Category Archives: Movies

Are these movies effective in the way they challenge traditional expectations of cinematic storytelling? Why or or why not?

Inception and Arrival Movie Cinematic Ambiguity Essay Essay prompt: For the two movies you watched that do not focus on a hero’s journey, how does each movie use ambiguity to engage the audience, develop character or plot, and explore complex ideas. Are these movies effective in the way they challenge traditional expectations of cinematic storytelling? […]

If your film uses exterior sets, how does nature function as a symbolic analogue to the the mood, theme, or characterization? Choose a scene. How does your film uses makeup?

DISCUSSION Watch Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane (1941; available on Swank) or Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth (2009; available on Kanopy). Read the accompanying essays about these films. Then you will submit a two-page reflection paper (APA style) explaining how acting and dramatization function in your films Be sure to write an abstract, use specific details and relate […]

Explain the concept of sound or what type of communication was used in the movie “the outsiders”. needs to be 3 paragraphs.

Communication in Film Find & Post (or post a link to) a concept of Communication in Film (photo, short video, brief piece of writing, song, etc., no one else in the class has posted to the blog yet) related to this week’s chapter(s) in Movies and Meaning. Each post should be at least three paragraphs […]

Analyze the ways in which smell is utilized in the film as theme and social comment. Analyze the term parasite and the multiple ways that it can be explained in the film. Are there oversimplifications or stereotypes that get in the way of the overall cleverly constructed message in the film?

Parasite (Bong Joon-Ho, 2019) Mini-essay (2 pages) Find a way into one of this week’s films by examining a cinematic element that you believe is crucial to your making meaning from the experience of viewing it. Use MLA or APA citation style.  Research outside sources and/or use the sources in this week’s readings as starting […]

What elements of cinema are at play, and how do they enhance or distract from the overall goal? How does the subject matter make a difference? What is the “so what” or why does the director present the content in the way that he/she does? How does it matter in the world?

The Wonders of World Cinema  Run Lola Run (Tom Tykwer, 1998) Mini-essay, 2 pages Find a way into the film by examining an element that you believe is crucial to your making meaning from the experience of viewing it.   The following compilation of questions is meant to help spark your ideas.  One of these questions […]

How does editing create a variety of functions that help develop a film’s mise en scène? Be sure to use specific details you’ve learned in Understanding Movies.

Reflection Essay Turnitin similarity score cannot be higher than 25% Submit a 1-2 page reflection on how your film uses movement and editing as defined by Chapters Three and Four in Understanding Movies. Use Robert Bresson’s Au Hasard Balthazar (1966) OR Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins (2010). Warning: 13 Assassins is a violent period samurai film. […]

Watch 2 short films and answer documentary question.

Short Film & Documentary Watch 2 short films and answer documentary question Link to my work docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LK5YM8qZ_OvwH8… Film 1: https://www.kanopy.com/en/sjsu/watch/video/144916/… Film 2: https://www.kanopy.com/en/sjsu/watch/video/86461 Type the answer directly on my google docs  

Write an overview of what the argument of the article is. What evidence he uses to prove his point. What importance he sees the types of editing have for the evolution of cinema.

Daniel Dayan ” The Tutor- Code of Classical Cinema” – Write an overview of what the argument of the article is. -What evidence he uses to prove his point. -What importance he sees the types of editing have for the evolution of cinema.

Find an article about a cultural advancement or phenomenon currently impacting the film industry. Research the author and get a sense of what perspective/bias the author is bringing. Explain what aspects of the article you might agree with.

Film Find an article about a cultural advancement or phenomenon currently impacting the film industry. Then follow these steps: Step 1. Critical response: Write a 300-500 word response to the article in which you: Summarize the article Research the author and get a sense of what perspective/bias the author is bringing. Explain what aspects of […]