Natasha's Dance (188 page)
’The theatre is a game. The cinema is life’, wrote one Soviet critic in 1927.46 It was the
’The theatre is a game. The cinema is life’, wrote one Soviet critic in 1927.46 It was the
46
47
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Kinok
kino
oko
kinoki,
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This manipulative element was the fundamental difference between the kinoki and what
This manipulative element was the fundamental difference between the kinoki and what
This manipulative element was the fundamental difference between the kinoki and what
kinoki
cinema verite
cinema verite
kinoki
The Man with a Movie Camera
The Man with a Movie Camera
Vertov, like all the Soviet avant-garde directors, wanted cinema to change the way its vi
Vertov, like all the Soviet avant-garde directors, wanted cinema to change the way its vi
Vertov, like all the Soviet avant-garde directors, wanted cinema to change the way its vi
emotions in the audience. To demonstrate his theory he intercut a single neutral close-u
emotions in the audience. To demonstrate his theory he intercut a single neutral close-u
emotions in the audience. To demonstrate his theory he intercut a single neutral close-u
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51
Montage required a different kind of acting, capable of conveying the meaning of the film
Montage required a different kind of acting, capable of conveying the meaning of the film
Montage required a different kind of acting, capable of conveying the meaning of the film
The Delsarte-Dalcroze system had been brought to Russia by Prince Sergei Volkonsky in the
The Delsarte-Dalcroze system had been brought to Russia by Prince Sergei Volkonsky in the
The Delsarte-Dalcroze system had been brought to Russia by Prince Sergei Volkonsky in the
Kam-argo
diverted from what he saw as his professional duty by an order from the court.52 The one real
diverted from what he saw as his professional duty by an order from the court.52 The one real
diverted from what he saw as his professional duty by an order from the court.52 The one real
52
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Many of the most important Soviet directors of the avant-garde graduated from the Kulesho
Many of the most important Soviet directors of the avant-garde graduated from the Kulesho
Many of the most important Soviet directors of the avant-garde graduated from the Kulesho
style moderne
* Diaghilev was dismissed when Volkonsky left the Imperial Theatre. Diaghilev’s dismi
* Diaghilev was dismissed when Volkonsky left the Imperial Theatre. Diaghilev’s dismi
* Diaghilev was dismissed when Volkonsky left the Imperial Theatre. Diaghilev’s dismi
+ The theory was not dissimilar to Gordon Craig’s conception of the actor as a ‘superma
+ The theory was not dissimilar to Gordon Craig’s conception of the actor as a ‘superma
+ The theory was not dissimilar to Gordon Craig’s conception of the actor as a ‘superma
Inside the Film Factory: New Approaches to Russian and Soviet Cinema
ancestry. In 1915 he went to Petrograd to study to become a civil engineer. It was there in
ancestry. In 1915 he went to Petrograd to study to become a civil engineer. It was there in
ancestry. In 1915 he went to Petrograd to study to become a civil engineer. It was there in
Watches on chains were jolted out of waistcoat pockets. Cigarette cases flew out of side
Watches on chains were jolted out of waistcoat pockets. Cigarette cases flew out of side
Watches on chains were jolted out of waistcoat pockets. Cigarette cases flew out of side
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Eisenstein would use these images in his own cinematic re-creation of the scene in Octobe
Eisenstein would use these images in his own cinematic re-creation of the scene in Octobe
Eisenstein would use these images in his own cinematic re-creation of the scene in Octobe
October
Ten Days That Shook the World.
Enthused by the Bolshevik seizure of power, Eisenstein joined the Red Army as an engineer
Enthused by the Bolshevik seizure of power, Eisenstein joined the Red Army as an engineer
Enthused by the Bolshevik seizure of power, Eisenstein joined the Red Army as an engineer
Strike
October,
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social injustice… but directly and completely with what is surely the prototype of every so
social injustice… but directly and completely with what is surely the prototype of every so
social injustice… but directly and completely with what is surely the prototype of every so
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An ant hill of raw fresh-faced recruits moved along measured-out paths with precision and d
An ant hill of raw fresh-faced recruits moved along measured-out paths with precision and d
An ant hill of raw fresh-faced recruits moved along measured-out paths with precision and d
perpetuum mobile,
corps de ballet
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Eisenstein would try to re-create this sense of poetry in the crowd scenes which dominate hi
Eisenstein would try to re-create this sense of poetry in the crowd scenes which dominate hi
Eisenstein would try to re-create this sense of poetry in the crowd scenes which dominate hi
Strike
October.
In 1920, on his return to Moscow, Eisenstein joined Proletkult as a theatre director and
In 1920, on his return to Moscow, Eisenstein joined Proletkult as a theatre director and
In 1920, on his return to Moscow, Eisenstein joined Proletkult as a theatre director and
typage
The Extraordinary Adventures of Mr West in the Land of the Bolsheviks
The Battleship Potemkin
October.
would exert a lasting influence on Eisenstein, particularly on his treatment of the mass
would exert a lasting influence on Eisenstein, particularly on his treatment of the mass
would exert a lasting influence on Eisenstein, particularly on his treatment of the mass
Vsevolod Meyerhold was a central figure in the Russian avant-garde. Born in 1874 to a theat
Vsevolod Meyerhold was a central figure in the Russian avant-garde. Born in 1874 to a theat
Vsevolod Meyerhold was a central figure in the Russian avant-garde. Born in 1874 to a theat
commedia dell’arte
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Eisenstein’s style of film montage also reveals Meyerhold’s stylized approach. In contras
Eisenstein’s style of film montage also reveals Meyerhold’s stylized approach. In contras
Eisenstein’s style of film montage also reveals Meyerhold’s stylized approach. In contras
towards the correct ideological conclusions. In October, for example, Eisenstein inter
towards the correct ideological conclusions. In October, for example, Eisenstein inter
towards the correct ideological conclusions. In October, for example, Eisenstein inter
October,
Petersburg
October
A similarly conceptual use of montage can be found in the sequence, ironically entit
A similarly conceptual use of montage can be found in the sequence, ironically entit
A similarly conceptual use of montage can be found in the sequence, ironically entit
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The Battleship Potemkin
repeated images of the soldiers’ descent down the stairs.* The scene, by the way, was entire
repeated images of the soldiers’ descent down the stairs.* The scene, by the way, was entire
repeated images of the soldiers’ descent down the stairs.* The scene, by the way, was entire
Nor was this the only time when history was altered by the mythic images in Eisenstein’s film
Nor was this the only time when history was altered by the mythic images in Eisenstein’s film
Nor was this the only time when history was altered by the mythic images in Eisenstein’s film
October,
October
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Meanwhile, Meyerhold was storming barricades with his own revolution in the theatre. It
Meanwhile, Meyerhold was storming barricades with his own revolution in the theatre. It
Meanwhile, Meyerhold was storming barricades with his own revolution in the theatre. It
Mystery Bouffe
62
* Usually described as ‘temporal expansion through overlapping editing’. See D. Bordwe
* Usually described as ‘temporal expansion through overlapping editing’. See D. Bordwe
* Usually described as ‘temporal expansion through overlapping editing’. See D. Bordwe
Film Art, An Introduction,
28. Liubov Popova: stage design for Meyerhold’s 1922 production of the Magnanimous Cuc
28. Liubov Popova: stage design for Meyerhold’s 1922 production of the Magnanimous Cuc
28. Liubov Popova: stage design for Meyerhold’s 1922 production of the Magnanimous Cuc
Liubov Popova: stage design for Meyerhold’s 1922 production of the
in this spectacle it will become transformed into something quite extraordinary.’63 S
in this spectacle it will become transformed into something quite extraordinary.’63 S
in this spectacle it will become transformed into something quite extraordinary.’63 S
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Magnanimous Cuckold
scaffolding’; the characters were all in overalls and identified themselves by performin
scaffolding’; the characters were all in overalls and identified themselves by performin
scaffolding’; the characters were all in overalls and identified themselves by performin
The Earth Rampant,
La Nuit
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Some of Meyerhold’s most interesting techniques were close to those of the cinema, in w
Some of Meyerhold’s most interesting techniques were close to those of the cinema, in w
Some of Meyerhold’s most interesting techniques were close to those of the cinema, in w
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The Forest,
The Government Inspector
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That ideal was expressed by the system known as ‘biomechanics’, which was not unlike the ref
That ideal was expressed by the system known as ‘biomechanics’, which was not unlike the ref
That ideal was expressed by the system known as ‘biomechanics’, which was not unlike the ref
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very interested in the Red Army’s programme of physical culture (synchronized gymnastics
very interested in the Red Army’s programme of physical culture (synchronized gymnastics
very interested in the Red Army’s programme of physical culture (synchronized gymnastics
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Lenin was a huge fan of Taylorism. Its premise that the worker was the least efficient par
Lenin was a huge fan of Taylorism. Its premise that the worker was the least efficient par
Lenin was a huge fan of Taylorism. Its premise that the worker was the least efficient par
The most radical exponent of the Taylorist idea was Aleksei Gastev, the Bolshevik engine
The most radical exponent of the Taylorist idea was Aleksei Gastev, the Bolshevik engine
The most radical exponent of the Taylorist idea was Aleksei Gastev, the Bolshevik engine
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fellow poet Nikolai Aseev),70 Gastev conjured up the vision of a future communist soci
fellow poet Nikolai Aseev),70 Gastev conjured up the vision of a future communist soci
fellow poet Nikolai Aseev),70 Gastev conjured up the vision of a future communist soci
70
As head of the Central Institute of Labour, established in 1920, Gastev carried out ex
As head of the Central Institute of Labour, established in 1920, Gastev carried out ex
As head of the Central Institute of Labour, established in 1920, Gastev carried out ex
rabotat’.
71
We,
1984.72
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Thanks to the influence of Meyerhold, two great artists were brought into the orbit of th
Thanks to the influence of Meyerhold, two great artists were brought into the orbit of th
Thanks to the influence of Meyerhold, two great artists were brought into the orbit of th
The Government Inspector,
The Nose (
days, between 1924 and 1926, Shostakovich had worked as a piano accompanist for silent mo
days, between 1924 and 1926, Shostakovich had worked as a piano accompanist for silent mo
days, between 1924 and 1926, Shostakovich had worked as a piano accompanist for silent mo
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Writing for the screen had a major influence on Shostakovich’s composing style, as it did
Writing for the screen had a major influence on Shostakovich’s composing style, as it did
Writing for the screen had a major influence on Shostakovich’s composing style, as it did
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The Nose
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The New Babylon
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Meyerhold’s other new recruit to the cinema was the poet Maya-kovsky, who wrote some thirt
Meyerhold’s other new recruit to the cinema was the poet Maya-kovsky, who wrote some thirt
Meyerhold’s other new recruit to the cinema was the poet Maya-kovsky, who wrote some thirt
* Soviet films that used montage had a far higher number of different shots (in October, f
* Soviet films that used montage had a far higher number of different shots (in October, f
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