Comparative studies of film acting between America, Europe, and Japan

> The Objectives of the Study
This year, I will focus my research on American and European films. I will first analyze the art of film acting in Alfred Hitchcock’s films. I will then compare Hitchcock’s works with the French new wave films from the point of view of filmed performances.
In Hitchcock’s works, the performers’ actions include several devices that are peculiar to film. These devices are relatively invisible, but they serve to intensify suspense and attract the audience’s attention to what is going on in the future scenario.
Since the French new wave directors have been deeply influenced by Hitchcock, they also examine the ways of filming performances in their own works. Compared to Hitchcock, however, they tend to make all the devices much more visible and problematize the connection between actors, roles, and audiences (cf. J. L. Godard).
By drawing a comparison between Hitchcock and the French new wave from the viewpoint of their different methods of directing performers, I will demonstrate the precise meaning of the transition from classical to modern in the history of cinema.

> Studies for This Year
Although various studies of stardom or the studies of specific actors/actresses/works already exist , there are no comprehensive studies on the art of film acting.
To establish methodologies for analyzing film acting, I will examine film (DVD) materials including significant acting, consider primary/secondary sources including a fragmentary description of filmed performances, and evaluate contemporary audiences’ reviews on performers.


> Activity Report