IN WHAT WAYS DOES THIS ICONIC SHOT CONSTRUCT MEANING THROUGH CINEMATOGRAPHY AND MISE-EN-SCENE?

A genuinely transgressive image, that positions the spectator in a highly disturbing mode of address
The bleak, blank expression of the woman forms a binary opposition between her apparent calm and the highly upsetting destruction of the body, creating a highly confusing and upsetting mode of address for the target audience
Framing: the woman is framed directly in the centre of the shot, and her face is also framed by the MES of the man’s hands holding her in place. We as a spectator are forced to watch, and forced to empathise with her extreme torture
Extreme high contrast black and white cinematography symbolises the nasty, gritty, exploitative nature of the scene. The film grain is clearly visible, and gives the shot a messy, ugly look
The eye is symbolic of the moon through montage. There is a match on action between an ELS of the moon and the ECU of the eye. The film forces the spectator to construct a symbolic link between the eye and the moon
A highly misogynistic montage where the destruction of a beautiful woman is presented as entertainment for the audience. Reinforces the male gaze theory, and even predicts the popularity of slasher films!

HOW DO THE COMBINATORY ELEMENTS OF MONTAGE, CINEMATOGRAPHY AND MISE EN SCENE CONSTRUCT MEANING IN THE ‘DONKEY SCENE’ OF UN CHIEN ANDALOU?

Criticism of organised religion
The MES of the priests being dragged roughly across the floor is literally ‘dragging religion through the dirt’, and would be a particularly offensive scene in 1929
The montage happens immediately after ‘the groping scene’, which is symbolic of the man’s sexual desire
In our subconscious, we may carry out actions that are not morally appropriate, but are somehow allowed in dreams
The MES of the priests are symbolic of organised religion morally stopping us from exploring our desires
The man looks like a possessed devil as he tries to attack the woman.. His mouth is pouring with saliva, and his hand gestures are exaggerated, which demonstrates a profound comment on sex and sexuality
The MES and the donkeys are a stylistic and symbolic representation of religious symbolism.
The MES of blood pouring out of the eyes of donkeys could be a metaphor for the fragility of religion
However, these elements are completely unrelated from one another, and form a confusing and potentially funny binary opposition. It is at once deeply offensive, but also silly, innocent and childish