Final Exam Study Guide

From our Class Discussions:

Editing

Cinematography

Point of View

Framing

Mise-en-scène

Continuity

Genre

Narration

Close-Up

Camera Pan

Camera Tilt

Tracking Shot

Film Noir (Five characteristics)

Femme Fatale

B Movies (Five characteristics)

MacGuffin

Foil

Farce

Unreliable Narrator

Concepts from the readings: (I’ve placed them in the order in which they appear in the coursepack and grouped them by article.  Start after Sunset Boulevard.)

Synchronous Sound and Asynchronous Sound

Direct Cinema/Cinema Verité

Avant-garde film

Ethnographic Documentaries

Fusion/Fission (in horror films)

Explain the difference between long takes and long shots.

Final Paper Assignment

NOTE: Make sure you refer to class readings at least once in this paper. You can either use a direct quote or paraphrase an idea presented in the readings. You will not need to u se a works cited page, but make sure you use MLA’s in-text citations. For more information, you can read the OWL’s MLA in-text citations article: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/

Option 1:

Examine the way in which a concept is explored in one of the films we watched in the second half of the semester. You could, for example, look at the way in which The Host or Blade Runner presents technology or how The Gleaners and I or Sunset Boulevard portrays aging. What message is the film trying to give about the particular concept you have selected? How are the elements of film (screenplay, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, characters/acting, costumes, sound) used to make this point? You don’t need to address every element of film in your response, but you should address at least three in detail. While you want to make some overall claims about how the film as a whole addresses the concept you have selected, you also want to linger on particular moments that make your point and analyze the filmmakers’ use of the elements of film as you make your argument.

Option 2:

You can do a critique of one of the films from the second half of the semester from a particular perspective: gender, race, class, sexuality, age, disability, etc. You can either explain why the film misrepresents the perspective you have selected or how it portrays it particularly well. For example, in class we discussed the problematic way in which the character of Melanie is portrayed in The Birds—looking at Melanie’s passivity in the face of danger and her need for protection would be a negative critique. We also discussed how in The Host the patriarch, Hee-bong, is portrayed as a cunning, heroic and strong man in spite of his old age. Focusing on his journey to protect his family would be a positive critique

How are the elements of film (screenplay, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, characters/acting, costumes, sound) used in order to either portray the perspective you are focusing on positively or negatively? You don’t need to address every element of film in your response, but you should address at least three in detail. Make sure to make some overall claims about how the film as a whole addresses the perspective (gender, race, class, sexuality, age, disability, etc.) you have selected, but also linger on particular moments in the film and address the filmmakers’ use of the elements of film as you make your argument.

Make sure when you critique a film that you also show the other side. No film we’ve seen this semester is entirely racist or homophobic or treats whatever perspective you choose for your critique flawlessly. You should also acknowledge the things that the film does well (or poorly) in your critique.

Option 3:

You can choose two films that you feel represent a concept such as love, national identity or what it means to be a human being in different ways. You will tell us how each film represents the concept you’re discussing and then show us what you mean by pinpointing certain moments/scenes in the film that support your point.

How are the elements of film (screenplay, mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, characters/acting, costumes, sound) used in order to present the concept you are focusing on? You don’t need to address every element of film in your response, but you should address at least three in detail. Make sure to make some overall claims about how the films as a whole address the concept you have selected, but also linger on particular moments in the film and analyze the filmmakers’ use of the elements of film as you make your argument.

You will compare and contrast both portrayals as a way to end your paper.

If you’d like to choose one film from the first half of the semester for this option, you can, but it cannot be a film you have already written about.

You may NOT write this paper without watching the scenes you choose a plurality of times before and as you write. Do not write about the scenes that we have discussed in class. There are limited copies of the films we’ve watched on reserve at Hicks. If you can’t get a hold of those, rent the movie either through Netflix or a video store or use scenes to which you have access on YouTube. I am expecting a detailed visual analysis. You will not be able to do this from memory.

Your paper should be double-spaced and 4-5 pages long (1,200-1,600 words). Your name must be on the assignment and you need to give it a title. The paper is due on Sunday, December 12 at midnight. I will return work electronically. Everyone will receive their graded assignments within two weeks of turning them in, but not all at the same time. I will return them as I grade them, and I will grade them in the order that they reach my inbox at: hidalgoatpurdue@gmail.com.

First Paper Assignment

Pick one scene from one of the films we’ve watched, explain its function within the film (Is it to create suspense? To reveal or hide an important aspect of the plot? To showcase a certain emotion between two characters? The options are endless), and then show us how it accomplishes that function by discussing two of the elements of film we’ve studied in class (cinematography, editing, mise-en-scène, sound, characters, screenplay, props/costumes).  Please review each of the elements you want to use before you write about them.  Make sure to tie your analysis throughout to what you’re arguing the scene is doing.

You may NOT write this paper without watching the scene you choose a plurality of times before and as you write.  Do not write about the scenes that we have discussed in class.  There are limited copies of the films we’ve watched on reserve at Hicks.  If you can’t get a hold of those, rent the movie either through Netflix or a video store or use a scene to which you have access on YouTube.  I am expecting a detailed visual analysis.  You will not be able to do this from memory.

Your paper should be double-spaced and 4-5 pages long (1,200-1,600 words).  Your name must be on the assignment and you need to give it a title.  The paper is due on Saturday, October 9 at midnight. I will return work electronically.  Everyone will receive their graded assignments within two weeks of turning them in, but not all at the same time.  I will return them as I grade them, and I will grade them in the order that they reach my inbox at: hidalgoatpurdue@gmail.com.

Extra Credit Assignment

You can earn up to two points of extra credit by watching any of the movies below (each of the movies will be worth one percentage point) and writing a 300-400 word response to the film in which you do the following:

Describe in detail how the film uses cinematography, editing, sound, or casting/characters in order to portray humanity and/or society in a certain way.  For example, in Faces Cassavetes uses handheld, chaotic and fragmented cinematography in order to go against the Hollywood aesthetic and create a sense of realism and honesty so that his message about our inability to communicate will resonate more strongly with his audience.  That would be your main point and you would then show how that is done in the film with detailed examples, discussing one or two scenes to illustrate your point.

Extra credit is due on Sunday, November 28. You can turn it in as you complete it by emailing it to ahidalgo@purdue.edu.  I will accept no late extra credit no matter what the circumstances are.

The list of films below tries to present a perspective of the world that is different from the one we usually see in the theaters, ie. the work of white, male, middle-class filmmakers.   Except for the last group of films, which deal with queer sexuality, every film here is made by female and male directors of color.  Many of them come from countries other than the U.S. and England.

I have added the link to the films’ imdb page so you can explore them before you commit to them, but I recommend that you don’t read the summaries, as it will ruin your watching experience.  Please do not choose films that you have already seen but try to get to know new work, which is one of the main goals of this assignment.  If you have questions about what you would like to watch, please email me or talk to me after class and I’ll give you some suggestions.

African American Cinema:

Barbershop (Tim Story –Comedy 2002) A day in the life of a Chicago barbershop.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303714/

Crooklyn (Spike Lee – Drama/Comedy 1994) A young African American girl deals with family turmoil.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109504/

Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee – Drama/Comedy 1989) A tumultuous day in the life of a racially mixed Brooklyn neighborhood.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/

Friday (F. Gary Gray –Comedy/Drama 1995) A relaxed Friday afternoon in an African American neighborhood turns complicated.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/

Malcolm X (Spike Lee and Barry Alexander Brown – Drama 1992) A biopic of the Black Panther’s leader.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104797/

Precious (Lee Daniels – Drama 2009) A young African American incest victim tries to get her life together.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0929632/

Latina/o Cinema:

Amores Perros (Alejandro González Iñárritu – Drama 2000)  A fragmented story of love, sorrow and violence in Mexico (beware of violence).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245712/

Babel (Alejandro González Iñárritu – Drama 2006) Four interlaced stories in Mexico, Japan, Morocco and the U.S look at our inability to communicate with each other.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/

Central Station (Walter Salles – Drama 1998) A Brazilian street boy and an amoral woman find comfort in each other.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140888/

Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón – Sci Fi/Thriller 2007)  In 2027 London no one has been able to conceive a child for 18 years.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/

City of God (Fernando Meirelles – Drama 2002) The real life story of gang life in a Brazilian ghetto (beware of violence).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/

María Full of Grace (Joshua Marston – Drama 2004)  A young Colombian woman joins the drug trade in hopes of finding a better life.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/

Real Women Have Curves (Patricia Cardoso – Comedy/Drama 2002) The feisty daughter of Mexican immigrants is forced to work at her sister’s dress factory for the summer.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296166/

The Secret in Their Eyes (Juan José Campanella – Thriller/Drama 2009) A retired legal counselor revisits the murder case that ruined his life.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/

Y tu mamá también (Alfonso Cuarón – Drama/Comedy 2001)  A woman and two teenage boys take a road trip through Mexico and end up in a love triangle (beware of graphic sexual content).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/

Indian and New Zealand Cinema:

Bend It Like Beckham (Gurinder Chadha – Comedy 2002) The daughter of Indian immigrants living in London tries to convince her parents to allow her to play soccer.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499/

Bride & Prejudice (Gurinder Chadha – Musical Comedy 2004) Jane Austen’s classic story retold through an Indian/American romance.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361411/

Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair – Drama/Comedy 2001) An Indian family’s secrets are revealed as a wedding celebration unfolds.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265343/

Mississippi Masala (Mira Nair – Drama/Comedy 1991) An Indian immigrant and an African American man fall in love.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102456/

Water (Deepa Mehta – Drama 2005) A young Indian girl is widowed while still a child and banished from society as was customary for widows till the mid 20^th century in India.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240200/

Whale Rider (Niki Caro – Drama/Comedy 2002) A young Maori girl in New Zealand fights sexism so she can be allowed to take her rightful place within her tribe.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298228/

Asian Cinema:

Kikujiro (Takeshi Kitano – Comedy/Drama 1999) A young Japanese boy goes in search of his mother and on the way meets some very colorful characters.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199683/

Not One Less (Yimou Zhang – Drama/Comedy 1999) A young Chinese girl becomes the teacher at a small school and goes searching for one of her missing students.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209189/

Raise the Red Lantern (Yimou Zhang – Drama 1991) A young Chinese woman becomes the fourth wife of a rich man to catastrophic consequences.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101640/

The Road Home (Yimou Zhang – Drama 1999) A Chinese girl falls in love with the village teacher.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235060/

Shower (Yang Zhang – Comedy/Drama 1999) A Chinese businessman returns home after a long absence.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215369/

Queer Cinema:

Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee – Drama 2005) Two cowboys fall in love and have to brave American homophobia.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/

The Crying Game (Neil Jordan – Drama/Comedy 1992) A British soldier is kidnapped by the IRA only to find love through a labyrinth of circumstances (beware of some sexual content).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104036/

French Twist (Josiane Balasko – Comedy 1995) A philandering French man learns that his wife is in love with a woman (beware of some sexual content).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113149/

The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko– Comedy 2010) A lesbian couple’s children decide to bring their birth father into their lives.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842926/

My Summer of Love (Pawel Pawlikowski– Comedy/Drama 2004) Two British teenage girls fall in love and wreak havoc upon their small town.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0667734/

Saving Face (Alice Wu – Comedy 2004) A Chinese-American doctor tries to juggle her relationships with her girlfriend and her mother.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384504/

A Single Man (Tom Ford – Drama 2009) An English professor mourns his lover’s death.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1315981/

Welcome to English 286 The Movies

Dear English 286 Students,

Welcome to our class website.  The purpose of this site is to provide you with easy access to our syllabus and the different assignments we will work on throughout the semester, as well as extra credit opportunities.  While it is best to reach me through email, you can also leave comments here, as I will visit the site often.

I hope that in this class you will learn to look at films from a new perspective.  My aim is to help you go beyond plot, character development and special effects so that you can start relating to film as a genre.  How is a film edited in order to frighten you or making you cry?  How does the soundtrack cause you to feel certain emotions?  How does the mise-en-scène create a particular mood ?  We will discuss the answers to these questions as we go on our film journey together.

I am very happy to be working with you and certain that we will have a very productive and enjoyable semester!

Alex