The True Meaning of Pictures Style

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Critical Analysis The True Meaning of Pictures Art 178 By: Dereck Stevens The concept of film form centers on the idea of effectively engaging an audience. Motion pictures that properly adhere to form are abundant in sensory, emotive, and thought-provoking elements. While form in any creative medium is made up of a vast number of different components, basic understanding can be met by following five general principles: function, similarity and repetition, difference and variation, development, and unity. In addition, this formal system categorizes films' elements as either narrative or stylistic. The True Meaning of Pictures is a feature length documentary which addresses the issue of representation in documentary photography by examining the work of American photographer Shelby Lee Adams. From the get go, the title alone immediately gives the impression that the film will give a very deep and new meaning to the photographs that are implied when hearing anything about the documentary. The title sets the tone for the entire film as the audience is shown how the mountain people really are first hand behind the culture shocking photographs. The film explores the subjects of Adam’s photographs and also the relationship he has built with them all. Photographer Shelby Lee Adams takes pictures of the Appalachian people. Appalachia is a region in eastern North America that exist because of a shared history, environment and culture. This region spreads out in the mountains of 13 states. Adams career is not exactly normal as he has only worked with one community over a span of over thirty years. This feature-length documentary examines Adams’ photographs to get to know the people behind them. In popular culture these people have been made out to be inbred, psychotic, murderous and downright scary. Going behind the controversial photographs, this film gives the public a

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