Gestalt Theory

The film text has the potential to engage us viscerally and phenomenologically, through a complex crafting of visual and audial codes carefully arranged in time and space to arouse emotional, ethical and cognitive responses. 

Gestalt Theory

Gestalt theory, also known as Gestalt psychology or the gestalt approach, is a psychological framework that focuses on how humans perceive and interpret the world around them. It emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the prevailing reductionist approaches of structuralism and behaviorism.

The word "gestalt" comes from the German term meaning "shape" or "form," and the theory emphasizes the importance of perceiving objects and events as organized wholes rather than isolated elements. According to the gestaltists, our minds naturally seek to create meaningful patterns and structures from the sensory information we receive.

Key principles of the gestalt theory include:

1. Emergence: Perception involves recognizing the whole rather than just the sum of its parts. When we look at a complex scene, we tend to perceive distinct objects or figures within the overall field.

2. Reification: We often fill in missing information based on our previous experiences and expectations. For example, if we see a partially hidden object, we may mentally complete its shape based on our knowledge of similar objects.

3. Multistability: Our perception is not fixed, and we can experience ambiguous stimuli in different ways. An example of multistability is the famous "Necker cube," which can be seen as a cube facing in different directions.

4. Invariance: We can recognize objects despite changes in their size, orientation, or other properties. This principle emphasizes the stability of perceptual patterns across different conditions.

5. Pragnanz: The principle of simplicity or "good form." When presented with multiple possible interpretations, we tend to choose the simplest or most organized option.

Gestalt theory has had a significant impact on various fields, including psychology, cognitive science, and design. It has provided insights into perception, problem-solving, learning, and the understanding of human experience as a whole.

Gestalt Theory in Film

Gestalt theory has had a significant influence on the field of filmmaking, particularly in the areas of visual composition, editing, and narrative structure. Filmmakers often employ principles derived from Gestalt theory to enhance the visual impact of their films and engage the audience's perception in meaningful ways. Here are a few ways in which Gestalt theory relates to filmmaking:

1. Figure-Ground Relationship: The principle of figure-ground relationship in Gestalt theory highlights the distinction between the main subject (figure) and its surrounding environment (ground). In filmmaking, filmmakers use techniques such as lighting, framing, and depth of field to establish clear visual distinctions between the main subject and the background. This helps direct the audience's attention and creates a sense of focus.

2. Closure and Continuity: Closure refers to our tendency to mentally complete incomplete shapes or patterns. Continuity refers to our inclination to perceive a continuous flow of motion or narrative. Filmmakers can utilize these principles by employing techniques like match cuts, where a visual or auditory similarity links two different shots, creating a sense of smooth transition or continuity. This helps maintain the flow of the narrative and engage the audience's perceptual closure.

3. Visual Perception and Composition: Gestalt theory emphasizes the organization and grouping of visual elements. Filmmakers use principles such as similarity, proximity, and symmetry to create visually harmonious compositions. For example, placing similar objects or characters together or using symmetry in framing can enhance the visual appeal and convey a sense of order.

4. Multistability and Ambiguity: The concept of multistability, where the perception can shift between different interpretations, can be employed by filmmakers to create suspense or intrigue. Ambiguous visual cues or narrative elements can engage the audience's active participation in interpreting the story and stimulate their curiosity.

5. Gestalt Principles in Editing: The principles of Gestalt theory also find application in film editing. Concepts such as continuity editing (e.g., the 180-degree rule and shot-reverse-shot technique) aim to maintain consistent spatial and temporal relationships between shots, facilitating the audience's smooth perception and comprehension of the visual narrative.

By understanding and utilizing the principles of Gestalt theory, filmmakers can enhance the visual impact, narrative coherence, and emotional resonance of their films, ultimately creating a more engaging and immersive cinematic experience for the audience.

What is a Gestalt?

In the context of Gestalt theory, a "gestalt" refers to a perceptual or cognitive whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It emphasizes the idea that when we perceive or experience something, we tend to perceive it as a unified and organized whole rather than a collection of individual elements.

The term "gestalt" comes from the German word meaning "shape" or "form." In Gestalt psychology, researchers sought to understand how humans perceive and make sense of the world around them by studying the organization of perceptual experiences.

A gestalt can be seen as a coherent pattern or configuration that emerges from the integration of various elements or stimuli. For example, when we look at a painting, we don't see separate brush strokes or colors in isolation; instead, we perceive them as a unified image. Similarly, when we see a group of people, we tend to perceive them as a collective unit rather than focusing on individual features.

Gestalts can take various forms, including visual patterns, auditory melodies, or even conceptual ideas. The gestalt approach emphasizes that our perception is not solely determined by the individual elements but also by the relationships and organization between them.

Gestalt psychologists identified several principles or laws that contribute to the formation of gestalts, such as proximity (elements that are close together are perceived as a group), similarity (similar elements are perceived as belonging together), and closure (we tend to mentally fill in missing parts to perceive a complete whole).

Overall, a gestalt represents the idea that our perception is holistic and that we naturally seek to organize our experiences into meaningful wholes rather than focusing solely on isolated details.

This filmic experience, as opposed to its logical content, might be seen as the central measure of any given film production, and holds its place at the centre of the schemata. According to Petkovic, “It is the filmic experience with all of its trance-like phenomenology and ambiguous logic that is the defining attribute of the screen production”.

Just as each musician in an orchestra performs a highly complex symphony under the guidance of a conductor, the craftspeople involved in producing a film perform their craft under the guidance of a director. A director, then, needs a thorough understanding of filmic codes, how they interact with and support each other as well as how they communicate with an audience; instructing camera operators, performers, editors and musicians in such a way that their various craft will produce a harmonious result with the desired audience impact and interaction.