An application of the Kuleshov Experiment on Generation X: Testing viewer reactions to editing
The Kuleshov Experiment, conducted in Russia in 1919, concluded that audiences find meaning in the juxtaposition of unrelated shots. This discovery was one of the earliest observations used to formulate the theory of montage. This study combines historical information related to the original experiment, editing techniques, and theories in visual literacy. This is a quasi-experiment applied to a new generation of viewers; A video that replicates the original experiment is used as a stimulus, and an instrument observes audience's reactions to editing. The assumption made is that a new generation of viewers will be capable of recognizing the lack of connection between the shots. Generation X has had a vast exposure to film, television, and computer-based media; all of which have educated this peer group into recognizing the function of images in an established context. The results of this experiment are important to determine if a new generation of experienced viewers find meaning in the juxtaposition of unconnected shots.
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