The Auteur Theory: A Study of the Director as Author

Introduction

The auteur theory is a concept that relates to the director of a film as the overseer of all audio or visual elements and the author more than the writer in the movie, or song. These may include the issues of camera movement, blocking, adjustment of lighting, length of a scene more than the plot line, and conveyance of message of the film. The directors can be characterized by their technical competence, a distinct personality, and the interior meaning of their works. The auteur theory considers a director as the main creative force to the events happening within a performance (Cahir, 2014). Therefore, it can be interpreted that the works of a director in filmmaking can be more recognizable, have better recurring themes and visual elements than the author that present whom the author is while presenting their artistic selves. Christopher Nolan is one director who meets the criterion of auteur theory in his works. For instance, in The Dark Knight and Memento, he can be perceived as the director and author of the screenplays because of the thematic and stylistic devices he employs therein. His pieces mainly depict his cerebral and nonlinear storytelling technique (Hill-Parks, 2011). Memento was his second and best piece where he was successful in employing all thematic elements. The Dark Knight came to be the best-reviewed screenplay in 2012 as a result of his auteur integration through his rebooting of Warner Bros. Christopher Nolan is one director who is a director and still an author of the screenplays of The Dark Knight and Memento.

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Nolan ensures to incorporate distinguishable characteristics in his screenplays. In the themes used in The Dark Knight, it is evident that he incorporates the principles that Batman has a strong ethical code as he tries to protect the Gotham city. He includes a dilemma where Batman is not sure whether he had to break the law for his good. In that case, principles and ideals are considered the stake in the screenplay with the character Batman along with the accomplices trying to stick to what they can and the joker, on the other hand, proving that it is not real. In his movie Memento, Nolan employs various thematic and stylistic devices including manipulation; memory, and the past; identity; life; existence, and consciousness. Every character is made sure to be manipulative in the screenplay. For instance, Nolan features scenes where Teddy manipulates Jimmy and Leonard to make money. Another instance is where Leonard manipulates himself to gain more control of his later thoughts and actions. However, his amnesia lets him be a figure to many other characters who try to mold him to their desires.

Nolan includes technical competence in the films that feature his integration of the auteur theory. Furthermore, Nolan includes defeat, various rules, concepts of duty, justice and judgement, as well as the identity, which lets him be perceived as the owner of the film and not just a director of the same. In the screenplay, Batman and other superheroes are presented as meditative and remorseful even though they are not won. One instance is that which includes the Joker getting dragged off to Arkham, where the commissioner, as well as Batman, makes up stories to put up with the damage being done. The condition exhibited by Leonard revolves around his memory or lack thereof. Nolan makes sure to provide stories regarding Leonard that are devoid of context. He centers Leonard's self with his condition.

Nolan depicts interior meaning in his screenplays. He includes the concept of breaking the law where Batman could stop breaking it as soon as he acted as a vigilante. Nolan includes the freedom to the party, but Bruce Wayne finds himself tied up to find time with supermodels in his yacht as he has no chance to leave Gotham in despair and crime. The characters of Batman and the joker are all presented in search for justice, but the joker sought it in a subversive and monstrous way. In his stylistic devices, Nolan makes sure that the heroes wear their true faces in disguise. This concept leaves the viewer being inquisitive about the ending and accouterments of their personalities. In his style, he ensures that the identities created dictate their actions where the Joker is perceived as a monster whereas Batman is a hero. Nolan integrates devices that portray a constantly changing identity. The characters in the story are made real as they can update themselves constantly with their progress through life with their memories, leading to a consistent narrative of self-definition. However, the character portrayed by Leonard cannot ensure that his identity is changed as he is lost within false memories. In the making, Nolan ensures that the audience is left to seek solutions to things that cannot be remembered whereas they happened. He ensures that not remembering oneself means a person existed regardless of the dilemma.

Christopher Nolan is a portrayal of the auteur theory application to directors. He presents technical competence distinguishable personality and interior meaning in both his works of The Dark Knight and Memento. The films can be perceived to give heavy and main responsibility for a piece's success in the screenplay media. The theory can be used in film analysis through the reference of films as visual art and perception of artistic styles in pieces. The auteur theory is, therefore, an important concept in screenplays and other artistic works.

References

Cahir, L. C. (2014). Literature into a film: theory and practical approaches. McFarland.

Hill-Parks, E. (2011). Identity Construction and Ambiguity in Christopher Nolan's Films. Wide Screen, 3(1).