British Social Realism – From Documentary to Brit Grit by Samantha Lay
Social Realism in the British Context
Style
Previously, what was British social realist texts associated with and what did this lead to?
British social realist texts were associated with showing a
clear preference for content over style.
Define the term ‘Kitchen sink’.
The term ‘Kitchen sink’ is an unflattering term used to
describe drab representations of working class surroundings, settings and
characters.
Social realist texts are often described as ‘gritty’, why?
The word ‘gritty’ is used in social realist texts to
describe the surface realism of the landscapes which the characters live in.
Furthermore, ‘gritty’ can refer to the way the characters and landscapes are
filmed also, it can high light the attitude and behaviour of a particular
character.
What else have British social realist texts exhibited?
British social realist texts also exhibited a tension
between a ‘sociological realism’
and ‘poetic realism’
What did the film critic Roger
Manvell, call the poetic realism of British ‘New Wave’ films and why?
Roger Manvell, called the poetic realism of British ‘New
Wave’ films “Industrial romanticism”. Consequently,
the British ‘New Wave’ films transformed the scarred industrial landscapes of
the North. Manvell, also described this transformation with romantic phrases:-
“Man against the black-blue sky, factories
against the rolling clouds”.
How and who did Humphrey Jennings influence and why?
The work of Jennings was a huge
influence on Anderson, Richardson and Reisz. Jennings’ ‘New Wave’ poetic
realism enforced a sudden tendency within the documentary movement which
established and focused on the aesthetic aspect of the texts.
How does Higson explain poetic
realism and what stylistic techniques were employed?
Higson explains that poetic realism to him is where the
visual and aural signs of surface realism meet with the moral realism. Surface
realism is a connection to life as it is lived within a certain type of
society.
The stylistic techniques that poetic realism employs, is as
follows:
- Sequences of establishing shots to emphasise a sense of place
- Wide-angled and long shots of the urban landscape. This is to convey detailed images that depict location representation and identity.
What does the British social realist tradition embrace?
The British social realist tradition embraces the tension
between sociologistic and poetic impulses. This enables film directors, such as
Ken Loach diversity to create individual and original, documentary realist
style films.
What have social realist styles and techniques given to mainstream cinema?
Social realist styles and techniques have been employed in
many different genres to create effect, within the mainstream cinema. One of the best techniques employed is hand
held camera shots.
Why do specific stylistic concerns utilise at different times, in different ways?
Specific stylistic concerns are utilised at different times
and in different ways by individual contemporary British social realist texts
past and present to allow the identification of the text in relation to the
certain styles employed to create a relationship within the genre. These certain
styles include:
Back to Contents
- Camera work
- Iconography
- Editing
- Soundtrack
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