film theory and analysis lesson 12. film theory and analysis manu scansani e-mail...
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Film Theory and Analysis
Lesson 12
Film Theory and AnalysisManu Scansani
Office Hours: (Room 1#511)Monday 11.45/12.45;Wednesday 16.00/17.00
QQ: 1417650393
Niko Brauer
Office Hours: (Room 1#519)Thursday 12.30/14.00
QQ: 1265906802
http://filmanalysis.weebly.com
Film Screening (next week)
Horror Films – Monday 17.30/20
The Shining [闪灵 ] (S Kubrick, 1980, 142 min)
(Cinema)
• Film Corner – Monday 20.00 (3♯102-1/102-2)
This Week
• Essay... and Exam!
• War Films: Why do we watch films that will make us feel bad?
Essay!
• Congratulations – most of you have handed in your essay!
• If you have not done so yet – you will already have lost many marks. Hand it in – or you will get a zero!
• Your essay will be returned to you with your grade before exams start.
Final Exam
• The final exam will cover material from the textbook and the films you have seen.
• As long as you have read the textbook, paid attention in class and watched the compulsory film each week, you will have no problems on the exam.
• Textbook topics we will not cover: Critical Perspectives (Unit 5) and Romance Film (Unit 11)
Final Exam
• Remember that your final exam is 40 percent of your final grade.
• If you do well in your essay, you must also do well in your final exam
• If you do badly in the essay, it is even more important to do well in the exam
• The exam is theoretical – learn the theory and watch the films!!
FilmsFor the exam, you must have seen the
following films:• The Matrix [黑客帝国 ] (A&L Wachowski, 1999, 136 min)• Forrest Gump [阿甘正传 ] (R Zemeckis, 1994, 142 mins)• American Beauty [美国丽人 ] (S Mendes, 1999, 122 min)• The Bond Films [007詹姆斯庞德 ]• Se7en [七宗罪 ] (D Fincher, 1995, 127 min)• The Godfather [教父 ] (FF Coppola, 1972, 175 min)• Apocalypse Now [现代启示录 ] (FF Coppola, 1979, 153 min)• The Shining [闪灵 ] (S Kubrick, 1980, 142 min) [next Monday]• 2001: A Space Odyssey [2001太空漫游 ] (S Kubrick, 1968,
141 min) [Monday, May 31]
Readings for next week• Must make sure to have read by next week:[Theory]• Unit 1: History & Genres• Unit 2: Character and Performance• Unit 3: Narrative• Unit 4: Style[Genres]• Unit 6: Blockbuster Films• Unit 7: Comedies• Unit 8: Social Drama Film• Unit 9: Action Film• Unit 10: Neo-noir Film• Unit 12: Gangster Film• Unit 13: War Film
War Films
• Films about current, recent or historical military conflicts
• Popular subjects: Vietnam War, World War II, War on Terror / Iraq / Afghanistan War
• War films rarely provide a balanced assessment of either side and their opinions, although most try to be realistic / truthful.
• War films are the only type of films in which mass murder is acceptable
War Films
• Historically, Hollywood war films have been very positive and supportive of US military operations as a result of US Victory in the Second World War
• War films would portray heroes that are brave warriors doing their patriotic duty and sacrificing themselves for their country.
• As a result, filmmakers were able to use military equipment, personnel and information during filming and production
Clip: The Green Berets, Trailer
War Films
• During the Vietnam War, public opinion about the war turned negative, and war films started to be more critical
• Today, few, if any, American war films are glorifications of military conflicts.
• Critical war films about current conflicts, such as The Hurt Locker, can have a large influence on political decisions.Why do you think this is?
War Films: Narrative
• Modern war films often revolve around a male, isolated protagonist who works in a team on a specific mission.
• The film tells the character’s ongoing emotional development as he witnesses events of war and confronts challenges.
• Often, the resolution/denouement of war films features the protagonist’s critical reflection on the war and his own development.
War Films: Clips
• Green Beret: Trailer• Apocalypse Now: Flight of the
Valkyries [00:30:00, 20 mins]• Full Metal Jacket: Sniper Attack
[01:29:00, 25 mins]• The Hurt Locker: Opening Sequence
[Beginning]