Abstract

In the following exposition, we distinguish between the experience of viewing a single cinematographic shot from the experience of viewing a sequence of shots and a whole film. Both experiences together comprise the full-fledged cinematographic experience, but, they are very different from each other. Our focus here is on the experience of viewing a single shot. Obviously, the theoretical concern with the film as a global narrative process tends to minimize the importance of the single shot in itself; yet, the analysis of the basic experience of viewing a single shot allows use of the concept of aesthetic illusion, which is basic for understanding cinematographic effects, a main theme in current film and media studies. In other words, full comprehension of the cinematographic experience demands taking as first and foremost the local, non-narrative experience of viewing a single shot. Anything else comes after that.