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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsLooking for a term for a certain filmmaking "device"
Is there a term for when a director or producer of the film intentionally blurs the time period in which the movie was set? This can be done by mixing technologies and styles of various eras into a specifically set time period.
I thought about this while watching "Napoleon Dynamite" last night. The movie was made in 2004, yet the clothing styles, hair styles and a lot of other technological aspects of the movie are more similar to the mid 1980s. Yet the film also references the internet, which did not become popular until the mid 1990s.
There has to be a term for this. Can any film students help me out on this?
And are there any other movies which you believe also use this type of device?
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Noun
A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
An act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,197 posts)Although an anachronism suggests a specifically set time period and a reference to a thing that is in fact out of place.
Whereas I'm looking more for a piece where the time period is intentionally left vague or ambigious.
MrScorpio
(73,631 posts)Which would lead TO anachronisms
ksoze
(2,068 posts)From an old wikipedia entry for the movie:
While the film is set in the present day, it contains many parachronisms. For example, the music playing at the school dance is from the 1980s, featuring "Forever Young" by Alphaville and Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time". Other vestiges of earlier decades include fashion trends that reflect those of the 70s and 80s, such as Napoleon's moon boots and Deb's side ponytail. The top-loading VCR in the Dynamite residence resembles those from the early 1980s. Throwbacks to the 1990s include music by Backstreet Boys, the Summer's Happy Hands Club performing to Max Martin and Jay Orpin's "Larger than Life", and music by Jamiroquai used in the choreography of Pedro's skits (their song "Canned Heat" is used for the scene in which Napoleon dances). Also, the TV resembles a 1990s model, and some of the shows resemble 1999 pop culture, especially the exercise commercials. The type of imitation Tupperware Uncle Rico is seen selling door-to-door has not been available for purchase for many years. The grandmother's house phone, a slim-line wall-mounted telephone with 25 foot extension cord was first available in the early 1970s. Kip does use the Internet for dating and Rico uses it to purchase a "time machine". However, the style of computer is arguably from the mid- to late- 1990s, and he uses a dial up internet service that charges users by the minute, a practice uncommon in the U.S. in the late 1990s. The music playing in the Pontiac is the 80's funk song "So Ruff, So Tuff" by Zapp & Roger. Finally, Napoleon's school ID card, as shown in the opening credits, clearly reads "2004/2005", unambiguously setting the movie in the present day, despite the film's abundance of elements suggesting otherwise.
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,197 posts)talkingmime
(2,173 posts)That's how they inserted Tom Hanks into historical film segments in "Forrest Gump" and how they created the illusion that Spock entered the elevator from the hanger deck and exited into the bridge without breaking the sequence.
Besides, the mid-80's clothing styles are rather popular now. I doubt that's why the movie appears that way, but I have noticed the throwback.
ksoze
(2,068 posts)talkingmime
(2,173 posts)ksoze
(2,068 posts)He was talking about the mixing of various time eras that are used to create a film. This is not via F/X, but through the use of items, stories, styles and music from mixed eras. Forrest Gump mixed eras through special F/X using old footage combined with current time. ND used various hairstyles, technology, etc. to create what the director wanted to use to impart his semi-biography of his Morman upbringing.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)But I recently watched Twin Peaks for the first time (despite living less than 10 miles from the place it was filmed when that was on), and I thought I was struck by what I thought was the 1950's look of many of the kids. I assumed this was a conscious device by David Lynch to make us feel out of sync with reality, but when I read reviews about it, people hooted in derision about the "90's hairstyles" so what do I know?
ksoze
(2,068 posts)Trying to find words to define Lynch's film making devices is futile.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)I can't believe I waited this long to see it -- I thought it was fantastic!
ksoze
(2,068 posts)and have your mind blown. A viewing of "Blue Velvet" will also change lives.
Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)That looks really interesting, I'll have to go check that out!
I've got the Blue Velvet DVD, and in fact, it's been all ripped to the hard drive and ready to watch for months. Thanks for the reminder -- I might watch that tonight.
edbermac
(15,945 posts)I'm thinking of Donald Sutherland's hippie character in the WWII movie Kelly's Heroes.
tg
(105 posts)I remember hearing that when they wrote West Side Story they created their own street slang so it would never sound dated.
This is an anecdote. I don't know if there is a general term for this kind of device.
Peace, -tg