Abstract
A positive perception towards the digitalization process draws attention. However, a return to retrospective understanding has started with postmodern practices. Cinema is also an art form that is at the center of these discussions. Some directors move away from digital effects day by day and stay closer to the pellicle. British director Christopher Nolan is also one of the auteur directors who are more distant to digitalization. Nolan, who prefers the absence of digital interventions as much as possible in his films and realizing the most realistic forms and forms, is closer to the pellicle. The aim of this study is to evaluate and discuss the discussion of returning to analog and reality on the axis of Nolan's cinema. The DC Comics character Batman, first adapted to the cinema in 1989, has been remade as a trilogy by Christopher Nolan since 2005. The Batman Trilogy, which is a sequel, will be the focus of the discussions in the study.
TopIntroduction
Digitalization is described as the new revolution of the late capitalism period. Digital technologies, which have dominated even the most micro-area of daily life practices in a very short time, have become a global field of action today. This field of action has not only had an individual effect, but has been integrated into the systems of almost all sectors. The development of digital technologies has also transformed the cinema industry. Filming with filmstrips and reels, and then classical montage practices, has begun to become easier with computer-based technologies. In the first stage, the images shot on the film were transferred to the computer and edited, then the film was reprinted and made ready for screening. In the period when full digitalization in film production was started, all stages of shooting, editing and distribution started to be done with the help of digital technologies.
The use of computer-generated images (CGI) in cinema has also transformed the discussions on the relationship between cinema and reality. These innovations were initially accepted as a mere innovation. The development of new forms of expression through technology has affected the narrative forms in cinema. However, the way of telling stories with digitally produced images has also brought up some problematic relationships between the watching experience and reality. Although it makes the post-production process in cinema easier and more comfortable, a distant stance has emerged against digitalization in cinema.
British director Christopher Nolan is among the first to come to mind when it comes to producing films using traditional methods. His preference for filmstrips over digital cameras is an important clue to understanding Nolan's cinema. In almost every movie in his filmography, he tried to complete many scenes in-camera. Nolan's obsession with reality is one of the main reasons why it has so positively influenced the watching experience. On the other hand, the way in which the stories on the axis of reality and time are told with parallel editing points to the style called Nolan cinema today.
Batman, which was first published in a magazine called Detective Comics in 1939, has been adapted for many movies. Directed by Christopher Nolan and first released in 2005, Batman Begins is the first film in the trilogy known as The Dark Knight Triology. Later, in 2008, The Dark Knight, and in 2012, The Dark Knight Rises, were released and the series was completed. One of the most important elements that distinguishes Nolan's Batman trilogy from the Batman adaptations before and after him is that the trilogy was mainly shot with practical effects and digital technologies were used as minimally as possible. On the other hand, Nolan's Batman trilogy tells about not only the side of a superhero fighting villains, but also how Bruce Wayne turned into Batman, his personal journey, questioning his ethical values, his motivations and his inner world.
This study discusses how movies are made with traditional methods, in today's world where digitalization is used as a global system and a set of technologies, through Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is one of the most important examples that reveal that the concept of reality in cinema can be built with practical effects rather than digital technologies.
Key Terms in this Chapter
CGI: CGI stands for “computer-generated imagery.” It refers to the use of computers to generate visual content, such as 2D and 3D graphics, animation, and special effects. CGI is widely used in a variety of industries, including film, television, video games, advertising, and more.
Christopher Nolan: Christopher Nolan is an English film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his innovative and thought-provoking films. He has directed a number of critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies, including Memento , The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception , and Dunkirk .
Practical Effects: Practical effects, also known as physical effects or in-camera effects, are techniques used in film, television, and other media to create illusions or enhance the realism of a scene or character. These effects are achieved through the use of physical props, sets, makeup, and other elements that are captured on camera, rather than being added digitally in post-production.
Digital Cinema: Digital cinema refers to the use of digital technology to create, distribute, and project motion pictures. It has largely replaced traditional film-based projection systems in movie theaters around the world.
Digital Art: Digital art is a term used to describe artwork that is created using digital technologies, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. It encompasses a wide range of mediums and styles, including 2D and 3D graphics, animation, and visual effects.
Batman Trilogy: The Batman trilogy refers to a series of three superhero films based on the DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan. The trilogy consists of Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
Digital Culture: Digital culture refers to the culture that has emerged from the widespread use of digital technologies, including the internet, social media, and mobile devices. It encompasses the social norms, behaviors, and values that have developed within this environment, as well as the ways in which people use and interact with digital technologies.
Special Effects: Special effects, also known as visual effects or VFX, are techniques used in film, television, and other media to create illusions or enhance the realism of a scene or character.