Film As Literature
So what does Film as Literature mean? Ultimately it means we will be studying films as if they were literature. We will study depictions of characters through dialogue, costumes, angles, and lighting. Likewise we will discuss director's choices in settings, plot development, and editing. Like literature, every film has multiple themes or messages that the creator is expressing to his or her viewers. So essentially, we will be studying and understanding film as a representation of society's values, fears, hopes, curiosities, and so on. Citizen and how the director and editors created character depictions, moods, and messages.
In order to achieve this goal, the semester is divided into several different units. Although the agenda often changes depending on the interests of the class, we will be involved in some or all of the following units:
In order to achieve this goal, the semester is divided into several different units. Although the agenda often changes depending on the interests of the class, we will be involved in some or all of the following units:
Cinematography
Cinematic Terms (fill in definitions and examples)
Theatrical Terms (Mise-en-Scene: label in ads) Literary Terms (characterization, setting, etc.) Assignments: Recognize elements in still shots Recognize and Analyze terms in comic books Spiderman Question Sheet Crave Online Film Terms Quiz |
A Brief History of Film
Silent films and Charlie Chaplin
Orson Welles and Citizen Kane
Deep focus and lighting experimentation
Viewing Notes
Write Film Analysis Essay
Alfred Hitchcock - scavenger hunt
Storyboarding - competition of modernizing short stories
Clips of The Birds, North by Northwest, and Rear Window
Watch and analyze Psycho