Essay on Film Analysis

Select one of these essay topics:

Screen Aesthetics

Analyse the four components of the stylistic system (sound, editing, cinematography, mise en scène) of a film or television program screened for this course. Address the following question: “how do the four elements of the stylistic system communicate meaning, express the atmosphere and theme of the film or television program and influence the spectator’s responses to the characters and the story?” You must analyse the opening sequence in detail. You may also describe and interpret any other shots or scenes that you find noteworthy to illustrate points about the way the style conveys meaning. It is advisable to prepare a detailed transcript of a sequence of five key shots in the opening sequence to hone your observational skills, but this does not need to be submitted with the essay. Define key terms and give evidence of critical engagement with published academic work on screen aesthetics throughout your essay.

 

Narrative Analysis

Analyse the narrative structure of a film or television program screened for this course, addressing the following question: how does the narrative structure inform the way the audience engages with and interprets the text, and the way ideological tensions are negotiated in the text? You must analyse the resolution of the narrative in detail for a film text, and discuss the fragmented, ongoing structure if analysing a television text. It is advisable to prepare a table of binary oppositions and a map of when, where, and what happens in each scene or in the formula for each television episode to develop your understanding of how the components of the narrative fit together, but this does not need to be submitted with the essay. Define key terms and give evidence of critical engagement with academic research on film or television narrative throughout your essay.

 

Television Broadcasting and the Domestic Context of Reception

Explain how the domestic context of reception and newer forms of accessing content online have an impact on the form that television texts take, and analyse the ways in which assumptions about the audience have affected the scheduling, style, content, and structure of one of the television programs screened for this course. Give evidence of critical engagement with academic research on television throughout your essay.

 

Genre

Choose two approaches to genre analysis, as detailed in the chapter on genre in the textbook. Apply these two approaches to produce your own analysis of The Orphanage. Define key terms and give evidence of critical engagement with academic research on genre throughout your essay, mapping out the conventions and cultural functions of the genre and thinking through the strengths and limitations of the approaches you choose.

 

Auteur Theory

Define the term auteur with reference to Paul Watson’s chapter ‘Authorship, Genre and Stars’, weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of auteur theory, then demonstrate how auteur theory can be used to analyse the oeuvre of Tim Burton, using examples from Alice in Wonderland and a range of Burton’s other films such as Edward Scissorhands and Batman. Give evidence of critical engagement with academic research on auteur theory throughout your essay.

 

 

Film Stars and TV Celebrities

Use your knowledge of the approaches to stars and celebrities discussed in the textbook to analyse a film poster, a magazine cover, a DVD cover, or an advertisement or brief article featuring one of the stars in Red. Alternatively, you may select a magazine cover or advertisement featuring a television celebrity of your choice. Analyse the ideological meanings embodied by the star/celebrity; the sense in which the star/celebrity is a commodity and is used as a marketing device; and the way in which the audience is invited to identify with or respond to the star/celebrity featured in the image. Please attach a copy of the text you are analysing to your essay. Define key terms and give evidence of critical engagement with academic research on stars and celebrities throughout your essay.

 

Cult Media

With reference to the set and recommended readings as well as independent research and screen analysis, identify three significant changes that have impacted on the production, distribution and reception of cult media since the release of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. By contrast with Rocky Horror, can True Blood (Ball, 2008–) properly be considered a cult media text?

 

 Essays that do not include in-text references and an alphabetised list of works cited will fail. Essays that do not follow the MLA referencing conventions as specified on the library website (http://www.library.uq.edu.au/infoskil/referencing_styles.html#mla) will be penalised 5%.

Essays must include accurate references to and quotes from the relevant sections of the textbook and the course reader (e.g.: include definitions of terms such as ‘pan’, ‘graphic match’ and ‘sound bridge’, ‘fragmentation and flow,’ ‘exposition, complication and denouement’, and ‘binary oppositions’, ‘tent pole films’ to give evidence of reading and to make sure that you are applying the terms correctly in the course of your analysis).

 

Feedback: Essays will be marked and available for collection from the EMSAH office within two weeks of the due date. If you want written feedback, please mark the front page of your essay “TO BE COLLECTED”.

Assessment Criteria for the Essay:

 

Organisation and Argument:

•             You are expected to address all components of the essay topic and define key terms with reference to the textbook or course reader.

•             In the essay introduction you should explain which text you are analysing and why, and formulate a thesis statement articulating the main points that you will convince your reader about over the course of the essay.

•             Your essay should make a coherent argument that develops logically throughout, with each point or paragraph relating to your essay topic and supporting your thesis.

Research:

•             You are required to consult a minimum of four academic references, at least two of which should be from the required reading for this course. These must be referenced in your essay and included in your bibliography.

•             Evidence of critical engagement with screen texts and academic sources. It is important that you demonstrate an ability to evaluate the articles you cite, and do not simply use this material as a substitute for your own arguments. This means that you should critique the quotations you include, considering objections, counter-examples and alternative points of view.

Referencing:

•             You must use MLA referencing conventions and consult The Style Guide available from the library website at http://www.library.uq.edu.au/infoskil/referencing_styles.html#mla.

•             See quotation guidelines and guidelines on plagiarism and fair use below.

Close Analysis of Films or Television programs:

•             In film and television studies, you are expected to be able to offer close analysis of screen texts, discussing the significance of particular shot choices or pertinent aspects of the style and story. It is not enough to present interpretations that have already been made by other critics: you also need to be able to develop on, or add something to them.

Written Expression and Presentation:

•             Essays must demonstrate a satisfactory level of written expression and presentation (i.e. grammar, spelling, syntax).  If you require help in this area please seek advice from Student Support Services.

ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION & FORMAT

 

•             Submit essays in class or to the EMSAH assignment box.

•             Always keep a copy for your own records

•             Please double-line space all assignments to allow room for comments.

•             Make sure you have attached a cover sheet and signed the plagiarism declaration.

•             Clearly state your assignment topic / essay question, name, date, course etc.

•             Remember to italicise the titles of films, television programs, books and journals. Use “inverted commas” for the “titles” of journal articles, book chapters and episodes of television programs.

•             Ensure that you submit an electronic copy of your essay to Turn It In.

•             If you create a digital storyboard using PowerPoint, print it out and submit it on a CD.

 

RESEARCH & LIBRARY SKILLS

 

•             Due to restricted space in the High Use section of the library, only a small number of books for each course can be put on High Use.  Some books have been put on 3-day loan, but the demand for resources means that students will need to be organised and gather research materials well before the essay is due.

•             The recommended readings only represent a selection of the library’s holdings of books that are relevant to this course and students should use the library catalogue to locate other materials.

•             In addition to consulting the library catalogue you should also be using library databases to locate scholarly journal articles on specific topics, accessed through the library’s website.

 

REFERENCING

 

The purpose of referencing is to give credit to the people whose words and ideas you refer to, and to enable your reader to trace those ideas to their source. You must provide an accurate reference in every sentence where you include a quote, paraphrase, or idea drawn from someone else’s work. You must also list the source in full in an alphabetised bibliography at the end of your work. Please use the MLA referencing system and use it consistently and accurately. Consult The MLA Guide available from the library website at http://www.library.uq.edu.au/training/citation/MLA_2008.pdf and please refer to the library website for information about plagiarism: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/training/plagiarism.

 

MLA in-text referencing style –

Include in brackets: author’s last name and the page number on which the idea or quotation is located. The full stop goes after the brackets to indicate that the reference belongs with the preceding sentence. State the name of the director and the date of release of a film the first time you mention it, and italicise the title. For co-authored texts, include both authors’ names in parenthetical references. For three or more authors, cite the first author’s name, then write et al. (and others).

 

The first time you cite a researcher’s ideas (either through quotation or by paraphrasing), you should use the author’s full name, e.g.: “Cultural studies scholar Graeme Turner’s account of the feature film industry suggests that…” (22). Subsequent references to the same author should refer to that author by her or his surname and should always include the relevant page reference (e.g.: Turner 22).

 

Direct Quote: According to Richard Dyer, “Stars are blah de blah” (41).

 

Summarising or paraphrasing of an argument:

In The Imaginary Signifier, Metz argues that psychoanalysis is… (8). Or: The montage technique can be summarised as… (Bordwell and Thompson 332–333).

 

Use quotation marks if you borrow more than two consecutive words from a source.

 

Works Cited:

At the end of your essay you must attach a list of all the texts you have quoted from or referred to. Please remember to include the film or TV programs you discuss. Present your reference list in alphabetical order, organised according to the authors’ last names. Include: Author’s last name, first name. “Chapter or article title.” Title of book or journal (italicised). Place of publication: publisher, date of publication. Include the page numbers of the article or chapter if applicable. Also include the editor’s name if you are citing a chapter in an edited anthology.

 

Film:

Requiem for a Dream.Dir. Darren Aronofsky.Artisan, 2000.DVD.

Television Program:

“Once More with Feeling.”Joss Whedon.Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Episode 7: Season 6, DVD. OR Channel: Broadcast Date. TV.

Book:

Turner, Graeme. Understanding Celebrity. London: Sage, 2004. Print.

Article or chapter in an edited anthology:

Dyer, Richard. “Entertainment and Utopia.” Hollywood Musicals: The Film Reader. Ed. Steven Cohen. London: Routledge, 2002. 19-30. Print.

Journal article:

Neale, Steve. “Art Cinema as Institution.” Screen, 22.1 (1981): 11–39. Print.

 

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