A subjective time in film refers to the portrayal of time as it is perceived and experienced by a character, rather than its objective, linear progression. This cinematic concept delves into the psychological and emotional states of characters, influencing how the audience understands the passage of time through their eyes.
Understanding Subjective Time
Subjective time is fundamentally tied to a character's internal world. As per the reference, a subjective perspective "shows how a character feels at a specific moment." This is crucial because a character's emotional state—be it fear, joy, sorrow, confusion, or exhilaration—can profoundly alter their perception of how quickly or slowly time is passing.
- Emotional Distortion: When a character is in a moment of intense danger, time might appear to slow down (a "bullet-time" effect, for instance), allowing them to process details that would otherwise be missed. Conversely, during a period of boredom or tedium, time might feel excruciatingly slow, even if it's only a few minutes. Moments of great happiness or excitement might make time feel like it's flying by.
- Psychological States: Mental states such as trauma, delirium, dreams, or drug-induced altered consciousness can also lead to fragmented, non-linear, or distorted experiences of time.
How Subjective Time is Conveyed
Filmmakers employ various cinematic techniques to illustrate a character's subjective experience of time, effectively translating internal feelings into visual and auditory cues for the audience. These techniques often mirror the "subjective shots" mentioned in the reference, which tend to be "medium to close-up shots, with a focus on the emotional impact of a character," or even wider shots that convey feeling.
Common techniques include:
- Slow Motion: Used to emphasize a significant moment, a character's heightened perception, or to stretch out a painful or exhilarating event.
- Fast Motion/Time-Lapse: Can convey boredom, the rapid passage of a monotonous period, or a character's disengagement from their surroundings.
- Jump Cuts/Fragmented Editing: Breaks the continuity of time to suggest confusion, disorientation, or a character's fractured memory.
- Flashbacks and Flashforwards (Subjective Use): While often objective plot devices, they can be used subjectively to show a character's intrusive memories, premonitions, or desires, making their past or future feel present.
- Sound Design: Distorted, muffled, or heightened sound can indicate a character's internal state (e.g., ringing in the ears after an explosion, muffled sounds during a shock).
- Visual Distortions: Blurry vision, skewed camera angles, or surreal imagery can represent a character's altered perception due to illness, drugs, or emotional distress.
- Narrative Structure: A non-linear narrative, or one that jumps between different points in a character's timeline, can reflect their subjective experience of memory and time.
Objective vs. Subjective Time in Film
To further clarify, here's a comparison:
| Aspect | Objective Time | Subjective Time |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Linear, chronological time as it passes in the story's reality. | Time as perceived and experienced by a character's internal state. |
| Focus | Plot progression, external events, realism | Character's emotional state, psychological experience, internal conflict |
| Cinematic Tools | Standard pacing, real-time sequences, consistent editing. | Slow motion, fast motion, jump cuts, distorted sound/visuals, dream sequences. |
| Purpose | Advance narrative, maintain realism, provide clear progression. | Convey emotional impact, psychological state, create empathy, reflect internal reality. |
| Reference Link | (Standard storytelling) | Direct application of "how a character feels at a specific moment" |
Practical Insights and Examples
Consider these examples where subjective time is masterfully employed:
- Dream Sequences: Often feature non-linear time, impossible transitions, and distorted perceptions, directly reflecting the character's subconscious.
- Moments of Trauma: A character experiencing a traumatic event might see critical moments in slow motion, while the "before" and "after" blur or jump forward.
- Under the Influence: Films portraying characters under the influence of drugs or alcohol frequently use subjective time to show their disoriented perception, with time either dragging or racing uncontrollably.
By manipulating the audience's perception of time through a character's internal lens, filmmakers enhance emotional depth, build empathy, and provide unique insights into the human condition. This deep connection to "how a character feels" makes subjective time a powerful tool in cinematic storytelling.
