Editing Blow Out (section)

==Themes and allusions==
Thematically, ''Blow Out'' almost "exclusively concern[s] the mechanics of movie making" with a "total, complete and utter preoccupation with film itself as a medium in which ... style really is content."<ref name="Canby">{{Cite news|last=Canby |first=Vincent |author-link=Vincent Canby |title=Travolta Stars in DePalma's 'Blow Out' |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 24, 1981 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/24/movies/travolta-stars-in-depalma-s-blow-out.html |access-date=2012-05-03 }}</ref> In numerous scenes, the film depicts the interaction of sound and images, the manner in which the two are joined together, and methods in which they are re-edited, remixed, and rearranged to reveal new truths or the lack of any objective truth.<ref name="Bouzereau" /> The film uses several of De Palma's trademark techniques: [[Split screen (video production)|split screen]], the split diopter lens, and the elaborate [[tracking shot]].<ref name="FP"/>

As with several other De Palma films, ''Blow Out'' explores the power of [[guilt (emotion)|guilt]]; both Jack and Sally are motivated to help right their past wrongs, both with tragic consequences.<ref name="Bouzereau" /> De Palma also revisits the theme of [[voyeurism]], a recurring theme in much of his previous work (ex:, ''[[Hi, Mom!]]'', ''[[Sisters (1973 film)|Sisters]]'', and ''[[Dressed to Kill (1980 film)|Dressed to Kill]]'').<ref name="Bouzereau" /> Jack exhibits elements of a [[Voyeurism|peeping tom]], but one who works with sound instead of image.<ref name="Bouzereau" />

''Blow Out'' incorporates multiple allusions both to other films and to historical events. Its protagonist's obsessive reconstruction of a sound recording to uncover a possible murder recalls both [[Michelangelo Antonioni]]'s film ''[[Blowup]]''<ref name = "Ebert">{{Cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Blow Out |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 1, 1981 |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blow-out |access-date=2012-05-03}}</ref> and [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s ''[[The Conversation]]''.<ref name=Koresky>{{cite web|last=Koresky |first=Michael |title=Sound and Fury: Michael Koresky on ''Blow Out'' |website=Reverse Shot |date=Fall 2006 |url=http://www.reverseshot.com/article/blow_out_two |access-date=March 13, 2009}}</ref> The film alludes to elements of the [[Watergate scandal]] and the [[JFK assassination]].<ref name = "Ebert" /> The film also recalls elements of the [[Chappaquiddick incident]],<ref name = "Canby" /><ref name = "Ebert" /> although De Palma intentionally tried to downplay the similarities.<ref name = "Bouzereau" /> The film references the [[Zapruder film]] as comparable to the footage shot of the accident.

De Palma also explicitly references two of his previous projects. At one point in the film, Dennis Franz watches De Palma's film ''[[Murder a la Mod]]'' on television. Originally, the character was to watch Coppola's ''[[Dementia 13]]'', but [[Roger Corman]] demanded too much for the rights.<ref name = "Bouzereau" /> A flashback where Travolta recalls an incident where his work got a police informant killed was also taken from an abandoned project, ''[[Prince of the City (film)|Prince of the City]]'', which was ultimately directed by [[Sidney Lumet]].<ref name = "Bouzereau" />