A possible merit of auteur theory is that Kubrick exhibits a recognizable style across films. Even though The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut are filmed almost twenty years apart, the style in both is distinctly Kubrick. Sound is important in both films; due to the physical isolation of the three characters in The Shining, and the intimacy between the two characters in Eyes Wide Shut, silence is a dominant trait in both. Silence is juxtaposed by a single recurring sound. In The Shining it is the sound of the typewriter keys, in Eyes Wide Shut it is a few single notes on the piano. These seem like simple sounds, but Kubrick creates an important function for them. They function as a way to de-familiarize the familiar; these single notes create an uncanny feeling, and are used to describe an uneasy, disturbed state of mind.

Kubrick's personal style, like his use of sound, camera work and thematic similarities in expression, is so distinct, it could be considered a merit from an auteurian perspective. In fact it is a great accomplishment for a director to become so well known for his style. It functions as a way of bringing the guy behind the camera into the spotlight. Actors are easily recognized since they work in front of the camera; it is much more difficult to be so easily recognized for your style when you are not seen. It can be considered a personal merit for Kubrick, who has gained this recognition because of this personal style.

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Auteur Theory

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Michelle Tirkalas