You will write a 5-6 page analysis (double-spaced, 12 pt font) of the visual elements of a film with an emphasis on the form/narrative structure, genre, mise-en-scene, and cinematography, editing or sound.
For your final essay, you will choose one of the film pairings that I have selected for each week and compare and contrast both films by analyzing their aesthetics and formal properties (MORE INFO ON FILMS/TOPICS BELOW).
The essay topic will essentially be the same as the optional extra credit discussion questions that I have assigned for previous weeks, which ask you to compare and contrast both films. However, for your final essays you will need to elaborate more on key scenes from both films and incorporate specific passages from essays/articles that I have assigned and/or outside “academic” sources that are relevant to your argument.
Your essay should carefully and closely analyze specific scenes and you must contextualize your arguments and ideas using concepts addressed in the required essays/articles that I have assigned to correspond with some of the films, FS 101 Online Presentations and/or Looking at Movies (recommended course text)
NOTE: In order to receive full points, you must engage with at least ONE published book or essay, which may include:
Richard Barsam and Dave Monahans, Looking at Movies (recommended course text)
Supplemental essays/articles that I have assigned to correspond with some of the films
An academic source that is not on the course syllabus, but corresponds to your films/topics (this will require outside research)
In your analysis, you must use film terminology to explain the significance of the aesthetics in the films that you are analyzing.
You should avoid using any internet sources, especially Wikipedia (which has useful info for some topics but is not an acceptable academic source). Its okay to begin your research on Wikipedia, but it is not the place where your research should end. Points will be deducted if you cite internet sources, blogs, or Wikipedia. If you use info from internet sources, blogs, or Wikipedia and do not cite them, it may result in plagiarism and a failing grade on the final essay and/or the course.
