Film One:
BlackKklansman (Spike Lee. 2018)
Certain filmmakers have managed to make films both entertaining and thoughtful. Many of these films have become classic cinema and their directors are acknowledged as artists. One current filmmaker that falls into that category is Spike Lee. Over his career, starting with
She’s Gotta Have It, Lee has made critically acclaimed films that address the issue of racism in today’s America with great films such as
Do The Right Thing and
Malcom X. His film
BlackKklansmancontinues that tradition. Watch the film and consider how the film uses the past to reflect on today.
After watching
BlackKklansman and thinking about how it reflects on our culture and society, watch one of the classic films and think about how it reflects elements of American Culture and if and how it is relevant to modern viewers.
Film Two:
Watch one of the films in the list of classic films.
Over the last hundred years there is a consensus of great films, spread across many genres. Watch one of these films, keeping in mind the elements of a great film. Do you think the film you watched is “great?” Why or why not? Think about how it reflects the American Culture of its time and if and how it is relevant to modern viewers. This should start your critical thinking about films; considering the direction, acting, screenplay, post-production – all the elements we will examine fuller later in the course.
Classic Films:
·
·
Citizen Kane (1941)
·
Casablanca (1942)
·
The Third Man (1949)
·
Rashomon (1950)
·
Singing in the Rain (1952)
·
Tokyo Story (1953)
·
The Searchers (1956)
·
Vertigo (1958)
·
Some Like It Hot (1959)
·
The Apartment (1960)
·
8 ½ (1963)
·
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
·
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
·
The Godfather (1972)
·
Taxi Driver (1976)
· The Shining (1980)
·
Do the Right Thing (1989)
· Beau Travail (1998)
·
Mulholland Drive (2001)
·
Get Out (2017)
Discuss the similarities and differences between
BlackKklansman and the film you selected.
· Into what genres would you place the films?
· Do the films adhere to or subvert genre conventions? How does this affect the viewer’s expectations and experience?
· How would you describe the tone of the film? Consider:
· The
Emotional Quality: the emotions that dominate the films.
· The
Atmosphere: Describe the atmosphere or mood the films create. Are they light-hearted, tense, dark, dreamy, or somber?
· The
Visual Style: Consider the visual elements. Are the films visually bright and colorful, or are they more muted and subdued? Do they have a gritty, realistic look, or are they stylized and fantastical?
·
Dialogue: Consider the dialogue in the films. Is it witty and humorous, serious, and philosophical, or filled with tension and conflict?
·
Soundtrack: Reflect on the films’ soundtracks and music. Does the music contribute to the tone? Is it melodic, suspenseful, or dissonant?
·
Narrative Style: Think about the way the stories are told. Are they straightforward and linear, or do they use non-linear storytelling techniques that affect the tone?
·
Themes: Consider the underlying themes of the films. Do they contribute to the overall tone? For example, a film exploring themes of hope and redemption may have an uplifting tone.
· Are the two films relevant to modern views? Is so, how, and if not, why not?
