The use of close-ups in The General provide the audience an opportunity to see the movie with more clarity and understanding. In the shorts that we watched prior to the film, the long shots that were used only gave the audience one depth and angle to view the movie. The Great Train Robbery, for example, only allows the audience to experience the movie from the viewpoint of a fellow robber. All the shots are had the class watching everything from behind the robbers or next to the robbers. In the case of The General, the use of dynamic close-ups let the audience develop different takes and perspectives of the film by letting them see it in more than one way.
The use of close-ups also provide depth to the film. With the shorts, the use of only one type of shot-usually long shot- limited what the actors could do as far as facial expressions and body language. With the incorporation of close-ups, the actors are given more room to show a rider range of facial expressions and body languages. The use of close ups in The General allow a closer look of the face of the actors and of the situations in which they find themselves, which provides them with a better chance to be funny and for the audience in turn to see it as funny. Combine that with the wider range in types of shots and the movie is given multiple depths and angles, resulting in more chances for the audience to understand and like the film.
The sophistication that the close ups and other shots gave to The General outshines those of the shorts that preexisted before it. The variety in shots in the film made it more engaging and aesthetically pleasing than the shorts. The diversity in shot choices also illustrate the complexity and inner workings that went into the film, which makes it more appreciated than some of the shorts. Also, the fact that there is more than one angle in which to see one scene reflects parallels the understood complexity and points of view of situations that we as people find ourselves in.
Good comments, Jeremy.
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