Kuleshov Effect

The Kuleshov Effect is a film editing phenomenon that illustrates how the arrangement of images affects viewers' interpretations. It suggests that the meaning of a scene can change based on the images that precede or follow it. A famous experiment by filmmaker Lev Kuleshov showed that viewers attributed different emotions to the same expressionless face depending on whether it was paired with images of food, a coffin, or a child. This effect highlights how context influences perception, demonstrating that meaning is not solely derived from individual shots but also from their sequence in storytelling.