FILM STUDIES
UNIT ONE: FORM, STRUCTURE, MEANING, and The Art of Watching Film
- Uniqueness of Watching Film
- Challenges of Film Analysis
- Value of Film Analysis
- Becoming a Receptive Viewer
- The Viewing Environment
- Preparing to See a Film
- Deepening our Response to Film
- What is Narrative?
- Story-events inferred, Explicitly presented, Added nondiegetic material
- Range of Story
- Depth of Story
- Point of View
- Theme
- Plot-Cause and Effect, Goal Oriented/Quest
- Mood
- Character
- Style, Texture, Structure
- Ideas
- Morality
- Human Nature
- Social Problems
- Struggle for Human Dignity
- Complexity of Human Relationships
- Coming of Age/Innocence to Awareness
- A Moral or Philosophical Riddle
- Identifying and Evaluating a Theme
- Film Analysis and Literary Analysis
- Form and Content (ABACA)
- Meaning (interpretations)
- Emotional
- Referential
- Explicit
- Implicit
- Symptomatic (ideology)
- What is a Good Story?
- Unified Plot
- Credible
- Externally Observable Truths
- Internal Truths of Human Nature
- Artistic Semblance or Truth
- Interesting-Suspenseful/Action
- Simple and Complex
- Handles Emotional Material with Restraint
- Significance of Title?
- Opening?
- Ending?
- Why?
- Structure
- Linear/Chronological-Plot Chart
- Nonlinear-In medias res, Flashbacks, Flashforwards
- Temporal order
- Space
- Variation
- Development
- Unity
- Disunity
- Conflict
- 6 types
- External
- Internal
- Characterization
- Motivation (Compositional, Realistic, Intertextual or Generic, and Artistic)
- Protagonist
- Antagonist
- Stock or Stereotypes
- Static vs Dynamic or Developing characters
- Round vs Flat Characters
- Through Contrast-Foils
- Through Appearance
- Through Dialogue
- Through Action (Internal and External)
- Through Reactions of others
- Through Caricature/Leitmotif
- Through Name-name typing
- Allegory
- Symbolism
- Universal/Natural
- Repeated/Motifs
- Value placed on object by Character
- Context
- Special visual, aural, Musical emphasis
- Patterns and Progressions
- Values in Conflict
- Metaphors-visual, intrinsic, extrinsic
- Irony
- Dramatic
- Situational
- Character
- Setting
- Tone
- Verbal
- Cosmic
- See Questions for Analyzing Fictional and Dramatic Elements and Form (attached)
- Read “How to Read a Film” and take notes on article-Discuss
- See Internet Exercises at http://www.mhhe.com/filmart7 and www.mhhe.com/awf7
- Journal#1: “Why do you watch movies? What are your expectations before going? Why? What are your favorite types of movies? Why? Discuss your favorite film and your favorite scene or moment in that film? How is that film structured? Where does this scene appear? Why is it so effective?
- Journal #2: Choose a film you own and play the 1st 5-7 minutes. Discuss what you’re learned? How did you learn it?
- Journal #3: Take a film that you’re very familiar with and rearrange the order of events, elements, and/or the POV to create a new story. Explain your choices.
(3-4 weeks)
- Chapter Study Guide/Outline with Headings in each chapter and Terms to Know
- Multiple Choice, T/F, and Discussion Questions attached to outline to be done after lecture.
- Lecture explains concepts, terms, and viewing.
- Handouts with all questions/exercises at the end of each chapter of AWF and FA to be completed as homework or while taking notes (in partners or groups?). Some questions will be answered after viewing a film.
- Dvd Exercises found in AWF
- Internet Exercises: Choose one from each list/chapter assigned. Complete after lecture and share in class. Find Links on Website.
- Journals to get students to write about connections and observations will be a major part of the portfolio. They can be used to prepare for tests or used when creating their film/screenplay.
- Journal#1: “Why do you watch movies? What are your expectations before going? Why? What are your favorite types of movies? Why? Discuss your favorite film and your favorite scene or moment in that film? How is that film structured? Where does this scene appear? Why is it so effective?
- Journal #2: Choose a film you own and play the 1st 5-7 minutes. Discuss what you’re learned? How did you learn it?
- Journal #3: Your summary and response to “How to Read a Film” from Internet Exercise.
- Journal #4: Take a film that you’re very familiar with and rearrange the order of events, elements, and/or the POV to create a new story. Explain your choices.
- VIEWING: DVD Moments if Film, Wizard of OZ, Citizen Kane, Grapes of Wrath, Memento, Usual Suspects
- Alternates/Others: Raiders of the Lost Ark, GO, Groundhog Day, Sliding Doors, Out of Sight, Under Suspicion, Shadowlands.
- UNIT TEST or GROUP PROJECT to assess learning.
(3-4 weeks)
- Chapter Study Guide/Outline with Headings in each chapter and Terms to Know
- Multiple Choice, T/F, and Discussion Questions attached to outline to be done after lecture.
- Lecture explains concepts, terms, and viewing.
- Handouts with all questions/exercises at the end of each chapter of AWF and FA to be completed as homework or while taking notes (in partners or groups?). Some questions will be answered after viewing a film.
- Dvd Exercises found in AWF
- Internet Exercises: Choose one from each list/chapter assigned. Complete after lecture and share in class. Find Links on Website.
- Journals to get students to write about connections and observations will be a major part of the portfolio. They can be used to prepare for tests or used when creating their film/screenplay.
- Journal#1: “Why do you watch movies? What are your expectations before going? Why? What are your favorite types of movies? Why? Discuss your favorite film and your favorite scene or moment in that film? How is that film structured? Where does this scene appear? Why is it so effective?
- Journal #2: Choose a film you own and play the 1st 5-7 minutes. Discuss what you’re learned? How did you learn it?
- Journal #3: Your summary and response to “How to Read a Film” from Internet Exercise.
- Journal #4: Take a film that you’re very familiar with and rearrange the order of events, elements, and/or the POV to create a new story. Explain your choices.
- VIEWING: DVD Moments if Film, Wizard of OZ, Citizen Kane, Grapes of Wrath, Memento, Usual Suspects
- Alternates/Others: Raiders of the Lost Ark, GO, Groundhog Day, Sliding Doors, Out of Sight, Under Suspicion, Shadowlands.
- UNIT TEST or GROUP PROJECT to assess learning.
Film Studies Unit 1 Structure/Story/Form
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| film_unit_1.ppt |
UNIT ONE: FORM, STRUCTURE, NARRATION, and THEME
(3-4 weeks)
- Chapter Study Guide/Outline with Headings in each chapter and Terms to Know
- Multiple Choice, T/F, and Discussion Questions attached to outline to be done after lecture.
- Lecture explains concepts, terms, and viewing.
- Handouts with all questions/exercises at the end of each chapter of AWF and FA to be completed as homework or while taking notes (in partners or groups?). Some questions will be answered after viewing a film.
- Dvd Exercises found in AWF
- Internet Exercises: Choose one from each list/chapter assigned. Complete after lecture and share in class. Find Links on Website.
- Journals to get students to write about connections and observations will be a major part of the portfolio. They can be used to prepare for tests or used when creating their film/screenplay.
- Journal#1: “Why do you watch movies? What are your expectations before going? Why? What are your favorite types of movies? Why? Discuss your favorite film and your favorite scene or moment in that film? How is that film structured? Where does this scene appear? Why is it so effective?
- Journal #2: Choose a film you own and play the 1st 5-7 minutes. Discuss what you’re learned? How did you learn it?
- Journal #3: Your summary and response to “How to Read a Film” from Internet Exercise.
- Journal #4: Take a film that you’re very familiar with and rearrange the order of events, elements, and/or the POV to create a new story. Explain your choices.
- VIEWING: DVD Moments if Film, Wizard of OZ, Citizen Kane, Grapes of Wrath, Memento, Usual Suspects
- Alternates/Others: Raiders of the Lost Ark, GO, Groundhog Day, Sliding Doors, Out of Sight, Under Suspicion, Shadowlands.
- UNIT TEST or GROUP PROJECT to assess learning.
