Eisenstein, S 1988, “The Dramaturgy of Film Form (The Dialectical Approach to Film Form)” in Taylor, R (ed.), The Eisenstein Reader, London: BF, pp. 93-110.

In this writing, Eisenstein reveals the ideas and principles which his works are based upon. He begins with verses of philosophy, art, conflict, nature, and industrialisation pointing to his constructivist values. This is followed by in depth discussion of montage and what he believes true montage is. Rejecting Kuleshov’s ideas of building meaning from shots, and blending shots, he looked to “conflicts” or “counterpoints” as the stimulants to provoke spectators’ engagement and response. Aggression, juxtaposition, shock, are argued to be the factors which stimulate spectators to form associations from the moving images and therefore have an emotional response to the montage.

Once again, Eisenstein’s writing proves difficult to comprehend and further reading must be done. In this reading however, it appears to divulge ideas rather definitions which provides more leeway for interpretation.

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