Cinema of Attractions, Photoplay, Auro, the Closeup, & Photogenie

Answer 1

Cinema of Attractions:

The concept of the "cinema of attractions" was popularized by film theorist Tom Gunning in the 1980s. It refers to a style of filmmaking that emphasizes visual spectacle and shock value over traditional narrative storytelling. Instead of focusing on character development and plot progression, films in the cinema of attractions rely on the immediate impact of striking visuals and special effects to engage and captivate the audience. This approach was prevalent in early silent films, particularly those produced by the Lumière brothers and Georges Méliès.

Photoplay:

Photoplay was a popular film magazine that was published in the United States from 1911 to 1980. It was one of the first magazines dedicated to the art and business of filmmaking, and it played a significant role in shaping the public's perception of cinema during the early decades of the 20th century. Photoplay featured reviews, interviews, and articles about the latest films and Hollywood stars, and it helped to elevate the status of the film industry as a legitimate form of entertainment.

Auro:

Auro is a three-dimensional sound system developed by the Belgium-based company Barco. It is designed to provide a more immersive and realistic audio experience in movie theaters by using additional speakers placed around the audience to create a sense of depth and spatial awareness. Auro has been used in a number of films, including "Ender's Game" and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," and it is considered a rival to other immersive sound technologies like Dolby Atmos.

The Closeup:

The closeup is a shot in film that captures a subject's face or specific detail with a tight frame, typically from the shoulders up. Closeups are often used to highlight emotion, expression, and nuance in a character's performance, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the audience. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese are known for their masterful use of closeups to heighten tension and convey dramatic moments in their films.

Photogenie:

Photogenie is a term coined by early film theorist Ricciotto Canudo in the early 20th century to describe the unique quality of cinema as an art form. Canudo believed that film had the power to capture and convey the essence of beauty and emotion in a way that was distinct from other visual arts like painting or photography. Photogenie is often associated with the mysterious and enigmatic qualities of cinema that can evoke deep emotional responses in viewers, transcending the limitations of traditional storytelling techniques.