Auteur theory

Theories of authorship

1. Auteur theory

2. Lesson objective To explore and discuss the concept of authorship in film studies.

3. Starter. Directed questioning What is an “ author ”? Who is the “author” of a film? Explain why? Provide one example of a film “author” (You will have to reflect on this filmmaker in later activities) Provide at least two examples of films of that “author” What makes an “author”?

4. Definition According to the Oxford dictionary, an author is “an originator of a plan or idea” What does this mean ? What does it take to be an originator ? What means originality ? What is to be original ?

5. Definition Auteur (from French, literally 'author‘) in film terms refers to a  film director who can imprint a distinctive, personal character to every film he/she makes, in terms of the ideas explored within the film and communicated to the audience.

6. Auteur analysis Auteur analysis seeks to identify the unique artistic contribution of a particular individual (usually the director) to an film.

7. The first requirement of auteur analysis is that the critic provides adequate justification for the identification of an ‘auteur.’ In pairs, discuss and answer the following question: If filmmaking is a complex industrial process that involves many different roles at different stages of the pre-production, production and post-production, who is the actual author of a film? The producer The writer The director Explain why Task 1

8. Task 2 In pairs, discuss and answer the following question: Can we actually talk of just one “author” in the production of a film? Explain your answer.

9. Task 3 In pairs, identify the characteristics that make your chosen director a film author. Answer these questions: What makes his/her films different from other directors? In what way is he original ?

10. Origin of the auteur theory In his 1954 essay "Une certaine tendance du cinéma français" (“A certain tendency in French cinema"), François Truffaut coined the phrase "la politique des Auteurs". His essay encouraged critics to look at films and to value them not just as technically correct entertainment products , but as valuable cultural and artistic products . Truffaut provocatively said that "there are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors".

11. Task 4 In pairs, discuss François Truffaut’s statement: "there are no good and bad movies, only good and bad directors". Answer these questions: Is that actually true ? What makes a good director ? What makes a bad director ? What makes a good film ? What makes a bad film ? Therefore, can a good director make a bad film ?

12. A number of other film critics in the Cahiers took up Truffaut’s cause and a number of auteur analyses of directors (especially French new-wave directors) were produced. Over time, the approach was applied to analysis of Hollywood directors (such as Truffaut on Hitchcock) Auteur theory

13. Opposition argued that “directors from studio-driven Hollywood did not qualify as ‘authors’ of the movies”. In pairs, discuss this statement. Answer this question: Why a director in studio-driven Hollywood does not qualify as an author? Auteur theory

14. Indicators of independence The auteur cannot simply be a functionary at the service of institutional and formulaic, entertainment-driven films with the only purpose of making quick money (blockbuster films), but must communicate innovative ideas , and bring a revolutionary (or at least unconventional) element to filmmaking . The critics who championed the auteur prefer the ‘magnificent failure’ of an artist to the ‘brilliant success’ of a technician .

15. Task 5 In pairs discuss and answer these questions: Is it possible today to have the sufficient degree of creative freedom within the Hollywood system as per to create author films rather than blockbuster films? Can you provide an example of a recent author film that has come out of the Hollywood system in the last 5 years ? What has been his/her contribution to filmmaking?

16. Truffaut and the critics writing in the Cahiers (notably Andre Bazin, the editor) recognized that moviemaking was an industrial process . However, they proposed an ideal to strive for: “The director should use the commercial apparatus the way a writer uses a pen and, through the mise en scène, imprint their vision on the work” Auteur theory

17. Plenary What does “ auteur ” mean? Where does this term come from? Who started to consider authorship in film production? When did this happen? Can we talk of just one author in the complex process of making a film?

18. Further reading CAUGHIE, John (ed.): Theories of authorship . Routledge /BFI. London, 1990.