Why Study Film?

MIT OpenCourseWare
16 Mar 201603:41
EducationalLearning
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TLDRDavid Thorburn argues that studying literature and film, unlike more technical subjects, has inherent value for everyone because it enhances life. He wants MIT students to realize these studies develop transferable skills applicable beyond their majors. Thorburn admires certain artists for their imaginative genius over financially-driven entrepreneurs. He worries MIT culture overemphasizes commercial success compared to lasting achievements in arts, medicine, nursing, and teaching.

Takeaways
  • 😊 Literature and film belong to everyone, not just experts, and have value for all
  • 🧠 Understanding art and stories enriches lives
  • 👨‍🏫 Teaching literature and film helps students enjoy art intelligently
  • 🎥 Analyzing movies develops confidence and discernment
  • 😮 Great artists and doctors deserve as much admiration as entrepreneurs
  • 🎞 A film's visual style can convey moral perspectives on life
  • 🎬 Renoir's films poetically contemplate the world
  • ☮ Films like Grand Illusion promote alternative values to Wall Street
  • 💡 MIT culture overly focuses on financial success
  • 🎓 Practices like teaching and medicine deserve admiration
Q & A

  • Why does Professor Thorbun teach literature and film studies?

    -He believes these subjects have value for everyone and enrich people's lives, unlike more technical subjects that not everyone needs to study.

  • What does Professor Thorburn hope his students gain from his classes?

    -He hopes they learn to read literature and watch films with greater joy and intelligence that will last throughout their lives.

  • What does Professor Thorburn want students to be able to do after taking his film course?

    -He wants them to be able to confidently analyze and appreciate films, distinguishing high-quality artistic films from mere entertainment.

  • Whose artistic genius does Professor Thorburn most admire?

    -He most admires the genius of great filmmakers like Jean Renoir and Orson Welles, as well as writers like James Joyce.

  • What point does Professor Thorburn make by referring to the 180 degree pan in a Renoir film?

    -He uses it to demonstrate the power of a single camera movement to express a moral vision about the nature of the world.

  • What does Professor Thorburn mean by 'moral vision' regarding film style?

    -He means the values and assumptions about life embodied in aspects like camera movement, editing, etc., not simplistic judgments of right/wrong.

  • What does Professor Thorburn see as an alternative kind of success to financial or commercial success?

    -He points to the lasting success embodied in great art, medicine, nursing, teaching and other fields focused on enriching humanity.

  • Why does Professor Thorburn express unease about MIT's culture?

    -He worries there is too much focus on financial and commercial success rather than the success of making great, meaningful contributions through art, medicine, teaching, etc.

  • What classic French film does Professor Thorburn say they will watch to see poetic realism?

    -Grand Illusion, widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.

  • What other fields besides art does Professor Thorburn hold in similarly high regard to entrepreneurship?

    -Medicine and nursing for saving lives, and teaching for shaping minds and spreading knowledge.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 The universal value of studying literature and film

David Thorburn believes that studying literature and film is valuable for everyone, unlike more technical subjects like quantum mechanics. He teaches these topics because they enrich people's lives and stay with them forever, even benefiting many students who don't end up working in related fields.

🎥 Developing an appreciation for cinematic artistry

Thorburn hopes his film course gives students a greater ability to distinguish artistic achievements in film from mere entertainment, admiring gifted directors like Jean Renoir. He argues that a film's visual style can convey moral beliefs and assumptions about the world.

👨‍🏫 Esteeming arts and humanities over business success

Thorburn believes MIT overemphasizes financial and entrepreneurial success compared to careers in arts, medicine and education, which can represent equally admirable achievements. He wants students to consider creative geniuses as alternative role models.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡literature
Literature refers to works of creative writing and art, such as novels, plays, and poems. Thorburn argues that the study of literature, unlike more technical subjects, is valuable for everyone because it enhances our capacity for understanding stories, art, and the human condition. He wants his students to learn to appreciate literature so they can enjoy art and culture throughout their lives.
💡moral vision
A moral vision refers to the values, assumptions, and perspectives on right and wrong that are conveyed through a work of art. Thorburn argues that the visual style of certain films can express a moral vision, not in a moralistic or didactic way, but by showing a certain worldview through techniques like camera movement, editing, and mise-en-scene.
💡poetic realism
Poetic realism is a style of filmmaking developed in 1930s France that combined realist aesthetics with poetic imagery and latent symbolism. Thorburn admires how poetic realism directors like Jean Renoir used nuanced camerawork and editing to dwell on details in a scene, conveying their moral perspectives on the world.
💡alternative
Thorburn wants to present the arts and humanities as an alternative source of meaning and success in life besides commercial interests like Wall Street. He admires the genius and achievements of great artists as much or more than those of entrepreneurs.
💡genius
Genius refers to exceptional creative ability, talent, or intellect. Thorburn expresses admiration for the genius of filmmakers like Jean Renoir and Orson Welles in creating groundbreaking, influential works of cinematic art.
💡entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is someone who organizes and operates a new business venture, taking on financial risk in hopes of profit. While Thorburn respects entrepreneurs, he worries MIT culture is too preoccupied with commercial success compared to lasting success in arts, medicine, teaching, etc.
💡camera move
A camera move refers to the motion of the camera during filming - pans, tilts, tracking shots, etc. As an example, Thorburn analyzes a 180 degree pan in the film Boudu Saved From Drowning, showing how it poetically suggests themes of liberty and freedom.
💡commercial success
Commercial success refers to achieving profits, revenue, and financial return on investment. Thorburn critiques an overemphasis on commercial success in MIT culture, arguing lasting success in fields like arts and medicine is also hugely valuable.
💡visual style
A film's visual style refers to how it looks - the cinematography, editing, use of color, shot composition, etc. Thorburn argues certain films use their visual style to convey a moral perspective on the world around us.
💡lasting success
Lasting success refers not to temporary or financial outcomes but to meaningful, long-term cultural influence and achievement. Thorburn argues success in arts, medicine, teaching has lasting impact compared to more ephemeral commercial success.
Highlights

Literature and film belong to everyone and are valuable for all, unlike more technical subjects.

Literature and film provide life-long enjoyment and should be appreciated with intelligence.

Many MIT students don't work in their major area but still enjoy arts and entertainment.

The course aims to build confidence in analyzing films without detracting from sheer entertainment.

The course admires certain artistic achievements and talents, like those of Jean Renoir.

A single camera move can express profound meaning about moral values.

The tentative, poetic camerawork reveals a moral vision of the world.

Grand Illusion beautifully embodies key aspects of poetic realism in film.

Artistic genius deserves more admiration than business or financial success.

Great art and medicine make lasting contributions unlike temporary commercial success.

MIT culture overemphasizes financial achievement compared to other virtues.

Art, medicine, nursing and teaching represent admirable, lasting successes.

Technical study differs from humanities by belonging more narrowly versus universally.

Humanities enrich life and should be appreciated beyond college specialization.

By learning intelligently, students gain lifelong joy and wisdom from arts and culture.

Transcripts

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