Today an interesting thought was put forward in our Media lectorial. After enduring 30 minutes of one-sided discussion about ontography, the importance of thinking and a quick drop of René Descartes’ ‘Cogito’ statement (‘I think, therefore, I am – Cogito ergo sum‘), we were approached by a guest speaker dealing with the idea and purpose of editing.

Editing is usually associated with the idea of fixing media material. However, today, it was revealed that it holds a much more pivotal and creative role than simply fixing errors in the recording process. The sheer importance of editing as  a method to stimulate meaning was discussed through the concept of ‘cutting’ a shot. As we watch a sequence, we notice the different cuts, the different fragments – but we view the sequence as a whole.

We were told this is due to our brains filling in the gaps between the shots. The fact that our brain is able to do this means that we are able to recognise the importance of the shot being cut between shot A and shot. This recognition forms the basis of the meaning that our brain produces for us – it recognises that the two shots are important and have a relation, and our brain finds a link.

We were shown a short sequence from ‘Space Odyssey (2001)’ which depicted a pre-historic ape throwing a bone into the air, then the scene cuts to a space station orbiting the earth. What makes this cut so important?

Is it perhaps that our brain is able to recognise spacial patterns? Such as the bone being a similar shape to the space station? Or is the fact that the settings from shot A to shot B are so different, that meaning is illuminated through contrast? One could argue that these techniques promote implicit and symptomatic meanings within a film, in the sense that different, subjective interpretations can be gathered.

However, it is without question that the last statement: ‘Larger gaps create higher meaning’ resonated strongly within us all.