The Obvious and the Code- Dave Katzman

After both watching The Big Sleep and reading “The Obvious and the Code,” I wish I had read and watched the content in reversed.  Because I watched the film first and then read the article I found the reading confusing.  However, if I had read the article before watching the film, I would have kept in mind the specific shots discussed in the article when watching The Big Sleep.  In the article Bellour discusses twelve specific shots that help to define the film and its characters.  Bellour uses the word “poverty” to discuss how to the average viewer these twelve shots could go unnoticed.  However, to a film scholar these twelve shots work together, in the order in which they are presented, to develop the film’s meaning and narrative.  The author breaks down his shots into six codes; which are dependent on specific characteristics such as camera angle and the motion of the camera.  The conclusion of the article demonstrates how cinematic strategy and techniques can create meaning in a film.  Unfortunately, I felt that while the article was enlightening and interesting, its message would have been more powerful if I had read it after watching the film.