Video Of The Week — How Geometry Shapes Your Understanding Of Movies

What do circles, squares, and triangles have to do with making movies? According to a new video from Now You See It, a YouTube channel that explores film concepts, it is one of the several ways used by directors and cinematographers to influence the audience about a character or a situation.

Confused? Think about this. The sight of Jungle Book’s nicely rounded Baloo the Bear signals a friendly nature. However, when we see the angular face of Darth Vader in Star Wars, our brain immediately perceives him as evil! And that is not all. The video also points out how other subtle effects, like framing, also help elicit equally strong emotional reactions from the viewers. So, the next time you watch a movie, see if you can find the hidden geometrical shapes in your favorite characters or scenes.

Resources: Youtube, The Verge, Gizomodo.com.au