M

Fritz Lang's M is available to stream at this link:

https://archive.org/details/PhantasmagoriaTheater-MFritzLang1931574

Man With a Movie Camera

Battleship Potemkin can be viewed here. Your Potemkin screening sheet is due Monday, November 4.

Watch the film...

http://www.archive.org/details/ChelovekskinoapparatomManWithAMovieCamera

Your Looking at Movies textbook has a nice quote about Vertov and his film on page 428.

Vertov shows us how to frame reality and movement: through the human eye and the camera eye, or through windows and shutters. But to confound us, he also shows us--through such devices as the freeze-frame, split screen, stop-action, slow motion, and fast motion--how the cinematographer and editor can transform the movements of life into something that is unpredictable. He not only proves that the camera has a life of its own, but also reminds us of the editor, who is putting all of this footage together. Reality may be in the control of the artist, his camera, and its tricks, but it also finds definition within the editor's presentation and, ultimately, the viewer's perception.

In your first well-developed paragraph, please discuss this quote in relation to a five minute piece ofMan With a Movie Camera. Be sure to describe shots cinematically, as if I've never seen the film before. Discuss elements of editing, such as the juxtaposition of shots, rhythm, montage, etc.

In your second well-developed paragraph, discuss this quote in relation to a film of your choice. Try to be as specific as possible in your descriptions and speak cinematically when you discuss the film. 

Due: Monday, November 11

Metropolis

In his essay on Metropolis, B. Urgosíková states:

In the 1920s Lang was strongly influenced by Expressionist film, particularly its artistic forms. Originally an architect, Lang was a man of unusually sensitive visual perceptions. His films of those years show an expressionistic sense for the plastic and the lighting, which emphasized architectonic lines and conveyed a sense of geometric construction that not only extends to the sets and the depicted milieu but even influenced the positioning of the actors in individual shots.

Choose a theme you see in Metropolis and how Lang expresses this theme through expressionism. Choose a 5 minute scene in the film and ANALYZE it using your chosen theme and how it is expressed. Analyze mise-en-scene (lighting, costume, shot composition, etc.) and cinematography of the scene. In 3 well developed paragraphs, be sure to analyze deeply and DESCRIPTIVELY. I want an image in my mind when I read your response.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu

Watch F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu and compare and contrast it with The Cabiniet of Dr. Caligari. ReadRoger Ebert's essay on Munau's masterpiece as well as his essay on Caligari and use at least one quote from each. Your response should be at least 2 well-developed paragraphs.

If you want to re-watch Caligari, go here. Nosferatu can be found here.

Due: Friday, October 18

The General & The Gold Rush

Watch Chaplin's The Gold Rush and compare and contrast it with Keaton's The General. Think about everything you've learned thus far in terms of reading film. Discuss mise-en-scene, open/closed framing, kinesis, narrative, etc. Refer to your textbook if you need assistance with the vocabulary. Use at least one quote from the articles I gave you in your response.

Both films are available here:

The Gold Rush
The General

Due: Friday, 9/27

This Course in a Nutshell

I was in the audience (2nd row) to see Martin Scorsese give the 2013 Jefferson Lecture at the Kennedy Center last April. Take some time to watch him and you will get a good overview of my course.

http://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/2013-jefferson-lecture-live-stream

Early Cinema

Read about Edison, Lumiere Brothers, Melies, and Porter at EarlyCinema.com.

Watch at least 3 films from Edison, Lumiere Brothers, and Melies on your own. Go to the Internet Archive, select "Moving Images" from the drop down menu and search for each director. All of the Edison films can be found at the Library of Congress and can be accessed here. Please be sure to tell me the name of the film and who made it and answer the following questions:

• Do you notice anything particular about the film’s presentation of cinematic space—what you see on the screen? Lots of landscapes or close-ups? Moving or static camera? How does this differ from films you watch today?
• Do you identify with the camera lens? What does the filmmaker compel you to see? What is left to your imagination? What is left out altogether?

Due: Friday, September 20

A Little About You...

What are your expectations for this class and for yourself in this class? What do you think of when you hear the word movie? What is your favorite movie? Why? Required: 2 full, well-developed paragraphs.

Due: Monday, September 9