Sergei Eisenstein: The Hypostasis of a Teacher

High praise for the long-term teaching work of the Soviet theater and film director, artist, screenwriter, and art theorist Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein (1898—1948) in oral presentations and the memoirs of colleagues, students, and contemporaries has not led to a scientifically grounded study of the phenomenon of Eisenstein-teacher or the structure of his professional pedagogical personality. The director is the author of fundamental works on cinematography theory. Having received his Doctor of Art History (1939), he worked for many years as a professor at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). The aim of this study is to reconstruct Eisenstein’s professional pedagogical personality based on memoirs, original works, reminiscences, and other sources related to the director’s life, work, and teaching activity. Using the literary method, a significant volume of texts positioning Eisenstein’s professional personality was examined. Using the method of reconstruction and conceptualization based on the available information, the essential properties of the director’s pedagogical personality were formulated. Using the cognitive modeling method, a model of the professional personality of Eisenstein-teacher was created, including the following characteristics: 1. Implementation of positive pedagogy based on the development of creative individuality; 2. Combination of theoretical training with industrial practice; 3. Teaching theoretical material with reliance on visualization of presentation; 4. Combination of teaching cinematography as a system and improvisation; 5. Demonstration of learning outcomes through openness of the educational process and external evaluation; 6. Creation of a creative product with the involvement of documentary facts, scientific data; 7. Use of experiment and innovative methods in teaching and science; 8. Combination of objectivity of theoretical material with reliance on personal experience, experience of colleagues, “customization” of theory; 9. Physical development of the individual based on biomechanics. Eisenstein is considered one of the greatest teachers in the history of cinema, and his legacy remains relevant. Students from Eisenstein’s workshop became leaders of Soviet cinema, which proves the effectiveness of his teaching and the integrity of his professional pedagogical personality.

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