Rudolf Arnheim

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Topic

• Rudolf Arnheim-Theory of Film

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Introduction

• Rudolf Arnheim( (July 15, 1904 June 9,
  2007)  was a German-born author, art and film
  theorist, and perceptual psychologist.
• He was a pioneering figure in film studies.
• His aesthetic theories on form, perception and
  emotion play a vital role in contemporary film
  media studies.

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He was best known for his landmark book on silent
cinema Film as Art
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Contd

•  Theorist Rudolf Arnheim, in his essay titled
  The Complete Film stated how such simple
  aspects of film such as sound, color, and
  three-dimensionality pose a great threat to film
  as not only an industry, but as an art. 

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Fictitious Technical innovations

• He dreamt a bizarre of fictitious technical
  innovations-
• A special camera that filmed scenes in 5
  languages at the same time, the camera was
  equipped with optical filters to select those
  elements that were compatible with different
  countries taste, film was developed using
  solutions flavored with tomato sauce for Italian
  version, Bavarian beer for German and tea for
  English.

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Contd.

• A technique of recording sound on thread, for
  editing be a dress maker or tailor.
• The Erotoscope,a telescope that radiated
  invisible ultraviolent rays through which a
  special guardian was able to discover any
  violations of public morality in cinema during
  the projection ,the guilty had to pay a fine
  according to the gravity of the offence.

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Contd.

• The discovery of film bacterium that infected the
  audience and led to screen phobia-which after two
  week becomes screen mania. In third stage of this
  disease the subject gets irresistible desire to
  become an actor, director and production manager.

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Close up

• Rudolf Arnheim reported the invention of
  close-up or rather the conceptual notion of
  close up.
• Close-up in Italian means Primo Piano which
  means not only foregrounding but also the first
  floor.
• Primo Piano was invented by an elderly woman
  called Emilia close upper in her old house.

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Conclusion

• He question whether, mere mechanical reproduction
  of reality is art ?
• He described true artistic urge as Not simply to
  copy, but to originate, interpret and to mold.

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Thank you