Machine That Made Us

Machine That Made Us

  • Submitted By: earlpoe
  • Date Submitted: 08/03/2009 2:39 AM
  • Category: Biographies
  • Words: 682
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 467

The documentary series, “The machine that made us”, Stephen fry investigates of one of the important machines ever invented. Stephen’s investigation combines a hard historical detective works and a hand on challenge. He travels around Europe to trace the trail of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of printing press.
The printing press was the world's first mass-production machine. Its invention changed the world and shaped the modern age. It is the machine that made us who we are today. It ignited a cultural revolution which shaped the modern age.

“The machine that made us” presents version of realty. This documentary
Appeal to and engage the audience. This is done by using techniques such selection of detail, style, film language, verbal language, camera angles and structures. Camera angles are surely the most common technique used in all documentaries especially this documentary because without camera, there are no documentaries. In the documentary series “The machine that made us”, the camera angles usually use are extreme close up, close up, medium and extreme long shot. In this documentary extreme long shot is rarely use and extreme close up is mostly use. Camera angle in this documentary is significant. Using camera angle in this documentary shows how the printing press really works and how Johannes Gutenberg made the printing press. Good example is the scene when Stephen Fry attempts to curve the wood in spiral form; extreme close is use in that scene. Because extreme close up shot creates impact and closer shots intensify performances. Music is a very commonly used technique in documentaries. It nearly always relates in some way to the imagery on the screen at the time and sets the mood for the visuals. Without music the documentary is uninteresting. Music sets the mood in the documentary. The perfect music for documentaries can add drama to real-life events explicit on film, or illuminate humorous subjects depending on the style and content of...

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