Discussion Post: Using Visual Aids
Prompt: Our last several weeks have explored film from the Classical Studio era to the Post-Classical Era to New Hollywood. For this report, I ask you to choose a scene from each era respectively, and write a comparative sound track analysis. Essentially, you will choose a short scene or segment of a scene-no more than two minutes long-in three films, one from Hollywood between 1935 and 1945, one from either Hollywood or another national tradition in any decade up to 1975, and then one from either Hollywood or another national tradition up to 2000. The scenes you select should be a similar kinds of scenes (war, battle, love, dialogue, dance, montage, etc.) Please note that while you can choose scenes from a film discussed in the textbook, you cannot choose a scene that was analyzed in great detail. You can also use a movie from Modules 3 and 4. (For example, Casablanca and Out of Africa would have similar love scenes. Or, you could start with Psycho and find other psychological thrillers!)
Analyze each scene according to the same sound track parameters-volume, frequency [high or low pitches], amount of echo or reverberation in the sound, tempo (or speed), or texture (density or liveliness). Then, describe the balance of the sound track elements, evaluate their interplay in terms of narrative, and then compare and contrast the scenes. * A 10-point deduction is applied if your work isn't formatted properly. ** A 10-point deduction is applied if no link to scenes are provided. If you're using the swank platform of Casablanca, Psycho, or Out of Africa, please just include the time-stamps!
• Introduction of Scenes: Which scenes did you choose for this report? Include specific links, titles for the films at hand, and a very short summary of each film. (This summary should be written in your own words and not taken from Wikipedia, IMDB, etc.)Student Response: (150-200 words)
• Scene 1 Analysis: Analyze the volume, frequency [high or low pitches], amount of echo or reverberation in the sound, tempo (or speed), or texture (density or liveliness) of your first scene.Student Response: (List format w/ time markers is fine!)
• Scene 2 Analysis: Analyze the volume, frequency [high or low pitches], amount of echo or reverberation in the sound, tempo (or speed), or texture (density or livelinesss) of your second scene. Student Response: (List format w/ time markers is fine!)
• Scene 3 Analysis: Analyze the volume, frequency [high or low pitches], amount of echo or reverberation in the sound, tempo (or speed), or texture (density or livelinesss) of your third scene.Student Response: (List format w/ time markers is fine!)
• Big Conclusions: Compare and contrast these scenes. How are they similar? How are they different? How do their similarities and differences relate to their larger contexts and sound track elements? How does each scene resonate with its associated "era" as outlined in your textbook? Include at least three specific quotes from your textbook that help rationalize your big conclusions.Student Response: (150-250 words)
The response must include a reference list. One-inch margins, double-space, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font and APA style of writing and citations.