The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema

This paper examines the meaning potential of directed forces or vectors in cinema. The first part draws on the pioneering work of Rudolf Arnheim to highlight the prominent role of vectors in the visual structuring of meaning in paintings. In the second part, we move on to explore the semantic signi...

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Main Author: Maarten Coëgnarts
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2022-06-01
Series:Cinéma & Cie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/cinemaetcie/article/view/16785
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author Maarten Coëgnarts
author_facet Maarten Coëgnarts
author_sort Maarten Coëgnarts
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description This paper examines the meaning potential of directed forces or vectors in cinema. The first part draws on the pioneering work of Rudolf Arnheim to highlight the prominent role of vectors in the visual structuring of meaning in paintings. In the second part, we move on to explore the semantic significance of motion vectors in cinema. To this aim we first define and diagram the filmic space in which vectors may articulate themselves visually. Having firmly grounded this spatial framework in film theory, we adopt the terminology of Herbert Zettl to further distinguish between three types of motion vectors: primary motion vectors (elicited by motion of visual objects), secondary motion vectors (elicited by camera movement) and tertiary motion vectors (elicited by editing). We conclude this paper by applying the proposed conceptual tools of this paper to three filmic case-studies in which the relation between narrative meaning and motion vectors is further discussed and illustrated.
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spelling doaj.art-5d12a8c7cd33497c90cb341a82b65ac62023-03-29T15:14:42ZengMilano University PressCinéma & Cie2036-461X2022-06-01223810.54103/2036-461X/16785The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in CinemaMaarten Coëgnarts0University of Antwerp This paper examines the meaning potential of directed forces or vectors in cinema. The first part draws on the pioneering work of Rudolf Arnheim to highlight the prominent role of vectors in the visual structuring of meaning in paintings. In the second part, we move on to explore the semantic significance of motion vectors in cinema. To this aim we first define and diagram the filmic space in which vectors may articulate themselves visually. Having firmly grounded this spatial framework in film theory, we adopt the terminology of Herbert Zettl to further distinguish between three types of motion vectors: primary motion vectors (elicited by motion of visual objects), secondary motion vectors (elicited by camera movement) and tertiary motion vectors (elicited by editing). We conclude this paper by applying the proposed conceptual tools of this paper to three filmic case-studies in which the relation between narrative meaning and motion vectors is further discussed and illustrated. https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/cinemaetcie/article/view/16785Camera movementEditingEmbodied cognitionFilm styleForcesVectors
spellingShingle Maarten Coëgnarts
The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
Cinéma & Cie
Camera movement
Editing
Embodied cognition
Film style
Forces
Vectors
title The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
title_full The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
title_fullStr The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
title_full_unstemmed The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
title_short The Meaning Potential of Motion Vectors in Cinema
title_sort meaning potential of motion vectors in cinema
topic Camera movement
Editing
Embodied cognition
Film style
Forces
Vectors
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/cinemaetcie/article/view/16785
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