Mascelli's functional analysis of camera angles versus viewers' interpretations of unconventional camera angles in Avatar and The English Patient

[摘要] The primary research strategy of this study was to elicit meaningful answers fromviewers by means of a focus-group procedure; this is a method associated withqualitative research (see Creswell, 1998; Berg & Lune, 2011) The group consisted of tenadults, whose visual literacy in terms of narrative films, was described as high (theyfrequently watch films at home, or in the theatre). The researcher acted as themoderator; and a set of semi-structured questions, based on meanings attached tocamera-angle codes as defined by Mascelli, were answered by the participants.The codification scheme of Mascelli was applied to the unconventional camera angles inAvatar and The English Patient. These were compared with the viewers' responses.Finally, the results were interpreted, in order to establish whether a meaningfulrelationship exists between the viewers' responses and the interpretation ofunconventional camera angles by such a seminal figure as Joseph V. Mascelli. Theliterature study focused on a media aesthetic explanation of cinematography, whichincluded media aesthetics theory, framing, and composition, as well as the generalcodes and conventions relevant to cinematography.The literature overview includes a study of books, academic articles, internet sources,legislation, and training videos. A Nexus and EbscoHost search (Academic SearchPremier and Jstor) was conducted on cinematography in general, and on camera anglesin particular.Chapter 5 indicates the viewers' overall interpretations of the unconventional cameraangles used in Avatar and The English Patient. The graphs in Chapter 5 indicate thatthe viewers found the unconventional camera angles used in the films to representthe meaning of the shots appropriately, and that they understood why each unconventional camera angle had been used. The viewers' responses correspondwith the meanings of the unconventional camera angles, as stated by Mascelli.To ensure the effectiveness of a film and the accurate representation of themeanings of camera angles and camera sizes, the way it is described by Mascellishould ideally be taken into consideration by all future producers. Mascelli'sdescriptions of camera angles and camera sizes, combined with the mediaaesthetics, as described by Zettl �?when successfully applied �?could lead to theproduction of a good quality film and images within the film.

[发布机构] North-West University