There is one crucial film maker, who I have failed to look at and focus on in the past. His name is Alfred Hitchcock. Due to my limited knowledge of this famous film maker and documentarian, I inquired the help of an individual to help restore knowledge of him.
Dr. Paul Tiessen, a Professor of the Department of English and Film Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, Ontario campus enlightened me on the works and primary controversies and affects of Alfred Hitchcock.
I initiated the conversation by asking Dr. Tiessen if he could enlighten me on whether or not he feels that Hitchcock's work was controversial at some point.
He responded, "Hitchcock made films from the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s -- first mainly in England (where he was born in 1899) and then, after 1939, in the United States -- and much of his work was fairly controversial. With his 1960 American film, Psycho, in particular, he shot into the foreground as a controversial director. It made ordinary things, not only those drawn from the American way of life, but also movie-going itself, seem something other than what people had come to expect. It made movie-going seem more openly dangerous, more openly illicit, than what it had been".
On that note, do you believe in your opinion that Hitchcock's films had any effect on his audience, for example Americans, Canadians or the world at large?
Dr. Tiessen added that, "With Psycho, and also later films like The Birds, Hitchcock's work changed the way people in North America in particular came to understand movies, and opened up new doors for the horror film, for example".
Additionally, do you feel that his work contributed to the many different and unique films that we see in the contemporary film world?
"Hitchcock increased the emphasis on what any given director could produce as an "auteur" or "author," and helped to intensify society's interest in the work and vision of any given filmmaker throughout the course of his or her filmmaking career".
What is your overall take on documentaries, particularly controversial films like Fahrenheit 9/11? Do you think they are essential in terms of bringing awareness to compelling issues in today’s society? Or do you think they can be damaging and manipulate society into believing things that could or not be accurate?
"The documentary tradition goes back to the 1920s and even earlier, and reserved for itself a place outside the movie mainstream. However, in recent years, the documentary -- through filmmakers like Michael Moore -- has moved closer to mainstream methods of distribution and exhibition. Certainly documentaries, like any film, can manipulate viewers; hence documentary filmmakers, as well as film critics and viewers, have to be alert to their responsibility to speak honestly and critically and intelligently to each other".
Lastly, what is your overall opinion on Hitchcock's films, and why? "Hitchcock's films are, generally, enormously interesting, not simply because they are often so entertaining, but also because they make the moviegoer aware of her or his role as moviegoer -- for example, as voyeur -- and the kinds of responsibilities that go along with that"(Dr. Paul Tiessen).
-C.M.L
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton, a celebrity famous for his blogging and gossip-reporting on Hollywood’s best. This website has it all, almost like a library of topics a blogger such as myself could use to talk about. Perez Hilton’s website is home to blogs, reviews, interviews, videos and of course most famous for its pictures.
This also is a perfect place to just sit down, scroll and have a laugh at all the things celebrities are doing everyday to get the attention of the media, even if they do not want to be documented or published in a magazine, in Perez’s case, posted on the web for the world to see.
Although a well-known limitation for this website , is its label as a gossip column, where the information published and broadcasted could be inaccurate. Ultimately, the information’s legitimacy is a toss-up. On that note, this factor of Perez Hilton’s website establishes it as itself being controversial, especially if things published and broadcasted are crucial to the reputations of some of the Hollywood victims.
But don’t let that stop you from blogging!
-C.M.L
This also is a perfect place to just sit down, scroll and have a laugh at all the things celebrities are doing everyday to get the attention of the media, even if they do not want to be documented or published in a magazine, in Perez’s case, posted on the web for the world to see.
Although a well-known limitation for this website , is its label as a gossip column, where the information published and broadcasted could be inaccurate. Ultimately, the information’s legitimacy is a toss-up. On that note, this factor of Perez Hilton’s website establishes it as itself being controversial, especially if things published and broadcasted are crucial to the reputations of some of the Hollywood victims.
But don’t let that stop you from blogging!
-C.M.L
Film Threats Blog
This website is essentially "the truth of entertainment". This is a wide- variety website that deals with movies. It covers, new headlines published by the media on new and interesting films and documentaries. Also, it is home to movie reviews published by these films, interviews with big Hollywood stars and documentarians. Film Threats, is also structured on the basis of its blogs.
The blogs that are published on this website are about new big Hollywood films that are currently cashing in loads of money at the box office. Moreover, this website also is a key source for movie-goers to check out the ratings of films they want to see in theatres.
If you are thinking of seeing a movie in theatres this month, definitely check out this website. Film Threat currently published posts on The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Fourth Kind, and one of the most controversial films of 2009 The Anti-Christ, which came out in late July.
-C.M.L
The blogs that are published on this website are about new big Hollywood films that are currently cashing in loads of money at the box office. Moreover, this website also is a key source for movie-goers to check out the ratings of films they want to see in theatres.
If you are thinking of seeing a movie in theatres this month, definitely check out this website. Film Threat currently published posts on The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Fourth Kind, and one of the most controversial films of 2009 The Anti-Christ, which came out in late July.
-C.M.L
YouTube
YouTube, is an example of new media and a new advancement in participatory culture.
In terms of hollywood films and documentary controversies that exist in media culture, it is a prime advantage. YouTube is a great accessory to help find videos that are exist and are openly alive on the web. Most of these webs for the most part, will not be published and broadcasted on live television, except for the brief example of MTV.
Moreover, YouTube not only has current videos, but also it has past videos going all the way back to the beginning of television, and even further. Although like alot of media, YouTube has a great limitation in terms of legibility. Due to the wide variety of participatory culture, that is the consumers of YouTube being producers, by producing their own videos and posting them on the website. With this, the concept of fact or fiction plays a huge role in determining whether or not YouTube contributes to the controversy and gossip, or if it destroys the gossip.
In final, are you the tube?
-C.M.L
In terms of hollywood films and documentary controversies that exist in media culture, it is a prime advantage. YouTube is a great accessory to help find videos that are exist and are openly alive on the web. Most of these webs for the most part, will not be published and broadcasted on live television, except for the brief example of MTV.
Moreover, YouTube not only has current videos, but also it has past videos going all the way back to the beginning of television, and even further. Although like alot of media, YouTube has a great limitation in terms of legibility. Due to the wide variety of participatory culture, that is the consumers of YouTube being producers, by producing their own videos and posting them on the website. With this, the concept of fact or fiction plays a huge role in determining whether or not YouTube contributes to the controversy and gossip, or if it destroys the gossip.
In final, are you the tube?
-C.M.L
Michael Moore
This website is the official website of America’s leading man of controversy. His documentaries focus on the leading issues in America and he has over a dozen films. His most recent documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story.” This documentary deals with the catastrophic consequences of corporate supremacy on Americans, and the rest of the world.
Moore’s throne of controversy is rewarded to him after the release of Fahrenheit 9/11 shortly following the devastating tragedy of September 11, 2001 in the United States. This documentary followed the mistakes made with the Bush party prior and following that day. Fahrenheit 9/11 caused a lot of uneasiness in America, but at the same time it opened many eyes, and also is said to be a contributing factor to the election of new and current President Barrack Obama.
Overall, I feel that Moore’s work is enlightening; he is a strong individual who genuinely represents the idea of individual freedom, and freedom of speech. Even though he usually is not well liked by some, in his eyes it is not about being liked or appreciated, it is about the truth being known to the public.
-C.M.L
Moore’s throne of controversy is rewarded to him after the release of Fahrenheit 9/11 shortly following the devastating tragedy of September 11, 2001 in the United States. This documentary followed the mistakes made with the Bush party prior and following that day. Fahrenheit 9/11 caused a lot of uneasiness in America, but at the same time it opened many eyes, and also is said to be a contributing factor to the election of new and current President Barrack Obama.
Overall, I feel that Moore’s work is enlightening; he is a strong individual who genuinely represents the idea of individual freedom, and freedom of speech. Even though he usually is not well liked by some, in his eyes it is not about being liked or appreciated, it is about the truth being known to the public.
-C.M.L
VIDEO CULTURE
Video Culture is a website similar to mine. It is a blog that deals with past, present and upcoming films that have risen a lot of controversy. Video Culture doesn't just focus its research on documentary style films, but mainly focuses on big time Hollywood movies. This particular blog is where I got some of my ideas from. Even though I have not written about most of them, it sure spiked my interest and made me watch them. Video Culture also focuses on controversial documentaries/ ‘mokumentaries’; and of course normal films that are not a part of mainstream films like those presented in Hollywood.
So if controversial films float your boat check out this website, it sure will open your eyes to new types of films covering many different and interesting topics and issues that exist in many societies around the world.
-C.M.L
So if controversial films float your boat check out this website, it sure will open your eyes to new types of films covering many different and interesting topics and issues that exist in many societies around the world.
-C.M.L
MTV MOVIE BLOG
MTV is an important and easy way to find out the latest gossip with entertainment, whether being in the film industry, music industry, or all of the media industry. Similarly, to Perez Hilton, this website is a fast way to know if all the gossip everyone is talking about is true.
The MTV Movie Blog, not only confirms if the latest celebrity or movie gossip is true or not, but it also incorporates professional opinions to make their work legible and accurate. Legibility is an essential key in journalism, and this website, and TV network is a great example of it. Especially, as MTV is a fresh type of new media journalism that is progressively becoming more and more popular in today's society.
-C.M.L
The MTV Movie Blog, not only confirms if the latest celebrity or movie gossip is true or not, but it also incorporates professional opinions to make their work legible and accurate. Legibility is an essential key in journalism, and this website, and TV network is a great example of it. Especially, as MTV is a fresh type of new media journalism that is progressively becoming more and more popular in today's society.
-C.M.L
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