Final

Art is life and life is art. What people connect with and what artists strive for is this idea of capturing the human experience. Film is often underrated. People judge it not as a art, but solely as a form of entertainment. What is interesting about the medium of film is the way it captures life. Using mimesis, a film has the ability to capture humanity in an outlet that allows for mass distribution leading to a hope of societal change because of it. Through this "imitation of the real world", the line between what is fact and what is fiction blurs as the viewer connects with the experience and can release their emotion (catharsis) because of it. As Kenneth Lonergan, film maker, states, "Filmmaking, like any other art, is a very profound means of human connection," the goal being "to communicate itself to other people". In a world where communication defines the age, people are suprisingly disconnected. Film allows people to feel less alone. Within Almost Famous, American Beauty, and Amelie, film techniques are utilized to understand the role film plays in portraying memesis and catharsis to emphasis the importance of looking closer into a person's own life in order to find authenticity, self identity, and leading to the viewer's own connection.

Within Almost Famous, William finds self identity in discovering passion and authenticity through living in the "uncool" adding to the idea of mimeses and catharsis in film. At the end of the film, William finds meaning and is finally able to interview Russell with the courage of a journalist who is not afraid to live outside of the norm. In William's room, the medium cinematic shot of William's face cuts to a long shot of the two finally facing each other man to man. William is no longer intimidated by the people around him, but instead, willing to face Russell as his true self. When William asks Russell, "What does music mean to you?" the camera zooms into his face blending with the uplifiting background music cutting to a view of the dominant of the tour bus moving down the road. The ending shots of film is often when the viewer will receive their truest form of catharsis because it serves as the pay off in character evoltuion. Everyone has felt sometime in their life like they don't belong. Whether that means being alone or feeling alone in crowd full of people, feeling "uncool" can lead people to conform into something they are not . William struggles with being an outsider the whole film until speaking with Lester causing him to realize how cool it is to be "uncool". The viewer connects with William, but also leaves the theater wanting to find a truer form of self. True beauty is finding a passion and delving into it without the perceptions of others conforming a person to something they are not. The subsidiary contrast of the sunlight streaming across the frame with the parallel edited bus is used as a lyrical movement in defining the evolution of William's character to finding beauty in his own self identity. What Cameron Crowe does so well is capture the emotional tone of the characters and the scene through music. The thematic montage flashes forward to events (like William's Rolling Stones cover) catalyzed by William's new self identity without using anything but music. This use of silence allows the emotional appeal of music to come through as the audience connects to William as an outcast and, hopefully, feels a need to change their own way of life because of it.
As Lester Bangs says in the film, " Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love... and let's face it, you got a big head start". Within this scene, a close up of Lester cuts to William's reactionary shots and shows how this conversation resonates with him. It doesn't matter if William is "cool" as defined by others. If he loves art and wants to peruse it, it can be found in experiencing life the way a person wants to live it themselves. This statement by Lester is mimesis itself. It is the idea that William's life and journey to finding self could be another person's as well. As such, the film serves as an artful form of medicine to be taken in order to live a more authentic life. Within Almost Famous, memesis and catharsis are used to make a statement on the importance of finding passion and living authentic lives.

Within American Beauty, Lester takes a journey to self discovery through breaking free of self imprisonment and becoming a more authentic form of self adding to the idea of catharsis and mimesis in film. A monologue begins immediately after Lester is shot swiftly panning from left to right as the filter of the screen changes from color to black and white to represent a flashback versus present time. This left to right movement suggests an organic form of evolution for Lester's character as death sets him free. Starting from the dominant of the black and white picture within Lester's hands, he realizes the importance of embracing the little things in his life like family and human connection. Although people may have not experienced the exact circumstances as Lester, they can see how the search for society's defined perfection can lead to a "rotted" or "ugly" person. Just like the American Rose, something perceived as beautiful can be rotted at the core. Beauty is in human relationships not in striving to become a person others think is beautiful. There is no self identity in conforming to society's definition of beauty. Although Lester has this epiphany right before his death, the viewer can have catharsis in knowing they don't have to. A long aerial black and white filtered flashback shows Lester lying on his lawn as a kid enjoying the little things of his life. Re-establishing shots with the synchronous sound of the gun shot flash back to present day reactions of the characters realizing Lester's death. Again, the camera pans to an extreme close up of Lester's grandmother's hands, Janie in a fairy halloween costume, and Caroline laughing. It's the simple things that are beautiful and upon looking closer into his life, Lester realizes the "beauty"he was striving for was nothing but rotted at the core. These flashback moments are moments of resonance all people have experienced at some point in their lives. They are the simple moments of beauty that outsiders normally pass over, but leave the most meaning in a person's own life. Through connecting with these experiences, the viewer can have catharsis in knowing their life can be filled with these beautiful moments by finding authenticity. The final scene of the film is an aerial zooming out shot of suburbia as Lester states, "It's hard to stay mad

when there is so much beauty in the world." It's ironic that the dialogue and this shot would be associated with each other, since beauty and suburbia have just been contradicted. That being said, suburbia is a common life for people and it resonates as something similar for a wide audience. As such, the film is saying that although a statement is made on looking closer from these preconceived notions of suburbia, true beauty can still be found in authenticity (allowing catharsis for the viewer). American Beauty uses catharsis and mimesis to track Lester's journey into self discovery by living life authentically.

Within Amelie, the character evolution to self confidence comes from Amelie learning to love herself leading to a more authentic life adding to the mimeses and catharsis of the film. Within the cafe where Amelie works, Nino recognizes Amelie for the first time. In a high angle shot cutting to continuity from Nino's medium shot recognition of Amelie and her own nervous nature demonstrates how Amelie has not yet found her own identity. Although Amelie sees so much beauty in the world, which can be seen through the warm colors of the film and the background filled with representations of life, she still doesn't have the self confidence to find love as she hides behind the glass barrier creating depth. In her interior monologue, Amelie recognizes the beauty of Nino as an extreme close up, high angle, slow motion shot of Nino coming to recognize Amelie's identity in the picture is shown. The motion in the close tightly framed shot of Nino touching his finger to the sugar shows Amelie's recognition of the simple aspects of life bringing the most joy. Despite this, she is not able to find the self confidence she needs to find happiness in loving herself and therefore, loving another person as well. The viewer can connect with Amelie, in terms of mimeses, due to all people having moments lacking in self confidence. On a person's journey to self identity, there will always be moments of doubt and worry impeding with a person's own personal happiness. The viewer connection makes the film more meaningful as realism always leaves resonance. As the fast motion of Amelie walking away creates depth away from Nino, a formalist shot of Amelie turning into water and the sound affect of water crashing to the ground is shown. Again, Amelie is trapped in these tightly framed shots due to the battle to self confidence that prevents her from finding love. Another possible form of mimesis could be the journey to finding love. Love, in all its forms, is exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time. A love story is a critical part of many people's lives. Making a statement on the importance of a person loving themselves first before loving another person is key to societal change. In the final shot of the film, tracking shaky camera movements follow Amelie as she rides with Nino on the scooter. The kinetic symbolism of the fast motion allows the audience to experience the beauty of life just the way Amelie sees it. Jump cuts to Amelie and Nino laughing or closing their eyes to enjoy the beauty of the moment captures life and love in its purest forms. This is when the viewer

experiences catharsis because they can see Amelie's happiness in her control and self confidence. The scenes are still filled with the simple moments of beauty which Amelie loved from the beginning, but now Amelie has embraced her own life, instead of only looking onto others. The viewer can have catharsis in realizing the importance of living life to the fullest and not letting insecurities disrupt a person's journey to happiness. Through experiencing life through Amelie's eyes, the viewer can see what comes from seeing beauty in the simple things leading to finding the self confidence to love. Hopefully, the viewer will feel a release of emotion in wanting to change their lives for the better, just like Amelie. Within Amelie, catharsis and mimeses in the film make a statement to the viewer about finding self confidence and authenticity on a person's journey to love.

Within each film, the character's journey to self identity and authenticity allow mimesis and catharsis for the viewer. What makes art so beautiful is its ability to make people feel. In life, humans may feel alone in their experiences, but art allows them to have catharsis in realizing they are not so alone. Within Almost Famous, William finds passion and identity in living authentically. The audience can connect to being the outcast and seeing the importance of not letting others define what is "cool". In addition, Amelie's journey to self confidence (through seeing not only the beauty in others lives, but also the beauty in herself) allows a further catharsis for the viewer in their journey to understanding the importance of living authentically. The human search to self discovery is universal. If in that search art can make people feel less alone, it should be embraced as something beautiful worth exploring.

American Beauty

Within American Beauty, sound techniques are utilized to create a statement on the power of perception in creating a false reality due to character's who repress their true selves and fail to live authentic lives. Lester was living in a prison that he created himself. He failed to see the beauty of his own life and the importance of valuing the relationships around him. In a medium tightly framed shot, Lester is trapped by the Colonel's gun, yet it is the one moment when he realizes what beauty truly is (authentic relationships). Lester only finds relief and truth in death which serves as a satirical statement on what happens to those who choose superficiality over authenticity (the life others expect a person to live, versus how a person wants to live their own life). The non-synchronous sound of the unseen rain creates a feeling of release or renewed life for Lester. Through using silence, added emphasis is put on establishing tone and sound (or lack thereof) symbolism. The camera pans from the profile of Lester's face, to the family picture in his hand, and then to the white wall splattered with blood emphasizing the transitional epiphany of his character. By having a lack of sound in the scene, except for the off screen sound of the gun shot, more significance is put on the meaning of Lester's death versus the action of violence itself. As Adam Norman, film critic, states, "By the end of the film, most of the characters get a taste of their dreams and discover the underlying emptiness of their lives. Looking closer, they see the decay that has replaced genuine beauty and meaning." Lester's realizes this in his inner monologue that focuses on the aspects of his life which he took for granted including lying on his back at Boy Scout Camp, yellow leaves from the maple leaves on his childhood street, Janie, and Caroline. A nostalgic background music focuses on Lester's realization of  how the beauty of his life was replaced by ugliness (dreams of being with Angela, unstable marriage, no connection with Janie). Lester is one of the only characters to realize the

importance of living authentically and not to feel pressured into morphing into the perceived perfection of suburban society because just like the American rose, those perceptions are rotted at the core. American Beauty utilizes sound techniques within this scene to make a statement on the power of  perceptions in creating a false reality of true self causing a sacrifice of authenticity.

Within American Beauty, sound techniques are utilized to create a statement on the importance of looking closer at the beautiful things humans spend their lives yearning for because often times, they are not what they seem. In terms of the satirical complex of suburban society, a world perceived as perfect is often not, when a person takes the time to look closer. This is shown through the use of color throughout the movie. Through using red, white, and blue a commentary is made on the faults of the American Dream and how reaching the goal is not always what it seems to be. Within just this scene, color is used to heighten the intensity of the broken family living within a home of perfection. Sound is focused on the dialogue of the conversation as it rises in intensity and chaos. Background music of Frank Sinatra's Call Me Irresponsible is ironic in the lyrics perfect exemplifier of the scene. Lester is calling Caroline out for her faults and is acting "irresponsible" and taunting her with it. The emotional appeal of an up-beat song adds to this idea of needing to keep up appearances even when their world is falling apart around them. David L. Smith's, film student, brings up the question, "If freedom does not consist in doing what one wants, then what is it?" A critical question of the film in light of Lester's childish behavior in this scene, sound creates fluidity behind it. Using silence as a mechanism of tension, the dialogue stops and the background music's lyrics appear to almost rise in their volume. Lester and Caroline's crazy behavior has reached its climax in the synchronous sound of the breaking of the plate against the wall. In that moment, the perfect perception of the world which the American Dream sets up families to desire is shattered. The mise en scene or balance of the scene creates a feeling of order within a family that is anything but organized. American Beauty uses sound techniques to emphasize the meaning of looking closer on the ideals of a person's life because they are often not what they seem. 

Works Cited

"Journal of Religion and Film:  Rosetta Stone: A Consideration of the Dardenne Brothers' Rosetta by Bert Cardullo." Journal of Religion and Film:  Rosetta Stone: A Consideration of the Dardenne Brothers' Rosetta by Bert Cardullo. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/am.beauty.htm>.

"Looking Closer at "American Beauty"" Aishcom. Web. 15 Dec. 2014. <http://www.aish.com/ci/a/48929712.html>.

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Almost Famous

Within this scene of Almost Famous, music is utilized to anchor the otherwise silent characters to the emotion of the scene. Cameron Crowe understands the emotional appeal of music and that sometimes the human experience can be more effectively captured not solely by images, but through sound. What is so beautiful about the medium head shots of each character's hostility evolving with the panning of the camera into a bond over their passion of music comes from the establishing tone of  Elton John's "Tiny Dancer". Music tracks the band's emotions as they change with the lyrics of the song with each character realizing the beauty of pursing a mutual passion. What could be solely a melancholy scene of important plot evolution transforms into, as Cameron Crowe stated in his Oscar acceptance speech, "a love letter to music". Emotional appeal to music is universal. Lyrics resonate with memories and often become the feeling of the moment itself. Using "Tiny Dancer" to establish a lighter tone to the scene creates an emotional appeal to the audience by connecting with their own memories of the song and resonating with the common experience of exploring a passion. As Lester Bangs states, "the main reason we listen to music in the first place is to hear passion expressed." Passion is a function of music  and is unitized to portray the power

music has on people's lives. Russell was ready to quit the band and his bandmates were prepared for the split. Yet the power of music is used as a subtext to the whole film motivating the characters to move forward. Utilizing the lyrics of music as a subtext serves as a technique to create a greater sense of the symbolism of sound. What appears to only be a song has so much more meaning in its dramatic context of silence. As Cameron Crowe states, "Music is usually more profound than anything the actors may be saying." The fluidity of connecting images with music creates a plot line in itself with no dialogue needed to connect it. Music is utilized within this scene of Almost Famous to demonstrate the emotion of the scene.



Within this scene of Almost Famous, lack of sound and music are utilized to portray Penny's emotions in the scene. As William is trying to caution Penny of Russell's true feelings towards her, there is little background noise and only synchronous sound of the rustling of leaves and wind. By creating a silence around them the scene focuses on the dialogue. The sounds that are included are all very natural suggesting this evolution and realization of Russell selling Penny to Humble Pie is essential for her character. It also creates a conversation that is very real. The medium jump cuts of the dialogue shots and realistic background noise establishes the audience's pity towards Penny's character as she realizes her own self denial concerning Russell. When her realization hits, a soft background music creates the establishing tone moving forward. The music begins very soft and somber as Penny lets herself feel, but quickly raises in volume and switches to a uplifting tone. Penny's joke is used as a coping mechanism and the music of the scene portrays her

own mentality of moving on. Music moves the characters forward in every scene. As Cameron Crowe states in an article on his website, "Music was always the baseline passion of the groups I covered." Crowe's utlization of music as a force of emotion in each scene almost creates it as a character itself. Whether it be background music or silence, symbolic sound is prevalent in each shot of the film. Almost Famous utilizes sound to more accurately portray Penny's emotions in this scene.

Works Cited

"The Quotable Lester Bangs: Mantra for the Uncool and Other Thoughts." Theboxcutters. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://theboxcutters.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/the-quotable-lester-bangs-mantra-for-the-uncool-and-other-thoughts/>.

"The Uncool - The Official Site for Everything Cameron Crowe." The Uncool - The Official Site for Everything Cameron Crowe. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.theuncool.com/>.

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