David Bordwell – Classical Hollywood Cinemas: Narrational Principles and Procedures

In the Bordwell reading Classical Hollywood Cinema: Narrational Principles and
Procedures he focuses on the structure of classical Hollywood cinema and the
way it is represented to form normalized options for representing the fabula (plot) and
syuzhet (story) and how this dictated classic Hollywood style. In Classical Hollywood Cinema, representation, structure and act are the 3 types of narration that reveal deeper levels
meaning. Films are structured by the basic storyline (Canonic story) and the
Syuzhet Pattern. Hollywood narration generally has two plots and is separated
by unity of time, space and action.
Main themes and ideas present in Classical Hollywood Film:

• Psychologically defined individuals who struggle to solve a clear cut problem or to attain specific goals
• Characters enter into conflict with each other or with external circumstances
• The end of every story is either a decisive victory or defeat, a resolution or an achievement

These sequences are marked by stylistic features such as the fade, wipe-out, or a sound bridge. The camera is use to manipulate the narrative structure through the body language of the characters,
the editing, and the mise-en-scene. The classical style of this cinema is to
motivate style compositionally, encourage the spectators to construct a
coherent consistent of time and space of the fabula action and to limit the
number of particular technical devises.  These structural principles of
Hollywood cinema are presented to an audience which is consciously aware of the
canonic storyline and knows what to expect from the fabula and syuzhet. The
audience develops their own hypothesis about the film based on their previous
knowledge and unresolved issues focus the spectators view to the following
sequences. Quick information and repetition keeps attention of the issue/plot
in the moment. Furthermore Classic Hollywood cinema is structured in a way that
stories can be told through the representation and manipulation of stylistic
elements.

questions

1. Based on the readings/ presentation what are some of the main characteristic
that identify classical Hollywood Cinema.

2.How did these characteristics of classical Hollywood cinema influence other
cinema? and why does Bordwell say that classicism cannot be identified with
Hollywood cinema?