The reading I want to delve a bit further into is “The Urban Milieu of Shanghai Cinema” from lecture 2 reading. I found this reading interesting because it explores the evolution of cinema in Shanghai.
The 1930’s marked a time where cinema was only just beginning to develop in Shanghai, which was in contrast to other parts of the world that had already developed their own style of cinema. Most notably, places such as Hollywood and Europe had set a strong precedent in cinema that would serve as a great base to work from. Elements such as the long take which was a key aspect from European film or the montage from the Soviet Union could be found in this evolution of Shanghai cinema. Additionally, techniques that were used in Hollywood such as plot development would also be used in Shanghai.
Despite Shanghai’s introduction into the cinema space later, it would serve as beneficial because it allowed the space to already be explored. Thus, cinema in Shanghai would serve as a reflection of the best parts of cinema from around the world. By observing how cinema has evolved over time, we can see where inspiration and the initial grounds from which Shanghai cinema has grown from and how it plays a part in making its own style that is unique and known to what it is today.
— Tyler Van Vu 3033116804
Your response is quite good but need some elaborations. You can elaborate more on how foreign techniques such as montage and long take transform Shanghai’s cinema. And how Shanghai’s cinema shapes urban identities and forms.