The Crowd dramatizes the plight of an average working man and provides different readings of the film of who is finally responsible for John Sims’ misery. Apart from the narrative itself, the spectator can make his own interpretation of the discourses aroused by the narrative with the help of cinematic style which offers nondiegetic elements and thereby defamiliarizes the viewer with the story.
This term paper will focus on the interplay between the cinematic devices and the discourses aroused in the narrative of The Crowd which contribute to the viewer’s insight and his determining of the responsible element(s) for John Sims’ failure. With respect to this, my thesis is: The cinematic devices in The Crowd combined with the discourses aroused in the narrative play an outstanding role in the viewer’s defamiliarization with the story and final understanding of the plot. The paper starts out with a theoretical introduction to narrative construction in film in order to provide the basis for a further analysis. This introductory chapter is further important as it shows that there is an interaction between the audience and the plot of a film, which plays a noticeable role in the interpretation of The Crowd. The subsequent chapter deals with a close analysis of scenes and themes in the film from a spectator’s point of view that depict the intimidating power of mass society, John Sims as a crowd-man and the influence of patriarchy, elements which contribute to John Sims’ failure. As a final step, I will draw a conclusion on the basis of the results from the analyses.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Framework
2.1 Narrative Construction in film
3. Analysis from a spectator’s point of view
3.1 The depiction of the crowd
3.2 The depiction of John Sims as a crowd-man
3.3 John Sims as a victim of patriarchy
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
This paper examines how cinematic devices and narrative discourses in King Vidor's 1928 film The Crowd contribute to the spectator's defamiliarization with the story and their ultimate understanding of the protagonist John Sims' failure within a modern urban society.
- Analysis of narrative construction and filmic techniques (story vs. plot)
- Representation of mass society and individual alienation in the city
- The role of consumer culture and advertising in shaping protagonist identity
- The influence of patriarchal expectations on the protagonist's life trajectory
- Cinematic techniques as tools for audience interpretation and perspective
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The depiction of John Sims as a crowd-man
The first scene underscoring John Sims anonymity and belonging to the crowd is at his job in the huge office building, where he sits next to numerous “corporate clones”(Kirby 14) all doing the same work. The scene starts with an establishing shot from a high angle and then tilts down until the camera arrives at John Sims’ desk with number 137, which is also a hint to his depersonalization. This situation reminds the viewer of an assembly line work which is created by the working men sitting closely next to each other and doing all the same things. It is this very scene when John Sims appears to be depersonalized for the first time. Further, the spectator gets an insight into the unrealistic self-perception of John Sims and that his optimistic and ambitious scheme to become “somebody big” (Vidor, The Crowd) is quite naïve against this backdrop.
After having finished work, all the working man rush out of the huge room including John Sims. His first place to go is the adjacent washing room where all the men can refresh themselves if they want to. In that particular scene, the spectator gets another impression of John Sims overblown self-image since he is totally focused on his mirror image which makes him appear narcissistic. In addition to that, John makes fun of his workmates who “[. . .] have been working [t]here so long that [they] all talk alike” (Vidor, The Crowd), according to him.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the film, presents the research thesis regarding cinematic devices and spectator insight, and outlines the structural approach to the analysis.
2. Theoretical Framework: This section defines core filmic concepts, specifically the distinction between story (fabula) and plot (syuzhet), and discusses how cinematic techniques like camera angle and distance influence viewer perception.
3. Analysis from a spectator’s point of view: This chapter provides a detailed examination of the film's scenes, focusing on the representation of the crowd, John Sims’ role within mass society, and the influence of patriarchal expectations.
4. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the analytical findings, concluding that the film intentionally presents multiple, often conflicting, reasons for the protagonist's failure, ultimately inviting the viewer to interpret the meaning of success.
Keywords
The Crowd, King Vidor, cinematic devices, narrative construction, plot, syuzhet, mass society, alienation, patriarchy, John Sims, consumer culture, spectator, defamiliarization, urban landscape, identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the interplay between cinematic devices and narrative discourses in King Vidor's film The Crowd to understand how these elements shape the viewer's interpretation of the protagonist's failure.
What are the central themes of the work?
The central themes include the alienation of the individual in modern urban mass society, the role of consumer culture in identity formation, and the crushing weight of patriarchal expectations.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to determine how the combination of cinematic style and narrative elements leads the spectator to recognize the causes of John Sims' misfortune and to analyze the viewer's role in constructing the meaning of the film.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author applies film analysis techniques, drawing on concepts like diegesis, syuzhet, and camera techniques (angles, tracking shots, distances) as established by film theorists like David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson.
What does the main body cover?
The main body covers a theoretical foundation of narrative construction, followed by a close analysis of specific scenes that depict mass culture, John Sims as a "crowd-man," and the impact of the patriarchy on the protagonist's trajectory.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
Key terms include The Crowd, King Vidor, cinematic devices, mass society, alienation, patriarchy, spectator, and narrative construction.
How does the camera movement signify John Sims' transformation?
The paper argues that the camera movement, specifically the tracking shots, highlights John Sims' transition from an individual who considers himself "special" to a person who eventually accepts his role as part of the indistinguishable crowd.
What is the role of advertising in the film according to the analysis?
Advertising is analyzed as a manipulative force that dictates the protagonist's life choices, including his romantic life and marriage, reflecting the suggestible nature of the "crowd-man" within a consumer-driven society.
Why does the author classify John Sims as a "victim of patriarchy"?
John Sims is seen as a victim because his entire life ambition—to become "somebody big"—is a direct result of his father's patriarchal expectations, which create an unrealistic and unattainable pressure on him from birth.
- Quote paper
- Claudia Rumms (Author), 2016, The interplay between cinematic devices and plot construction in King Vidor’s "The Crowd", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/428986
