Scholarship & Research
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Item The psychology of camera observation: how the camera affects human behavior(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2021) Trainor, Catherine; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo LipfertThis paper explores the influence of an observational camera on human behavior, particularly in documentary films. Whether it is a surveillance camera that represents the eyes of an authority figure, or a camera with a human operator, the presence of an observer impacts our behavior. The paper hypothesizes that the presence of a camera activates the same pathway in the brain as when a person senses that they are being watched. The paper uses observations from several documentary films, reality television shows, and the author's documentary film as supporting evidence in exploring this concept.Item How different styles of nature film alter our perception of wildlife(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2012) Choate, Christina Shirley; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Dennis Aig.Different styles of natural history film evoke distinct feelings and emotions about wild animals which viewers use as a basis for their perception of wildlife. I define three categories of nature film which reflect varying degrees of human-animal interaction, anthropomorphism and aesthetics: the testimonial, explanatory and non-verbal styles. Although each one is limited in its ability to represent wildlife accurately, it is important to realize that they all show animals from different perspectives (from most to least human-centered, respectively). Given that the majority of people today gain most of their knowledge about wildlife from natural history programs, it is critical for viewers and filmmakers to understand the impact of these films on society--as both emotional and intellectual conduits into the natural world.Item iPhone to IMAX : the social implications of screen size(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2008) Potter, George Alexander; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Theo Lipfert.Screen size changes the way the moving image affects viewers and specific content is more likely to be influential if screened on the most appropriate media type. The ever-increasing popularity of portable devices, like the iPhone, means that viewers are watching more content on smaller screens than ever before. At the same time, movie theatres and Imax screens are still as popular as ever and seeing something on the big screen holds some kind of magic for the viewer. This fact has not been lost on environmental filmmakers who are increasingly finding ways of using different sized screens to promote their cause. Ultimately, the size of the screen not only determines what viewers watch, and how they are affected by what they see, but can actually be the deciding factor for whether they take action on an issue.