HU121: Unit 10 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:

Looking At Movies, by Barsam and Monahan

Read Chapter 11

Discussion Question:

Paranormal Activity is a recent addition to our nation's long history of horror films. What's your favorite scary movie of all time? Using your knowledge of film and the vocabulary from this class, tell us what makes it so scary. It would help to describe the sound, the shots, the acting, the lighting, and so on. Make us believe it really is the scariest movie out there!

Discussion Answer:

In general, I am not a fan of horror genre at all. That being said I do have a few films of the genre that I do enjoy. Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece The Shining is one of those few films. Throughout the presentation of the film, many different types of shots are used to build the suspense and the fear. 

Through the use of many creepy close up shots, especially of Jack Nicholson, raising his signature eyebrows help illustrate the insanity going on inside his head. Another example of different shots is when the family is traveling up to the hotel, there is a high-angle shot done from a helicopter, following them giving the sense they are being watched. Another type of shot that is used quite frequently in the film are jump shots. The shot that comes to mind is when Danny is riding his three wheel around and sees the twin girls and the shot is jumping from a full-body shot to a close-up shot to create tension.

Jack Nicholson, one of my favorite actors, is extremely creepy in this film. He really makes you think that he is completely out of his mind. The way he speaks the lines. The way he expressed with his face. Amazing work!

HU121: Unit 8 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:
Chapter #8 (Pages ???-???)
Looking At Movies, by Barsam and Monahan


Discussion Question:

Why was this film (SHREK) done as an animation? Would this film have been successful as a live action movie? Why or why not?

Discussion Answer:

My belief is that this film was done in animation because it is about fairy tale creatures (as fractured as they are) and as these creatures are generally drawn for storybooks and read during bedtimes are best presented in this way because   gives the viewer a sense of familiarity. I believe these SHREK films and spinoffs would have been less successful as a live action movie because the actions and creatures would be out of their context would not feel believable and would take the viewer out of the atmosphere of the film.

HU121: Unit 7 - Reading & Discussion Question

Assigned Reading:

Chapter 7

Pages...

Discussion Question:


Do films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino, and Donny Brasco glorify the lives of those involved in organized crime? 
What about HBO's award-winning series The Sopranos? 
Why do so many people find Tony Soprano to be a sympathetic character?


Discussion Answer:


The darker side of humanity has always been glorified in films and organized crime is no exception. The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and Donnie Brasco  are just a few films about organized crime where they are glorified by showing a lifestyle of excess, without consequence and where a lot of money can be made. The HBO's award-winning series The Sopranos is no different, but the title character Tony Soprano has been found to be a sympathetic character because he is essentially a family man just trying to provide for them.

HU121: Unit 6 Discussion Question

Discussion Question:

2001: A Space Odyssey examines the benefits as well as the hazards of technology. This film was groundbreaking in its day; many films with a similar theme have followed it, including Star Wars (think of the Death Star), The Terminator films, and I, Robot. How do you feel about the current advances in technology, specifically in robotics and computers? Do you see these advancements as completely beneficial or not? Why?

Discussion Answer:

When considering the modern advancements of technology, specifically in robotics and computers, it is very exciting and frightening at the same time. Exciting because the advancement in medicine, crime investigation and mobile technology are extremely beneficial to the world by saving lives, solving crimes and improving communication. Frightening, because we could create something that would work so well that it would eliminate jobs or even worse a weapon that would destroy are planet. Most advancements benefit society, but occasionally we create something that destroys us.

Assignment Questions:

Critical Thinking Questions (300 to 400 words): Rear Window. Submit your assignment using the link above (due on Sunday of this unit; 20 points).

1. Discuss the sound design in the film. How did the score create mood? Give examples of scenes and explain how the mood would have changed with a different score.
2. Discuss the pacing of this film. How does the pacing create tension? Give examples.
3. Hitchcock often uses a plot device called a "macguffin." Was there a macguffin in this film? What is a macguffin? Explain this in your own words. (A macguffin is defined in our text on pg. 34).

Assignment Answers:

1. Hitchcock did something different with Rear Window than what is usually done with most films and uses very little sound. Part of this is due to the distance that Jeff is away from everyone and everything. One of the many times the "score" created a mood is when the music was being played in another apartment was so beautiful, that distracted Lisa while she was in Thornwell's apartment looking around for clues to the murder. With a different and more literal score like the one in The Birds, for example, would have taken all intimacy out of the film.
2. The pacing for Rear Window is very slow, but done very literally because he tension is created by slowly giving us hints and clues to everyone's story but not giving full details until the end when everyone is revealed and our imagination has been through all the scenerios. For example, there are clues about Thornwell killing his wife but we aren't sure until he is attacked by Jeff so it doesn't get out.
3. Hitchcock's macguffin for this film was Mrs. Thornwell's wife's wedding ring is  because she wouldn't take it off for any reason and is the first major clue the to surface and needs to be given to police for them to investigate the crime further. A macguffin is an object in a film the drives the action. For example, in Back To The Future, part II, the sports almanac Marty puchases (in the future) is the macguffin because all action is to recover it from Biff (in the past) before he uses it.

HU121: Unit 3 - Discussion Questions

Discussion Question:

How are Han Solo and Ethan Edwards alike? How are they different? When Star Wars was released in 1977, audiences cheered for Han Solo. Do you think audiences rooted on Ethan Edwards when The Searchers was first released in 1956? Why or why not?

Discussion Answer:

Being asked to compare Ethan Edwards and Han Solo is an interesting situation because their films are technically different genres. That being said, Star Wars, according to creator George Lucas was modeled after the spaghetti westerns.

Ethan Edwards and Han Solo play by their own rules and are both excellent men to have on your side. The ways that they are different are the ways they handle things. Ethan is hard-nosed and very much a man in a mission. Han Solo, on the other hand, is driven strictly by money and is happy with just getting by and enjoying the ride.

I believe the audiences did root for Ethan Edwards when The Searchers was first released in 1956 because when a tragedy strikes a family, people want to get some type of justice (or revenge) back and Ethan went out and brought kidnapped Debbie home.

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.

HU121: Unit 2 - Discussion Question

The Searchers (1956) IMDb / Wikipedia / NetFlix

Discussion Question:

Is Ethan Edwards a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

Discussion Answer:

The character of Ethan Edwards, played brilliantly by John Wayne, is a very sympathetic character. Throughout the film there are many examples that support this statement. 

Firstly, after the initial attack, Ethan stopped Martin from seing what happen to Martha. He was protecting Martin from an unnecessary terror, so strongly that he knocked him down with a blow to the face. 

Secondly, when he found Lucy remains later from a brutal attack, Ethan chose not to tell Brad because of his possible reaction. When Brad did find out, his reaction to the information, got him killed.

For my final example, his strong expression of compassion in the film is in the final scene is when he is face to with Debbie and instead of killing her, he returns her back to home.

HU121: Film In Society, Unit 1 - Discussion Question

Discussion Question:
What is your favorite film ever? 
What genre is it classified as? 
Why is it your favorite film?


Discussion Answer:

When I am what my favorite film is, I have to answer hands down... Braveheart. Braveheart is considered to be in the action-adventure genre. The reason I consider Braveheart my favorite film is because of the amazing scenery the is prominently featured in the opening segment. Another thing that I admire was the casting of the young William Wallace, how did the find a kid with those same piercing blue eyes. Additionally, I love the battle scenes, even as bloody as some of them are... they are well choreographed and edited. Mel Gibson, does a amazing job as the director and actor in this film. 

Grade: 100%


Links:
Official / IMDb / Wikipedia

Trailer:

HU121: Film In Society (Syllabus)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITE:

Prerequisite: None. 
Students develop an appreciation of film as a visual art, examining ways in which films impact our culture, our economy, and our society.

TEXT/SUPPLIES:

Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film, 
Barsam, 3e, W.W. Norton, 2009

ISBN: 9780393934632

Pocket Guide to APA Style, 
Perrin, 4e, Cengage Learning, 2011

ISBN: 9780495912637

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

1. Discuss the importance film plays in our society and culture.
2. Compare film to other forms of art.
3. Explain the relationship among characters, events and meanings.
4. Analyze different film genres and their effect on the audience.
5. Critically evaluate the overall message of the film applying the use of props, settings, costumes, lighting, acting, cinematography, and sound.
6. Demonstrate in writing or presentation, a knowledge of one or more of the above objectives.
7. Demonstrate research methods in a project/presentation involving a discussion of a film in its historical and theoretical context.