Abstract
Rather than duplicating a transhistorical notion of "perceptual realism" based on the phenomenal world, contemporary digital imaging imitates the look of photography - specifically, the look of 1970s cinematography. This is largely due to the historical dominance of one special effects company, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), which developed a photorealistic special effects aesthetic to match the live action photography of the originaol Star Wars trilogy. Over time, that particular aesthetic hardened into a powerfully convincing house style. Given the prominence of ILM in the film industry, denaturalizing the ILM aesthetic is crucial to understanding how digital images evoke "authenticity" or "veracity".
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 158-168 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Film History: An International Journal |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- 1970s cinema
- George Lucas
- Industrial Light and Magic
- Munich (2005)
- Realism
- Special visual effects
- Steven Spielberg
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Visual Arts and Performing Arts
- History