Season 4, April 2023, "Funky Friday at Five" Part 2 of our 1970s Movies Series: The Art of Editing"

In this 2nd part of our ongoing series exploring the beauty and pathos of 1970's films, with your host Mitch Hampton! More on this series, here: In this, the second part of a 70s movie series, I will explore the most unusual editing style of 70s cinema. Many people think that 70s movies are unique for their slowness or long takes and the enormous attention paid to the actors on screen and, while all this is true, the uniqueness of 70s movies is that they use long takes in combination with very short, abrupt and jagged editing - often purposefully in violation of classical editing practice and without the usual preparations to prepare audiences for scene transitions. It is all these working together that give the films their visual and narrative style. One of the effects of this stylistic strategy is to create overall mystery in the films and an uncertainty in the viewer - qualities of mind that are actually closer to our daily lives, including our interior thoughts and feelings, than we often are often ready to admit. In psychological jargon, 70s movies are opposed to "closure". And unlike in films after the 1980s. the goal is not to show associational connection between one image and the next as in montage, nor to establish rhythm, but conversely, to create a cubistic and pluralistic vision of reality. Editors and films discussed will include Dede Allen, Suzanne Pettit and films like Night Moves, Girlfriends, Klute, some to be announced, and those of Nicholas Roeg. #films #Cinema #aesthetics #funkyfridayatfive