Bazin "The Evolution of Film Language"

Bazin “The Evolution of Film Language”

In this reading, Bazin talks about the progression of film from the silent movies to more modern cinema. Some feel that the art of filmmaking was lost or lessened when talking films came about. Bazin states that images and montage are the basis of film art, and also states that there was no role of montage in silent films. These films were shot from one viewpoint, similar to watching a play on a stage, and did not involve editing or changing depth of field. I feel that the addition of voice, sound, and music adds much to the enjoyment and the art of a film. Bazin then talks about the technological revolution which enhanced filmmaking, and he points out different Hollywood genres that were successful, such as the comedy, musicals, and gangster films. It’s interesting that this was written in 1951, and the advances in technology and filmmaking have evolved so much more in the last 60 years. I feel that even with modern technology, filmmaking is still an art form.