Review of Film as a Social Practice IV by Graeme Turner
Introduction
Colin Clive and Borris Karloff as Frankenstein and the Monster. Frankenstein directed by James Whale Film as Art
Whenever people think of movies, they always think of them as a way of relaxing or something to do in their leisure time. But most people never think of how films are a tool for the public to escape their daily life nor how much films actually affect the public. Most people value novels more than films and consider films to be more trivial in comparison that bends to the public's wishes. But most people do not know that novels were not always viewed in such a high light and were considered to be leisure activity or something that people with 'idle' hands would do. So why are novels that are studied and criticized today viewed in a higher light? It is because their history has grown and their values have grown as they aged.
Novels are a form of storytelling which is why they are praised as much as they are today. Even though the stories are fiction, the values and messages they give are still important. Also, their popularity and how they affect the public is interesting to examine. A novel can spur anger, joy, horror, and sadness in an individual and can create an incredible uproar in the public. Films are just like novels except that only recently have people really began to examine them in a similar fashion as novels.
Films are the next generation of storytelling and film studies have begun to become more popular because the history of film itself has grown. There are enough films to now examine their history and evolution as well as their various impacts on the audiences. Film as a Social Practice IV by Graeme Turner is the perfect introduction to reading films and seeing how they affect the audiences of their time. This is the fourth edition as Turner constantly revises this book which can be useful as film evolves and he can provide more recent examples of films for the reader. It is important to be certain that one uses plenty of examples and states things in a clear organized manner in such a book because this is the first step in reading films. Learning how films affect culture and vice versa is the key to fully appreciating any film, especially box office hits or any classic film. This book is the first step one has to take in order to examine a film fully.
General Information
Graeme Turner is currently a professor of Cultural Studies at University of Queensland in Australia, Director of the Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies, and a Federation Fellow. He earned his Master's degree at Queen's University, Canada and received his Doctorate in University of East Anglia in the UK. He is an important figure in the cultural and media studies of Australia and his work is known internationally.
Movie Camera. Alan Ceck Savoyhill
Turner introduces the reader to film and different aspects of film that one must keep in mind when interpreting or examining a film. First he goes into the history of film and its technological advances. He delves into how these advances affected both how people created films and how people viewed them. For example, when sound was created in films it was debated whether or not sound should be used in films. This may appear to be a silly question but there was a lot of debate over the topic when it was first introduced. The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first film to introduce optical sound and until then live musical entertainment was often used. However, some directors argued whether a soundtrack is needed or necessary. For example, Tod Browning directed Dracula in 1931 without a soundtrack as he found the music distracting from the film. Turner then reviews and dives a little into the history of film studies and gives an overview of revolutionary figures in film study. He goes over how film was read and interpreted by early critics to more current figures because critics reflect the public's view while giving an inside view as well.
"...he shows the reader how to read films and reveals more about the film as a narrative. He explains how most narratives follow a certain form and contains 'spheres of action' which are essentially duties that characters carry out which are not defined and can overlap but exist fairly consistently in narratives."
Next he shows the reader how to read films and reveals more about the film as a narrative. To do this he first explains how most narratives follow a certain form and contains 'spheres of action' which are essentially duties that characters carry out which are not defined and can overlap but exist fairly consistently in narratives. Film itself is important to analyze but the audience plays a major factor to the making of films as well. For example Turner goes into how stars are a symbol in films and that the stars particular face, style, or voice creates a certain image for the movie that they are in. One can see this every day whenever someone is talking about a film and do not know an actor's name he or she will call that actor by the name that he is recognized as. Stars create certain expectations in the film especially if the star is know for portraying particular roles in most movies they are cast in. An example would be Adam Sandler known for acting in comedies and Keanu Reeves known for acting the 'cool' hero that shows little emotion in action films. And finally Turner delves into ideology and how films affect a nation and vice versa.
Film Reel. Emery Designs The Great Sacandaga Lake
Pros, Cons, and Ease to the Reader
The book gives a lot of information about film but introduces it gradually to the reader so the reader won't be overwhelmed by the information. Turner progresses through film and explains it in a clear manner than progresses nicely. Also if the reader prefers to read it in a different order it is not difficult to do so because he organizes the novel in a nice manner so each part of the film that he discusses has its own section or chapter. Turner also uses many examples (which are usually any classic or box office hits that are most known to the public such as Titanic or Jurassic Park) to help the reader to understand whatever topic he is discussing. He gives many examples that are well known to the public but he does not twist them to fit what he is describing and does not always name just the top films. He gives a wide range of films that fully show what he wants the reader to understand. He also includes various graphs and tables for the reader to understand any literary theory that he introduces as well as quotes to so he can express a complex idea in a clearer manner to someone new to the topic. For example, he created a table of characters in Star Wars to demonstrate the roles or 'sphere of action' that characters take on. And lastly, he also includes many references and tells the audience of any further readings on the topic he discusses in case the reader would like to know more information about what he just explained.
Although Turner does include images in the book, they are not always used very effectively and sometimes appear just to be there for the sake of being there. The pictures could have been used more efficiently and sometimes there are errors in table that he created. Also, the films that he refers to only work as an example if the reader has seen the films that he calls upon. For instance, in the table of characters used to show the 'spheres of action', Turner uses Star Wars as an exmaple but not everyone has seen Star Wars or (since it is a farily old film) many may not have seen it in a while and may not remember all the characters and their names. Of course, it is always difficult to come up with a reference that everyone knows because there will always be someone who has never seen one of the most popular or recent films but not knowing what the example is referring to can be confusing at times. There are not particular mistakes that the author made but hurtles that are difficult to overcome and sometimes have to be viewed at a different standpoint to organize the book in a better manner for a wider range of readers to understand.
The book is easy to understand and read which makes it easier for the reader to absorb all the information that he is explaining. The book is also organized and sectioned in a neat manner that is easy to understand and makes it easy for the reader to know which section discusses certain topics. The book is easy to use as an introduction to film for a reader who has limited or no knowledge of the topic.
Conclusion
Bela Lugosi as Dracula (1931). Ian Sample Guardian News and Media
The book is an excellent introduction to film and its many uses and practices. It delves into not only the history of film itself in a technological sense but also of major figures in reading film. He dives into how to read not only film but narratives themselves and how film and the audience interact and affect each other. Turner successfully introduces film to the reader and gives them detailed synopsis of film. The book raises issues and questions in film while covering a vast amount of information without overwhelming the reader or giving too much information. The book gives a wonderful balance of information and overview of the wide range and vast amount of topics that can be discussed about film while guiding the reader to references where he or she can further look up information on particular topics that was brushed upon.
Quotes
"But images are culturally charged: the camera angle employed, his position within the frame, the use of lighting to highlight certain aspects, any effect achieved by colour, tinting, or processinng, would all have the potential for social meaning." (68)
"Within popular film generally, of course, it is never easy to challenge or disregard existing conventions." (118)
"By 'need' he means some cultural, aesthetic, or political need, not just a perceived economic need. Changes in technology may be produced by individual inventors but their large-scale adoption depends on a wide range of other enabling cultural conditions." (16)