cuban American (fully developed character)

I Love Lucy, "Ricky Asks for a Raise": ethnic (Italian American?) headwaiter

(comic relief)

I Love Lucy: "Ricky Asks for a Raise": the band that is to replace Ricky's, Xavier Valdez and the Vampirettes—stereotype of exotic Latins

 

Module 3

The Andy Griffith Show: none (or do we count the Darlings and Ernest T. Bass?)