The art of David Lean : a textual analysis of audio visual structure

The aim of the thesis is to place under scrutiny four of the formal/structural elements in eight of David Lean's films. These include the sound track (sound and music), and two aspects of the mise-en-scene (black-and-white cinematography and colour). It examines the ways in which they are used and manipulated within the narrative context as to promote the dramatic effect, how they interact with other formal and structural components and, finally, how they contribute to the understanding of the director's stylistic approach. The analyses do not contain themselves to the examination of narrative instances in isolation from the broader narrative framework in which they occur, but are mostly conducted in a manner that closely adheres to narrative order, as this method is believed to better elucidate the evolving and constantly altering function of the formal/structural devices under consideration. The approach to the analyses is not aimed at abiding by a particular theory or theories, since such a methodology would constrict the scope of investigation. Instead, it follows a flexible approach that accommodates the examination of a multiplicity of factors and issues that are considered as fundamental in the shaping of the artistic end product. Additionally, the thesis addresses issues of history and culture that provide the background against which the films were made and which, on many occasions, assist in better understanding the rationale behind the utilisation of the specific formal/structural elements within them.