City symphony
City symphonies emerged in the 1920s, a unique genre of film emerged encompassing documentary, experimental, and the avant-garde.[1] Coming to prominence alongside post-modernist art movements such as futurism, constructivism, and radicalism, city symphonies reflect the historical development of city centers and technological hubs of advancement. As the art of cinema became more respected and auteurist, filmmakers such as Walter Ruttman and Dziga Vertov gravitated towards works highlighting the beauty of cities, aiming to capture scenes of modern life from their narrative points of views.[1]
Emergence[edit]
The term city "symphony" suggests a musically inclined editing pace and harmonious imagery to support the ____. Many city symphony filmmakers shot their films with an artistically inclined eye, aiming to show urban hubs with aestheticism and beauty rather than as a travel log.[2] Cities across the world such as Manhattan, Berlin, and Milan were filmed in admiration with positive images of their hardworking people and impressive industrial feats. Rather than have characters, dialogue, or narrative, the city itself was the star of these films.[2]
Made in the 1920s up until the 1930s, city symphony films were before the era of sound cinema, however images were supported by orchestral accompaniments.
City symphonies are usually associated with the rise in art film as well as contemporaneous trends in art and photography movements like modernism.[1]
Notable works[edit]
Below are some popular city symphony works, not all-encompassing.
- "Berlin: Symphony of a Great City" (1927) - By Walter Rottmann, a silent documentary capturing the rhythm and vitality of everyday life in 1920s Berlin.
- "Man with a Movie Camera" (1929) - A pioneering experimental film by Dziga Vertov, showcasing urban life in various Soviet cities through innovative cinematic techniques.
- "Manhatta" (1922) - Directed by Paul Strand, a picturesque experimental film showcasing the vast infrastructure and ingenuity of one of New York's most industrial and advanced cities of the time.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Weinberg, Herman (2018-07-20), "A City Symphony", The City Symphony Phenomenon, Routledge, pp. 271–271, retrieved 2024-02-24
- ^ a b "Where to begin with city symphonies". BFI. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
Bibliography[edit]
- Hutchinson, Pamela. 2017. Where to begin with City Symphonies [1]
- Jon Gartenberg. “NY, NY: A Century of City Symphony Films.” Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media, vol. 55, no. 2, 2014, pp. 248–76. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.13110/framework.55.2.0248. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.[2]
- Webb, Michael. “The City in Film.” Design Quarterly, no. 136, 1987, pp. 1–32. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/4091166. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.[3]
- Weinberg, Herman (2018-07-20), "A City Symphony", The City Symphony Phenomenon, Routledge, pp. 271–271, retrieved 2024-02-24[4]
- ^ "Where to begin with city symphonies". BFI. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ Gartenberg, Jon (2014). "NY, NY: A Century of City Symphony Films". Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media. 55 (2): 248–276. doi:10.13110/framework.55.2.0248. ISSN 0306-7661.
- ^ Webb, Michael (1987). "The City in Film". Design Quarterly (136): 1–32. doi:10.2307/4091166. ISSN 0011-9415.
- ^ Weinberg, Herman (2018-07-20), "A City Symphony", The City Symphony Phenomenon, Routledge, pp. 271–271, retrieved 2024-02-24