HU121: Unit 7 - Assignment

Assignment Questions:

Critical Thinking Questions (200 to 250 words):

1. Compare and contrast Ethan Edwards (the protagonist in The Searchers) and Michael Corleone. 
2. Discuss the intercutting of the baptism scenes with the murders of the rival families.  What point is Coppola making about Michael? What point is he making about the sanctity of life? 
3. Don Corleone tells Michael that he had hoped he would be able to lead a different life than the one he chose, a life outside of the criminal world.  Do you think this would have been possible for Michael even if he had not? 

Assignment Answers:

1.  The characters of Ethan Edwards (from The Searchers) and Michael Corleone (from The Godfather) are similar in many ways. At the beginning of each film, they are returning from war to their families. Shortly after their return, the families are struck with tragedy.
2. The intercutting of the baptism scenes with the murders of the rival families is interesting because it shows the two lives Michael has to now lead. The point being made by Coppola about Michael is that, even though it is a struggle for him, he is doing what is best for the family. the point being made about the sanctity of life is that we are all born pure and it is our responsibility to stay or not stay that way.
3. I do not think that it would have been possible for Michael to choose a life, even if his family wasn't killed because it is too much of what is family is and it's in his blood.

HU121: Unit 2 - Assignment Questions

Assignment Question

Critical Thinking Questions: The Searchers. 

1. Discuss how the landscape of the film affects the storyline and your reaction to the story.
2. Compare and contrast Ethan and his brother Aron.
3. There is obviously a history between Martha and Ethan. Why do you think Martha married Aron instead?
4. Why did the film's writers choose to make Ethan a Confederate veteran? How does this impact his character and the choices he makes?
5. Does John Ford's use of lighting help to create meaning? If so, how? 

Assignment Answer

The landscape for this film is amazing, but being from Utah I my be a bit bias. At first the landscape is a distraction because it is claiming that it is Texas and from what I understand, Texas is fairly flat. That statement aside, the landscape added to the storyline very well. It showed how expansive and unpopulated the land was at that time, as well as desperate the times were to survive in the wild as well as back at the homestead.

When comparing Ethan and Aron, there a only a few similarities to point out. To them both, family is very important and they are willing to do what is necessary to protect them. Another similarity between them is their love for Martha. Although not explored in the film, you can tell that the feeling between Ethan and Martha are ver strong. The contrast between them is that Ethan was hardened by experience of a soldier and see the brutality of the what people are and can do. Aron did not have these experiences to affect his decision making. As Ethan eluded to in the film, he has done things that he is not proud of.

With the obvious history between Martha and Ethan, I believe she married Aron because he has been there for her while Ethan has been away. Ethan, also has been effected by the events in his life that have made him more hateful.

The writers of the film chose to make Ethan a Confederate veteran because he gave a backstory to how he feels towards certain situations (and enemies), as well as supporting the skills he need to get Debbie back from the Comanches. 

An example of Director John Ford use of lighting to create meaning in the film is just before the attack, the sky is a fire orange and red, likely to signify the looming attack and foreshadowing to the fires of the attack.