Kristin Thompson
Encyclopedia
Kristin Thompson is an American film theorist
and author whose research interests include the close formal analysis of films, the history of film styles, and "quality television
", a genre akin to art film
. She wrote two scholarly books in the 1980s which used an analytical technique called neoformalism. As well, she has co-authored two widely-used film studies textbooks with husband David Bordwell
.
at the University of Iowa
(1973) and a Ph.D. in film studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. She has held teaching positions at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, Indiana University, the University of Amsterdam, and the University of Stockholm.
In 1979, she co-wrote the film textbook, Film Art: An Introduction, with husband David Bordwell
. Film Art, with a ninth edition published in 2009, was originally published in 1979 and has become a standard in the field of film aesthetics. To date, it has been translated into seven languages.
Thompson predominantly relies on an analytical method drawn from Russian Formalism
known as neoformalism. This method formed the basis for her dissertation, which subsequently became her first scholarly book, Eisenstein's "Ivan the Terrible": A Neoformalist Analysis. Neoformalism is also the basis for the later, Breaking the Glass Armor.
.
shows, due to their use of "...a quality pedigree, a large ensemble cast
, a series memory, creation of a new genre
through recombination of older ones, self-consciousness, and pronounced tendencies toward the controversial and the realistic". She claims that television shows such as Twin Peaks
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos
, and The Simpsons
exhibit traits also found in art film
s, such as psychological realism, narrative complexity, and ambiguous plotlines.
She notes that David Lynch
's Twin Peaks
television series have "...a loosening of causality, a greater emphasis on psychological or anecdotal realism, violations of classical clarity of space and time, explicit authorial comment, and ambiguity." She compares Lynch's film Blue Velvet and the television series Twin Peaks
and "...asks whether there can be an "art television" comparable to the more familiar "art cinema
."
As well, she points out that series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos
, and The Simpsons
"...have altered long-standing notions of closure and single authorship", which means that "...television has wrought its own changes in traditional narrative form." She states that The Simpsons
, use a "...flurry of cultural references, intentionally inconsistent characterization, and considerable self-reflexivity about television conventions and the status of the programme as a television show."
: The Frodo Franchise: The Lord of the Rings and Modern Hollywood. This book "...examine[s] the larger phenomenon of this hugely successful franchise, examining the film’s making but also its marketing via the Internet, its merchandising (particularly DVDs and video games), and its impact on world cinema." It is based on the author's interviews with many of the artists, writers, and business people who participated in the making of The Lord of the Rings motion pictures
.
Film theory
Film theory is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of the cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding film's relationship to reality, the other arts, individual viewers, and society at large...
and author whose research interests include the close formal analysis of films, the history of film styles, and "quality television
Quality television
Quality television is a term used by television scholars, television critics, and broadcasting advocacy groups to describe a genre or style of television programming that they argue is of higher quality, due to its subject matter, style, or content...
", a genre akin to art film
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
. She wrote two scholarly books in the 1980s which used an analytical technique called neoformalism. As well, she has co-authored two widely-used film studies textbooks with husband David Bordwell
David Bordwell
David Bordwell is an American film theorist and film historian. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1974, he has written more than fifteen volumes on the subject of cinema including Narration in the Fiction Film , Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema , Making Meaning , and On the...
.
1970s and 1980s
Thompson earned her master's degree in film studiesFilm studies
Film studies is an academic discipline that deals with various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to films. It is sometimes subsumed within media studies and is often compared to television studies...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
(1973) and a Ph.D. in film studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. She has held teaching positions at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, Indiana University, the University of Amsterdam, and the University of Stockholm.
In 1979, she co-wrote the film textbook, Film Art: An Introduction, with husband David Bordwell
David Bordwell
David Bordwell is an American film theorist and film historian. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1974, he has written more than fifteen volumes on the subject of cinema including Narration in the Fiction Film , Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema , Making Meaning , and On the...
. Film Art, with a ninth edition published in 2009, was originally published in 1979 and has become a standard in the field of film aesthetics. To date, it has been translated into seven languages.
Thompson predominantly relies on an analytical method drawn from Russian Formalism
Russian formalism
Russian formalism was an influential school of literary criticism in Russia from the 1910s to the 1930s. It includes the work of a number of highly influential Russian and Soviet scholars such as Viktor Shklovsky, Yuri Tynianov, Vladimir Propp, Boris Eichenbaum, Roman Jakobson, Grigory Vinokur who...
known as neoformalism. This method formed the basis for her dissertation, which subsequently became her first scholarly book, Eisenstein's "Ivan the Terrible": A Neoformalist Analysis. Neoformalism is also the basis for the later, Breaking the Glass Armor.
1990s and 2000s
In 1994, she co-wrote another textbook with Bordwell, Film History . In early 2001 she did a series of lectures at Oxford University. She holds an honorary fellowship in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Quality television
Thompson argues that a small number of television shows stand out as quality televisionQuality television
Quality television is a term used by television scholars, television critics, and broadcasting advocacy groups to describe a genre or style of television programming that they argue is of higher quality, due to its subject matter, style, or content...
shows, due to their use of "...a quality pedigree, a large ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
, a series memory, creation of a new genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
through recombination of older ones, self-consciousness, and pronounced tendencies toward the controversial and the realistic". She claims that television shows such as Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
exhibit traits also found in art film
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
s, such as psychological realism, narrative complexity, and ambiguous plotlines.
She notes that David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
's Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
television series have "...a loosening of causality, a greater emphasis on psychological or anecdotal realism, violations of classical clarity of space and time, explicit authorial comment, and ambiguity." She compares Lynch's film Blue Velvet and the television series Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
and "...asks whether there can be an "art television" comparable to the more familiar "art cinema
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
."
As well, she points out that series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
"...have altered long-standing notions of closure and single authorship", which means that "...television has wrought its own changes in traditional narrative form." She states that The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, use a "...flurry of cultural references, intentionally inconsistent characterization, and considerable self-reflexivity about television conventions and the status of the programme as a television show."
Lord of the Rings
In the mid-2000s, Thompson's interest in Hollywood norms led her to write a monograph about the popular fantasy trilogy The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
: The Frodo Franchise: The Lord of the Rings and Modern Hollywood. This book "...examine[s] the larger phenomenon of this hugely successful franchise, examining the film’s making but also its marketing via the Internet, its merchandising (particularly DVDs and video games), and its impact on world cinema." It is based on the author's interviews with many of the artists, writers, and business people who participated in the making of The Lord of the Rings motion pictures
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
.