This course explores performance in films and video games from artistic, historical, and cultural perspectives. It covers different performance styles including realism, classicism, and formalism. Realist performances strive for objectivity and authenticity, while classical Hollywood style prioritizes believability and entertainment. Formalist performances distort reality in subjective ways and use characters as metaphors. The document analyzes John Wayne's performances in terms of semiotics, how he embodied American cultural codes of individualism, patriotism, and racism through traits like independence, importance, and triumph over "savages."

1. Performance in Film and Videogames
Lorene Shyba MFA PhD
lorene.shyba@gmail.com | loreneshyba.ca

2. What is this course about?
This course explores
performance (acting) in
movies and videogames
from an artistic,
historical, and cultural
perspective.

3. Styles/Types of Movies
and Corresponding Performance Examples
REALISM CLASSICISM FORMALISM
Documentary F I C T I O N Expressionism
The Boy From Geita Boogie Doodle
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty Claudia Cardinale, 8 ½ Fellini
NB. These are not airtight categories and often overlap.
Styles
Corresponding
Types
John Wayne, The Searchers

4. What are Characteristics of Realist Performance?
• We rarely notice performance “technique” in a realistic (documentary)
film — “Actors” are being entirely themselves.
• Directors of realism try to preserve the illusion that their film worlds
are objective mirrors of the actual world. However, it’s not always
easy to find performers who are natural on camera.
• The camera is used as a “recording mechanism,” resulting in
(hopefully) an objective appearance, not enhanced with makeup and
imaginary costumes etc.
• It is a performance style that excels in making us feel the authentic
humanity of the performer.

5. What About the “Classical”Style?
• AKA “Hollywood” style, Hollywood performance technique
favours of a style of presentation that has a surface believability.
• Actors are often well paid – expensive but are the foundation of the
act of shaking the money tree.
• High premium is placed on entertainment value conforming to
popular genre.
• Characters often played by “stars” and audience is encouraged to
identify with their goals/values.

6. Characteristics of Formalist Performance
• Conveyed by distorting the surface of the material world so
colloquially, often “over the top.”
• Highly subjective experience of director’s reality.
• Characters are often metaphors or stereotypes.
• Art is realm of the director, rather than actor.

7. Put John Wayne into
the Pressure Cooker of
Cultural Codes for a
Semiotic Analysis of
Character and Casting.

8. John Wayne 1907 - 1979
•Birthname, Marion Morrison
•The Searchers (Ford, 1956)
Story of a Civil War veteran who
saves his niece from the
“savages.”
•Wayne won Academy award in
1969 for True Grit.

9. Semiotics, some terminology*
• Film and hence characters in film are bearer/provokers of meanings
and pleasure.
• How are meanings produced? Realities are symbols, encoded by
technology into representations, showing glimpses of ideology.
• Disclaimer: Process of making sense happens through movement up
and down through these layers in a natural unity. “Polysemy”
multiplicity of meanings has powerful affect on active viewers.
• Take some pleasure in making of meaning rather than just on the
meanings that are made. Fiske calls this called “semiotic democracy.”
* From John Fiske, Television Culture, Methuen 1987.

10. The Pressure Cooker of Cultural Codes.
The Searchers 11:15 John Wayne plays
Ethan Edwards
Alone
Tall in the Saddle
Military clothing
Tall
Calm, doesn’t jiggle
Bizarre landforms
Empty countryside
Protective of family“Native” soundtrack

11. The Pressure Cooker of Cultural Codes..
True Grit
Stagecoach
Sagebrush Trail
Treasure of the
Sierra MadreHigh camera angles. Lots of screen time.
Heroic, Important. Triumphs over“savages”
Success not dependent on others.

12. The Pressure Cooker of Cultural Codes..
Individualism.
Patriotism.
Freedom.
Loyalty.
Embodiment of American Values of
RACISM