Constructivism in Film

Vertov’s The Man with the Movie Camera is richer in technique and is infused with more layers of meaning than Eisenstein’s narrative montages, but the ideas in his films also run the risk of not being understood at all. I am not advocating having something be directly understood as opposed to digging deeper into layers of meaning but merely stating that Vertov’s methods are not without its disadvantages. After all, the various ways in which he showcases technique can also be seen as an entertaining display of skill, which can overshadow the meaning behind the busyness of technique. After watching The Man with the Movie Camera and rereading Kino-Eye, I know that Vertov’s film can only become richer with repeated viewings, whereas with Eisentein, the initial reaction/emotions, however strong, will probably remain the same with repeated viewings. I don’t think one method is necessarily better than the other, but I think there are appropriate times to use one method as opposed to the other. I will also note that whatever the difference of opinion in technique, both Vertov and Eisentein were preoccupied with the social and political climate of the times. The techniques which they first experimented with to propound an ideal are now being used almost purely for entertainment purposes. It seems to be a common theme that revolutionary principles and techniques which were founded initially for such an elevated purpose have often become debased into something frivolous.
Having actually watched The Man with the Movie Camera definitely helped me understand better Vertov’s position on film and montage. However, it would also have been useful to watch even just a clip from something done by Eisentein. In order to better compare the differences between the two, I had to find extra information and images of films by Eisentein. I think the readers rely too heavily on words when the subject is often something pictorial. As architects, I think we would also appreciate images and other methods of communication besides words to help us better understand the ideas and principles which are often inadequately laid out in words, especially considering that most of us are not acquainted with most of the works mentioned or described in these texts.