Research into the Media Language

The Auteur Theory- n the 1950s, the French magazine Cahiers du Cinema instigated a new way of 'reading' movies, which then became know as the Auteur Theory. It basically stated that the film was a work of art; just like a novel or painting, it was essentially the product of an individual's imagination.

Cinema Verite- a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camera work, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.

Avant-Garde Film- "Avant-garde" is a word from the French, meaning "ahead of the crowd." In contemporary English, we'd say it's on the "cutting edge." Avant-garde film makers want to experiment with new ideas, forms, techniques, and expressions--and are often said to be "ahead of their times." Avant-garde films are characterized by a high degree of experimentation--whether it be in manipulation in narrative materials, in highly stylized visual representation, or in radical departures from the norms or conventions current at the time, avant-garde film is always a vehicle for the filmmaker’s expression.

Film Noir- a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s.

The French New Wave- The New Wave was a blanket term coined by critics for a group of French film makers of the late 1950s and 1960s, influenced by Italian Neorealism and classical Hollywood cinema.