Discourses recognizing aesthetic innovation in cinema : Bonnie and Clyde : A case study.

Within this thesis I primarily explore the notion of aesthetic innovation in the cinema. Whilst I initially intended to develop two case studies, considering films associated with two cinematic trends - the Hollywood Renaissance and Dogme 95 -the finished thesis concentrates on Bonnie and Clyde, which exemplifies the first of these. The focus entails an elaboration of the concept of innovation, adopted from economic approaches, in terms of the implications of the concept for how innovation should be analysed. In particular, this informs my focus upon the articulation of recognition of innovation, and hence discourses of innovation. In investigating the recognition of innovation in Bonnie and Clyde, I provide a detailed critical reception study, analysing the contemporary and retrospective reviews and critical accounts of the film. I develop the functional and systemic linguistic analysis of M.A.K. Halliday to underpin a workable discourse analysis approach to the contemporary reviews. I also consider the wider reception of the film, particularly in relation to the dialogues around the reviews of the film by Bosley Crowther in the New York Times. Thus, I consider the significance of the contestation around the film - in terms of its evaluation, classification and description. I consider this 'event' of the widespread contestation around the film, and the turnaround by several noted critics, and contrast the conclusions of my analysis of the event with the conventional narrativization of it.In order to consider the aesthetic characteristics of the film, I provide definitions of cinema aesthetics, adapting the notions of aesthetic norm, function and value from Jan Mukarovsky. I also develop these in relation to the concept of aestheticization, which I relate to Bonnie and Clyde and other films of the Hollywood Renaissance.The thesis constitutes an original elucidation of the notion of innovation, and an innovative application of discourse analysis to reception study.