A Clockwork Orange - Cinematography

Essay by kalofelCollege, Undergraduate October 2004

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Note:

This is part of a "philosophy in film" class. We watched a movie in class, talked about it, then figured out how different film concepts applied to the movie. I got an A in the class, but I don't remember what I got on this paper. I am sure it was an A though.

Text:

Different camera positions in a movie can have a great effect on the way the audience interprets or feels about a movie. This is also done by the way each scene is composed and designed. In A Clockwork Orange, all these concepts help the viewers interpret whether we are who we are because we had no choice, or because we were free to make our own decisions.

One of the first thing one sees is the way the camera angles to try and involve the audience in the picture. This is seen early in the movie when the narrator explains how he abhors drunken old men.

The camera angle is set so that the audience sees the group of individuals from the old man's point of view. The purpose of this is to give the individuals in the shot a taller look and, in essence, portray them as the ones in control of the given situation. One can see that purpose is served in that scene when the group seriously beats the old man.

Ironically, the same purpose was also served in the scene when he had to restrain himself from touching the naked woman. The camera is placed to see from the protagonist's point of view. Both audience and the protagonist see the woman approaching with a look of power and control. She appears taller than her actual size. This time the protagonist had no control as he had when beating the...