This document provides an overview of practice-based research methodology and styles of film. It defines practice-based research as research that advances knowledge through the creation of an artifact, such as a video, where the artifact embodies the knowledge and words are used to describe the context. It discusses interpretive inquiry as a practical and moral research activity. Three approaches to knowledge are described: episteme (scientific), techne (practical), and phronesis (moral). The document outlines an iterative design cycle for practice-based research and discusses styles of film including realism, classicism, and formalism, providing examples of each.

1. School of Creative and Performing Arts, University of Calgary
Smartphone Movie Making
Lorene Shyba
www.loreneshyba.ca
E-mail:
lorene.shyba@gmail.com
Class #2
Methodology, Practice Based Research
The Hermeneutic Cycle and The ME in Media
Our Theoretic Approach -- Styles and Modes of Film I

2. A Definition of Practice Based Research
1. A form of research that aims to advance
knowledge and understanding partly by
means of practice.
2. Practice-based research is research
where some of the resulting knowledge
is embodied in an artefact.
3. Whilst the significance and context of
that knowledge is described in words, a
full understanding of it can only be
obtained with reference to the artefact
itself.
4. Artefacts in practice-based research can
range from paintings and buildings to
software, videos, and games.
UTS Sydney
Provided by

3. Interpretive Inquiry – A Practical and Moral Activity
Interpretivists see research as a practical
and moral activity, contiguous with
journalists, novelists, painters, poets, and
ordinary people in their day to day lives.

4. Aristotelean Approaches to Knowledge
• Episteme Scientific knowledge. Universal, invariable,
context-independent. Based on general analytical
rationality. The original concept is known today from the
terms "epistemology" and "epistemic."
• Techne. A Practical Activity. Craft art. Based on
practical instrumental activity governed by a conscious
goal. The original concept appears today in terms such as
"technique," technical," and "technology."
• Phronesis A Moral Activity. Ethics. Prudence.
Deliberation about values based on experience. Oriented
toward action. Based on practical value-rationality.
Analogous to “common sense.”

5. Build these together and seek out:
• Glimpses of Truth.
• And
• Wisdom.
• And Beauty?

6. What is Art?
• Pablo Picasso. The purpose of art is washing the
dust of daily life off our souls.
• Federico Fellini. Art is autobiographical. The pearl is
the oyster’s autobiography.
• Kathleen Foreman/Lorene Shyba. Art tunes us in to
the world around us. It helps bring meaning to
ourselves and hopefully other people.

7. Hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer
1900 –2002
“We can reach the truth only by understanding
or even mastering our experience. Experience
according to Gadamer isn’t fixed but rather
changing and always indicating new
perspectives. The most important thing is to
unfold what constitutes individual
comprehension.”
From Truth and Method, 1960

8. Our Methodology -- Interpretive Inquiry -- Iterative Design
1. Inquiry serves to broaden and deepen our understandings of
ourselves and others. Much as does “Art.”
2. Write-ups include not only one’s interpretation but also a
discussion of how and why that interpretation was arrived
at – a discussion of Process.
3. Remember you are in the middle of the discoveries and your
personal insights are vital. Keep your confidence up and
don’t be afraid of valuing intuition, imagination, and
common sense. Let go of perfection. Take some risks!
4. You are the ME in MEdia. Here our model, an “iterative
design” cycle…

9. Me!
Our Methodology -- Interpretive Inquiry an adapted Hermeneutic System

10. Styles and Modes of Cinema
And examples from the Old School
REALISM CLASSICISM FORMALISM
Documentary F I C T I O N Expressionism
Lonely Boy Boogie Doodle
Bowling for Columbine 8 ½ Fellini
NB. These are not airtight categories and often overlap.
Styles
Modes
Gone With the Wind

11. What are Characteristics of Realism?
AKA Documentary
• Realist filmmakers attempt to reproduce the surface of reality with a
minimum of distortion.
• We rarely notice the “style” in a realistic movie — concerned with
what is being shown rather than how it is being manipulated.
• Realists try to preserve the illusion that their film worlds are
objective mirrors of the actual world.
• The camera is used as a “recording mechanism” to reproduce the
surface of tangible objects with as little commentary as possible.
• It is a style that excels in making us feel the humanity of others as
beauty of film is sacrificed to capture the authentic texture of reality.

12. What About the “Classical”Style?
• Called “Classical” because of its Aristotelian narrative style
with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Classical cinema favours of a style of presentation that has a
surface believability.
• Often expensive, story oriented.
• High premium placed on entertainment value conforming to
popular genre.
• Characters often played by “stars” and audience is
encouraged to identify with their goals/values.

13. Characteristics of Formalist Cinema
• Emphasis on technique and expression moves formalism
toward the “avant garde” or total abstraction. Conveyed
by distorting the surface of the material world
• Highly subjective experience of reality
• AKA “Expressionists” – concerned with spiritual and
psychological truths
• Formalist cinema excels in dealing with ideas — political
religious, philosophical

14. Styles and Modes of Cinema
And examples from the New School
REALISM CLASSICISM FORMALISM
Documentary F I C T I O N Expressionism
FUZ V2
Tough
Crimes
NB. These are not airtight categories and often overlap.
Styles
Modes
Tangerine
+ RideshareSCPA Faculty Doco
+ Searching for Sugarman
Dolly
Diva