Paper 3 – 4 pages for my History to cinema class
Objective: The idea of this assignment is to examine firstly how film language was used within a particular film movement. Secondly, we are connecting culture and society, or how a film may become a form of social commentary by articulating a rebellious or conformist perspective vis-à-vis the ideologies that predominate in a particular historical place and time period.
Write a 3-4 page analysis of ONE of the three clips provided by the professor in the next section. The first one is from The Marriage of Maria Braun(Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1977), the second one is from Raise the Red Lantern (Zhang Yimou, 1991) and the third one from Chung King Express(Wong Kar Wai, 1994). Keep the description to a minimum and concentrate on the analytical reflection.
1) Write an analysis of your selected clip connecting its formal aspects with literal, implied and ideological meanings. Explain how the elements of style and of the narrative structure are used to convey a certain meaning. (Watching the clip multiple times is a good way of capturing how different elements are used). Please refer to the “Tools for Film Analysis” handout so as to help you identify different elements of narrative and style and the particular way they are utilized.
2) The three films referred in this assignment are illustrative examples of the film movements in which they were created—the New German cinema, the New Chinese cinema (Fifth Generation filmmakers) and the New Wave of Hong Kong cinema, respectively. Your reflection should also consider how the clip represents the particular film movement in which it emerged.
3) Use your acquired knowledge about the German, Chinese or the Hong Kong social and cultural contexts to connect the clip you are analyzing —and, by extension, the whole film— to the larger society where the film was produced.
All submissions should be typed and double-spaced using no larger than 12-point font, 1-inch margins, and with correct spelling and grammar. Italicize film titles and, when referring to a film for the first time, include director’s name and year of production. Please submit your paper in Word format.
Advice
- Ideally, you should have a thesis—a one or two-sentence summation of your argument—firmly in mind as you write. Structure your essay: begin your paper with your thesis, in a paragraph or so, and then develop that position throughout your paper, using examples from articles and audiovisual material to support your argument.
- Keep in mind the length of your paper. Hence, when considering your topic choose one that is not too general or specific. Once you have chosen a general subject for your paper, find a specific angle from which to approach your topic. This angle will form the basis of your argument.
thats the link to the clip
