While reading this week’s passages, I couldn’t help but think of a quote I once came across:

“Are we an identity with ideas and experiences conformed to it, or are we ideas and experiences formed into an identity?”

This brought me to reflect on the nature of film itself, leading me to wonder whether cinema is simply a mirror reflecting the collective ideas and experiences of humanity or if it can actually offer something fresh and transformative for viewers.

In Eisenstein’s essay, he dives into how film creates narratives in our minds through the technique of montage. By carefully selecting and arranging images, filmmakers evoke specific feelings that deepen our understanding of events. For instance, Eisenstein explains that when we watch a murder scene, it’s not just the visuals that captivate us but also how those images interact with each other, pulling us into the story. This brings me back to my original question: if all films are built on established techniques and emotional cues, are they really introducing anything new, or are they simply remixing what we’ve seen before?

Bazin argues that cinema is fundamentally about pursuing total realism. He believes that every innovation in film, through sound, color, or visual effects, aims to perfectly capture reality in a way that feels authentic. He argues that early filmmakers were motivated by a desire to show life as it is with minimal artistic interference and sees cinema as a means of presenting unfiltered experiences allowing viewers to engage with the world as it truly exists. However, if cinema is intended to reflect reality, can it ever genuinely create something original or does it simply repackage existing ideas in a fresh way?

I believe that even if a film relies on familiar concepts, it can still feel new and exciting if it’s presented in a unique way. The real value of film may not just lie in its originality but in how it resonates with us through shared emotions and experiences; and, if a film connects with us, even if it draws on existing ideas, can’t it still be seen as a brand-new experience?