Andre bazin's myth of total cinema

Andre Bazin who wrote the book ‘The Myth of Total Cinema’ was in support of realism. He examined the history and emergence of the technology of cinema. According to him, cinema was brought into this world to reproduce the world around us in perfect detail. Bazin argues for the inventors of photography and cinema were not just satisfied with producing technology for sale. Though he does admit that some were primarily concerned with this – but they were striving for the imitation and reproduction of the “real” world.

The desire for realism derived from the production of technology. Andre Bazin explains ‘The cinema is an idealistic phenomenon.’ He argues that a conception, an understanding of cinema cannot or should not be drawn from the economic and technological development of photography.

As per Andre Bazin, The myth or guiding desire of realism and cinema is the reproduction of the world unburdened, uncoloured, by an artist’s interpretation or subjectivity. Realism is the attempt or aim of objectivity enabled by mechanical reproduction of reality. Bazin believes the desire for realism is the natural, organic beginning and end point of cinema. Bazin believes that the myth of total cinema realism was held in every mans’ heart long before the technology was invented.