The Kubrick Paper

Your film analysis papers need to consist of a scholarly analysis of one or more of the major interpretative theories concerning the film, The Shining. Feel free to combine several.

The theories are as follows:

• The Native American Genocide 

• The Holocaust

• Greek Mythology: Theseus, the Minotaur, and the Labyrinth
• Apollo 11
• A Parody of Gothic Horror (The easiest!)
• Fairy Tales
• "The Blood on Which Nations Are Built": A Judgment on Humanity

Outline

I. Intro

   A. Introduction/explanation of your theory

   B. Thesis: a complex sentence indicating specifically what your paper will prove

II. Body 1 

   A. Quote or idea from a source

   B. Analysis of the aforementioned idea supported by specific references to the film

III. Body 2

   A. Quote or idea from a source

   B. Analysis of the aforementioned idea supported by specific references to the film

IV. Body 3

   A. Quote or idea from a source

   B. Analysis of the aforementioned idea supported by specific references to the film

V. Conclusion - Revisit the thesis and the main ideas explored in the paper

VI. Works Cited - Appears on a separate page; does not count towards the overall length

Sources

• You must use information that appears from the excerpt from the book, On Kubrick. We read chapter V: "Horrorshow."
• https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwK5KTf3lgcAUW8zLTZiZmpRZ1JudmlUOGVVNC1XbEYzaU5R/view?usp=sharing
• I also recommend the following site: http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/
• You must also cite a YouTube analysis video from Rob Ager/Collative Learning or another reputable critic/channel.
• How to cite a YouTube video: here.

Format/Citation

• The paper must be properly MLA formatted. It must contain multiple in-text citations, and the works cited must be properly formatted.
• If there are no in-text citations and no works cited page, the paper is technically plagiarized. Anticipate an automatic failure.

The best source of information regarding MLA formatting is the Online Writing Lab of Purdue University: The OWL.

We are citing a chapter from the book, On Kubrick. The proper MLA works cited entry for the book would appear as follows:

Naremore, James. "Horrorshow." On Kubrick. London: British Film Institute, 2007. Print.

To use information from the book in the essay, you must use an in-text citation. There are two ways to do this correctly.

• Firstly, you may opt to simply mention the title of the book and the author. Then, you simply need to include the page number in parenthesis.

In On Kubrick, the author, James Naremore, postulates that The Shining is a Freudian horror film that portrays Jack Torrance as a terrifying, nightmarish father figure (287).

• Secondly, you may simply include a quote or idea from the excerpt without mentioning the author or the title. In this case, the parenthetical in-text citation must include the author's last name and a page number.

The Shining is a Freudian horror film that portrays Jack Torrance as a terrifying, nightmarish father figure (Naremore 287).

Due Date/Requirements

The paper must be submitted via Google Classroom!

• Size 12, Times New Roman font
• Double-spaced
• No cover page!
• MLA header/page numbers
• 1" margins
• No hanging indents
• Complex thesis statement
• At least 3 in-text citations
• Multiple specific references to the film itself
• 3 scholarly sources all of which must be used in the body of the paper
• 3-5 pages; the works cited page gets its own page; it does not count towards the overall length

Wes Anderson Project

The Wes Anderson Project

As a class, we are going to be responsible for assembling a collection of Wes Anderson-inspired short films, skits, et al.

You can film an existing scene in the style of Anderson, create a trailer for a fictional movie, or experiment with stop-motion animation. Be creative. Be quirky.

The class needs to complete 5 short films, each approximately 3 minutes in length. Work together! There are a good deal of talented people available to help!

The following elements must be present:

1. Tracking shots and pans used for humorous effect
2. Identifiable use of a distinct color palette
3. Mise en Scene: Create at least one carefully constructed and shot setting
4. Wes Anderson-esque music: The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, etc.
5. Slow motion
6. Narration

*You may use stop-motion animation in lieu of any of the 2 elements listed above.

All of the aforementioned do not need to be repeatedly present; rather, they must appear at least once. For the sake of this project, story-telling can take a backseat to style. 

You will be graded on your comprehension of his style and your creativity.

Have fun!

Due Wednesday May, 11th.

Parodies

Mise En Scene

Slow Motion

Metropolis: The Radiohead Cut

+

Part 1:

http://vimeo.com/13696528

Part 2:

http://vimeo.com/13697227

Part 3:

http://vimeo.com/13734396

Part 4:

http://vimeo.com/13698492

Part 5:

http://vimeo.com/13708773

Part 6:

http://vimeo.com/13739810

Your Assignment:

• Read this article on the film - Metropolis
• Write responses to these questions.
• Upload your responses to the questions to Google Classroom by Thursday, March 4th.

Hamlet Projects

What follows is 5 different versions of Hamlet's 4th soliloquy.

1. Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film version
2. Sir Laurence Olivier's 1948 film version
3. Mel Gibson's 1990 film version
4. Richard Burton's 1964 stage version
5. David Tennant's 2009 film version

In a comment posted to Google Classroom, explain which version you feel is the best cinematic representation of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Explain which version you feel is the poorest depiction of the speech. Be specific. 

Post your responses to Google Classroom by Monday, February 8th. 

Starting next week, you will all be responsible for creating a short film in which you create an original depiction of "To be or not to be." Here are the basic guidelines:

• You may work alone or in a group of 2-3 students. 
• You may recruit outside help.
• For example, Paula recruited Sophia last year to portray Hamlet. She is a great thespian.
• You must depict the entirety of the speech.
• You may not omit lines, change the order of the speech, or alter the language in any way.
• You do not have to memorize the speech.

Mr. Lockwood is looking for editing fluency and creativity. He is also looking for process. Plan your film ahead with storyboards and distinct visual planning.  And too setting of the piece, where does it take place?  How are you going to use the camera (angles, shots, lighting) to show his thought process (words and actions)?

Mr. Clark, is looking for dramatic flair and creativity. You must bring the poetic language of Shakespeare to life. The speech must make sense dramatically, following an appropriate emotional cycle, vacillating between determination, fear, hesitation, and resignation.

Due Dates:

Tuesday, February 9th: annotated speech.

• Fully annotate the speech--denote the emotional aspects of the lines, mark pauses, etc.
• This must guide and shape the performance and depiction of the speech.

Thursday, February 11th: storyboards

• Mr. Lockwood must receive a storyboard (visual OR written outline) for your short film. Your ideas, themes, and visual motifs must be explained.

Tuesday, February 16th

Completed films must be uploaded to YouTube by the end of the day on Tuesday, February 16th. You must upload your link to Google Classroom. 

Some ideas to consider:

• Period-correct Shakespeare is boring. Update and modernize the play.
• That being said, Hamlet's attire and appearance must be appropriate. Whether depicted as a 16th century prince or a 20th century college student, Hamlet always wears black.
• Hamlet suffers from a fractured mind. Some productions employ multiple actors on stage simultaneously to depict this. It also lessens the load of memorization.
• Use props and setting in an appropriate manner.  There should be some object/prop that Hamlet uses while he contemplates his situation.

Creed's Long Shot

Pleasantville

Yesterday in class, we watched the 1998 film, Pleasantville. Though not technically a dystopia, the film is more a rejection of a utopia, and in particular, the overly perfect and fake world of 1950's American TV sitcoms.

In simplest terms, a world of predictability and sameness is far from perfect; moreover, it's just not human.

The film's use of color and symbolism is also notable.

Blog Post Assignment

Directions: Select any of the following prompts and compose a thoughtful response. You may also choose to focus on a topic of your own creation. Make sure you have a main idea if you choose this option.

Support your analysis with specific references to the film, and, if possible, analyze the film's many illusions to the Bible, television, and other films.

• Television – What role does television play in society? How can it be harmful? How do we construct our values from TV?  What impact does it have in the film?

• Innocence – Does Pleasantville represent a place of innocence without evil, or is it hell?  Explain.

• Technology – Technology will destroy or save us. Which statement is correct?

• Book Burning – Is there a time when censorship should be allowed? How does this conflict with creativity?

• Individuality – Is it better to be an individual or part of a group? Relate to film.

• High School Sports – Some say sports help people learn teamwork and responsibility. Others say sports enforce conformity and destroy independence. Which is correct?

• Acceptance Of Change – How does Pleasantville depict change over time?  Good, Bad, indifferent? Is change the only permanent thing? Explain.

• Intolerance – Discuss examples of intolerance in American society.  How does Pleasantville relate?

• Utopia/Dystopia – Is it possible for humans to create a utopia? Why or why not? Explain.

• Free Will – What does Pleasantville say about free will?  Do the people have free choices, or are they determined?

• The "Apple"/Knowledge – Sex, information, art, love, loneliness—are these forces liberating or corrosive? Explain.

• Color – What does Pleasantville say about color?  What do the "colored" people represent?

Your analysis must be at least 500 words in length.
Completed responses must be uploaded to Google Classroom by midnight this Friday (12/4).

Read p. 23-24, ya'll. Let's discuss isolationism.