Auteur Theory

Auteur derives from French meaning 'author'. The  "Auteur Theory" was first presented by  french film directors like Francois Truffaut, according to the theory the directors believes that the director is the person who brings the film to life and uses the film to express their thoughts,emotions and feelings about the topic of the film. It was known as a way of reading movies, on the basis of that a movie was the director's work of art and should be analysed as the product of the director's imagination.However the  problem with this theory is that a film is made by many people of so the director's imagination can be hard to capture.  

The auteur I will be researching on is David Fincher,he has directed music videos for George Michael,Madonna,Michael Jackson,Jody Watley,Steve Winwood and Justin Timberlake.The reason why i chose David Fincher is because i really like the way he directs his music videos specially his lowkey lighting attracts me lot not to mention that he also happened to direct the video of one my favorite song; Freedom'90! that is.

Style of direction

Similarities in a few scenes

Real Love- Jody Watley

Freedom'90- George Michael

The starting of Real Love is definitely very similar to some parts of Freedom'90 a dark setting is shown with water on the floor and the artists walking with chains of the sides with both off them wearing black boots aswell.

Jody's attire is very similar to one of the models starring in freedom'90 both are seen wearing white sleeveless loose white tops with blue jeans.

Use of low-key lighting and dark settings

Fincher’s expertise to use darkness and lowkey lighting as an alley  is both his greatest visual trick and a benefit to the stories he chooses to tell,he mostly used a blackened palette with a hint of blue for most of his music videos.

Freedom'90-George Michael

Janie's got a gun-Aerosmith

Express Yourself-Madonna

This is it-Michael Jackson

Real Love- Jody Watley

Closeups and breaking the fourth wall

 Aside from his constant use of muted colors, Fincher’s camera movements are also what makes his films noticeable.He uses a lot of closeups while the artists are facing the camera.

Voyuerism

Fincher definitely wanted to bring out the best of the models starring in Freedom'90 by he wanted to describe every model's personality by their wardrobe and makeup he went onto describe Cindy as the sexy one; Christy  the cool, classic one; and Linda as the chameleon who could do anything she wanted to. Where as in Madonna's Vougue Fincher made her wear a controversial sheer lace dress and other outfits,later on as the video progresses she is also seen  wearing her iconic cone bra.

As per Fincher's instruction Crawford's makeup look was supposed to be completely trashed, as if she'd been in a steamy atmosphere, and then it was oiled it down by covering her with glycerin. Crawford spent most of her time topless and sitting in an empty bathtub.

Tatjana Patitz was seen showing off her sensual moves wearing a cheetah print robe.

​Naomi Campbell was shown as a  1960s "tough chic" she was shown wearing a black sheer top and was also shown showing off her sensual moves.

Madonna was also seen topeless in some parts of the music videos which definitely would have grabbed a lot of attention.

Madonna is shown wearing a sheer lack dress and her signature cone bra,no doubt she would've been a sexua

Fincher definitely brought female gaze into  Madonna's Express Yourself along with the male gaze male actors were  shown shirtless displaying their wet muscular bodies.

Female Gaze

Auteur Theory

By aashaamir

Auteur Theory

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