One Joke, Two Joke, Grey Joke, Color Joke; Assignment 7

Both videos are quite different in style, the first being inspired by the silent films of the 1920s and the second being much more contemporary color piece, but there are similarities that one can find if they look. 

There is an affinity between the two pieces when it comes to the use of the topic of lines in both pieces.  In the first video, lines such as the diagonal lines in the paneling of the wooden wall behind the bar are used to direct the viewer’s eyes to the characters that are the main focuses of the shots such as the bartender and the man in the opening shots of the video.

The second video also uses lines to direct the eyes of the viewers, but it does so much more subtly.  In the second video, it is lines such as those that are apart of the tables and window frames that direct the eye.  As well as virtual lines used with focusing on where the character’s eyes are directed.

The contrast between the video appears in relation to the video’s rhythms.  In the first video, the rhythm is sped up and erratic to simulate the sort of chaotic effect of silent films from the 1920s.  Meanwhile, in the second video, the rhythm of the characters movements are much more natural, laid back even.  Another example is that the characters' speech in the first video was quick and to the point (they were on cue slides after all), their speech in the second had a much more lethargic and unsure tempo that seemed to simulate actual conversation.

Other contrasts can be found in the active and didactic elements in the pieces.  In the first piece the cue cards do not indicate to the viewer that a portion of the video is taking place in the male character’s imagination and are meant to deduce this fact by the sudden change in costume and the character’s use of magic to woo the woman.  Whereas in the second video every detail is explained to the viewer, thought not directly, by the characters, such as when the male character makes his joke and then proceeds to almost awkwardly explain it.  However, it is the use of the character’s ridiculous voice that make this less obvious.