Sorry to be pedantic but the point of the deep focus shot in Bazin's theories is not that the spectator "cannot look away" but exactly the opposite: there are multiple focal points within the frame, and so the spectator *chooses* to look at something important. Also when Bazin refers to montage, he's referring to the Soviet idea of montage as developed by Eisenstein, Kuleshov, et al meaning the basic theory of editing in cinema, not "montage" as we think of it today.
Thanks for your comment! That is what I meant, but maybe didn't express clearly enough. The discomfort that the viewer feels forces them to choose where they are looking: are you looking at Al who is looking away, or are you looking at the veteran? Are you looking at Homer's hook, or are you looking at Fred or Al as they grow more uncomfortable? Are you taking all of these things in, able to look at every focal point, shifting around in your own discomfort, because the camera holds on this shot for so long? You cannot look away from the screen entirely is what I meant, not a single focal point, and, as I say, in my view this is enhanced by the discomfort of those scenes.
And thank you for pointing out my misuse of montage - I did know that, but that's an unfortunate slip up.
Sorry to be pedantic but the point of the deep focus shot in Bazin's theories is not that the spectator "cannot look away" but exactly the opposite: there are multiple focal points within the frame, and so the spectator *chooses* to look at something important. Also when Bazin refers to montage, he's referring to the Soviet idea of montage as developed by Eisenstein, Kuleshov, et al meaning the basic theory of editing in cinema, not "montage" as we think of it today.
Thanks for your comment! That is what I meant, but maybe didn't express clearly enough. The discomfort that the viewer feels forces them to choose where they are looking: are you looking at Al who is looking away, or are you looking at the veteran? Are you looking at Homer's hook, or are you looking at Fred or Al as they grow more uncomfortable? Are you taking all of these things in, able to look at every focal point, shifting around in your own discomfort, because the camera holds on this shot for so long? You cannot look away from the screen entirely is what I meant, not a single focal point, and, as I say, in my view this is enhanced by the discomfort of those scenes.
And thank you for pointing out my misuse of montage - I did know that, but that's an unfortunate slip up.