Essay Plans Flashcards
Compare how far the films you have studied show an auteur filmmaker’s influence. Refer in detail to at least one sequence from each film. NOT DONE DO PARAGRAPH FOUR
Intro =
Paragraph One = Vertigo
- Vertigo has many elements that are considered to be Hitchcock auteur style
- This is seen in seen through the alluring blonde female that the male protagonist most solve and then pursue
- Hitchcock is notorious for using blonde females who are seen as physically perfect but women who he could control which is explained by the sexual repression of his personal life
- The point of view shows the alluring nature f Madeline who and reflects Scottie’s desire which may mirror Hitchcock’s desire for blonde women
- Madeline is seen in the flower shop from a point of iew shot as she is in the centre of the screen surrounded by flowers which illuminates her feminity and innocence
- Hitchcock wanted to ensure that the femme fatale was a prominent theme to imprint his own messages of femininity
- Seen in other films such as Rear Window and The Birds
- He used a blonde women to create a perfect women who he could control.
- Talk about either Ernies or flowershop sequence
Paragraph Two = Alien
- Meticulous attention to visual detail and atmosphere
- The visual design is dark, claustrophobic and unsettling
- Nostromo is an indsutrial environment. It is a labyrinth of cold, metallic corridors which are cramped which creates a sense of claustrophobia and isolation
- The structure of the sleek, technological aesthetic of the Nostromo which is is a sterile, human-made environment
- The set design in integral in showing Ridley Scott’s attention to set design
- The Nostromo is designed to feel like clautrophobic and enhances the sense of isolation and vulnerabilit of the crew
- Scott uses visual elements with practical effects ad real locations to achieve authenticity and realism
- Scott is known for rich worlds which immerses the audiences seen in both the external space and internal space
- Scotts film are characterised by their attentionl to dteail and immersive world building
- Scott storyboards his films meticuously which reflects his influence in Alien
Paragraph Three = Vertigo
- Hitchcock used voyeuristic elements to force the audience to feel like voyeurs too
- Hitchcock focusses on point of view shots and this maintains her alluring nature
- Hitchcock explores voyeurism beyond the explicit sexual content but focusses on the consequences and pyschological aspects of looking
- His surveilance of Madeine spirals into a personal obsession attempting to control her
- His gaze becomes intrusive and follows her obssesively which creates an emotional and physical attraction to Madeline
- Scottie represents the dynamic of power between who is being watched
- His obsession is not true to reality but an idealised version that he has constructed in his mind to reflect the illusion of voyeurism
- Scottie then becomes obsessed with recreating Judy to mold her into Madeline which is anothe r form of voyeurism. He attempts to shape her into the object of his obsession that seeks control
- Voyuerism is a key theme within Hitchcock’s style which explores the psychological impact of surveillance and obsession and how it can distort reality and leads to a crisis of identity
- Scottie’s gaze becomes a destructive force that highlights the darker aspects of human nature
Paragraph Four = Alien
- Meticulous attention to visual detail and atmosphere
- The visual design is dark, claustrophobic and unsettling
- Nostromo is an indsutrial environment. It is a labyrinth of cold, metallic corridors which are cramped which creates a sense of claustrophobia and isolation
- The structure of the sleek, technological aesthetic of the Nostromo which is is a sterile, human-made environment
- The set design in integral in showing Ridley Scott’s attention to set design
- The Nostromo is designed to feel like clautrophobic and enhances the sense of isolation and vulnerabilit of the crew
- Scott uses visual elements with practical effects ad real locations to achieve authenticity and realism
- Scott is known for rich worlds which immerses the audiences seen in both the external space and internal space
- Scotts film are characterised by their attentionl to dteail and immersive world building
- Scott storyboards his films meticuously which reflects his influence in Alien
Compare how the films you have studied were shaped by their cultural and/or political contexts. Refer in detail to at least one sequence from each film.
Random = - Hitchcock used voyeuristic elements to force the audience to feel like voyeurs too
- Hitchcock focusses on point of view shots and this maintains her alluring nature
- Hitchcock explores voyeurism beyond the explicit sexual content but focusses on the consequences and pyschological aspects of looking
- His surveilance of Madeine spirals into a personal obsession attempting to control her
- His gaze becomes intrusive and follows her obssesively which creates an emotional and physical attraction to Madeline
- Scottie represents the dynamic of power between who is being watched
- His obsession is not true to reality but an idealised version that he has constructed in his mind to reflect the illusion of voyeurism
- Scottie then becomes obsessed with recreating Judy to mold her into Madeline which is anothe r form of voyeurism. He attempts to shape her into the object of his obsession that seeks control
- Voyuerism is a key theme within Hitchcock’s style which explores the psychological impact of surveillance and obsession and how it can distort reality and leads to a crisis of identity
- Scottie’s gaze becomes a destructive force that highlights the darker aspects of human nature
Intro =
Paragraph One =
Paragraph Two =
Paragraph Three =
Paragraph Four =
‘Cinematography and editing are crucial in expressing a clear auteur signature.’ Compare the films you have studied in relation to this statement.
Intro =
Paragraph One =
Paragraph Two =
Paragraph Three =
Paragraph Four =
Compare how representations of ethnicity and/or gender are shaped by the historical contexts of the films you have studied.
Intro =
- In both Vertigo, (Hitchcock, ) and Alien, (Scott, ), they each explore representations of gender dyamics which is influenced by the historical context. Hitchcock is able to both reflect the power that men have during the 1950’s over women, seen in both the film industry and wider society whilst also subverting audience expectations and emasculating the men who appear to exercise control over women which can act as a social commentary on the changing attitudes of gender dynamics. Furthermore, Scott is able to challenge the typical power that is usual of the time yet manipulate this in order to empower women and reflect the increasing significance of second wave feminism and the impact of this which is shown through the symbolism of gender violence.
Paragraph One = Vertigo
- Touches on themes of obsession and control through the male gaze
- Madeline is the typical femme fatale. Seen as mysterious and unattainable with an idealised and destructive type of femininity that has mystery and allure
- Judy is also seen as the damsel in distress who Scottie attempts to manipulate and force Judy into a role where her autonomy is subjugated due to Scottie’s will.
- They are both constructed through the male desire. Seen through the lingering shots and dreamlike camera angles.
- Shaped by the historical context of the studio system which is a period of time where women were subject to exploitation and manipulation by the patriarchal structures in society and film industry
- Female stars were under immense control by the studios which dictated their public personal and personal lives
- Kim Novak was moulded into a specific type which also mirrored the expectations of the public and filmmakers
- Women are portrayed as mysterious objects of male desire which reflects the broader social and cultural attitudes towards women
- Hitchcock was historically known for his complicated relationships with women where he controlled and demanded a dictating approach to control women
Paragraph Two = Alien
- Subverts traditional gender roles and reflects the complex dynamics of power
- Challenges how women are seen typical of this time who are often sexualised and in needing of saving
- Ripley subverts traditional gender norms where women are usually passive or secondary roles whereas she is depicted as as strong, resourceful and assertive
- She is able to take charge in the situation and she is a voice of reason and to command respect
- She also subverts the final girl trope where she does not passively survive but actively fights against the Alien reflecting her as a strong protagonist which is shown in her bravery and tactical skills
- The male characters are seen as degrees of failures, incompetence of manipulation.
- This is seen particularly in Ash who represents the technological forces that betrays the crew and positions him as a deceptive and controlling figure. This reflects the predominantly male-dominated corporate world where women were often excluded from the highest levels of hierarchy and faced barriers such as a glass ceiling
- Corporate culture was shaped by masculine values such as hierarchy, aggression and competition whereas women were seen as better suited for support positions
- However, there was more women in the workplace which is seen in the media where women could be seen as powerful and assertive rather than previous stereotypes of passive and subservient
Paragraph Three = Vertigo
- Scottie is seen within the context of 1950’s masculinity and male gaze in cinema
- He is a character driven by desire and his intense fixation on Madeline reflects this how he primarily sees women as objects of male desire.
- Ultimately, he attempts to mould Madeline and how they fit into his male fantasy. The camera is placed from Scottie’s perspective which emphasises his objectification of women and the belief that women are framed to be looked and scrutinised through his eyes
- Hitchcock uses the camera as an extension of Scottie’s Gaze which reinforces the idea that women are seen as objects for desire rather than their own autonomy
- He embodies traditional masculine traits that were prevalent in the 1950’s society where he is positioned as a man of authority and control which is defined by his ability to solve problems. This fits him as the role of a typical male protagonist
- Scottie feels entitlement over women he is able to control which follows an ingrained belief currently and then in society that women should conform to male fantasies which reinforces the patriarchal ideas of female submission and male domination
- However, Hitchcock also explores Scottie’s psychological insecurities which symbolise the deeper fear of vulnerability and failure
- It is a metaphor for his necrophiliac desires and emasculates his identity through his fragility and inability to cope with the loss of control and power
- This is subverted through the typical everyman character that he played that was a morally upstanding character making him very likeable. However Hitchcock shifted the his image through morally grey, darker aspects of human nature such as obsession and a psychological breakdown
Paragraph Four =
- The xenomorph is seen as a feminine metaphor and central to the gendered themes throughout Alien
- The xenomorph can be interpreted through a feminist and gendered lense as it envokes themes of sexuality and reproductive violence
- The life cycle contains sexual imagery which can be seen as an agrresive and invasive act which resembles sexual violence essentialy raping the host to implant an embryo. This could be seen as subverting the symbolism of female vulnerability and the violation of the body
- The Facehugger and Chestburster can be seen as examples of bodily invasions and reproduction as it highlights the grotesque and violence of birth and how unnatural and disturbing it is
- The forceful emergence of the alien can be seen as a perverse distortion of childbirth which represents the anxiety of the uncontrollable aspects of reproduction and the violation of the feminine body
- It’s destrucive approach to reproduction and the forced impregnation and violent birth represents the the anxiety of the female sexuality and motherhood which was raised during the second wave feminism
- The Alien becomes a feminist metaphor for the dangers of patriarchal control over women’s bodies and the societal fears surrounding female autonomy, reproduction and sexual violation which is fearful for women’s bodies that can be taken over by external forces
- The men fail to survive however Ripley actively resists the alien’s control showing how she is not defined by the alien reflecting how she is more than a passive victim
‘Film is a collaborative art form, so to focus on the contribution of one individual as the auteur is misleading.’ Compare the two films you have studied in relation to this statement.
Intro =
Paragraph One =
Paragraph Two =
Paragraph Three =
Paragraph Four =
‘An auteur’s signature is always apparent in the messages and values of the films they make.’ Compare the two films you have studied in relation to this statement.
Compare some of the ways in which the look and style of the films you have studied reflect the influence of auteurs. Refer in detail to one sequence from each film.
‘New Hollywood allowed filmmakers more creative freedom than Classical Hollywood did’. Compare the two films you have studied in relation to this statement.
Intro =
- In Vertigo (Hitchcock) and Alien (Scott), Alfred Hitchcock and Ridley Scott were able to influence and transform their critically acclaimed and substantially impactful’s film which reflected the limitations placed on them in both Classical and New Hollywood. Alfred Hitchcock was significantly limited due to industry constraints such as the studio and system and the Hays code which prevented complete freedom yet his recognisable talent and status allowed Hitchcock to manipulate certain limitations to produce Vertigo which is apparent in the subtle messages intertwined into the narrative which involved psychologically complex themes. However, Ridley Scott saw the rise of New Hollywood which allowed greater creative freedom and encouraged the influence of the auteur which is apparent in the rise of the blockbuster which featured a noticeable rise of new directors which paved the new movement of cinema.
Paragraph One = Vertigo
- Limited by the structure of the studio system which was dominated by major studios which placed signiciant constraints on the creative process
- Classical Hollywood was characterised by the studio system which allowed a few major film studios to control every aspect of production
- However, certain directors were able to utilise their skills to make films that reflected their own vision yet working within the constraints of the system
- Hitchcock employed themes such as guilt, voyerurism and psychological tension
- However due to his established auterial repuration, he could push these boundaries in the studio system and expierement
- The unconvential plot of psychological depth, intricate relationships and obsession was not typical of the Hollywood
- It is apparent that he pushed boundaries with cinematic storytelling techniques such as the the dolly zoom which was experimental and grounbreaking to convey the disorientation
- The studio system allowed the studios to have the most control over the film process and to gain the biggest budget
Paragraph Two = Alien
- Directors in New Hollywood were allowed more creative freedom due to multiple reasons.
- The rise of New Hollywood and decline of the studio system radically transofmred cinema which allowed directors/filmmakers artistic control.
- The studio system previously dominated Hollywood who had total control over the filmmaking process. Creative decisions were made by studio executives
- However, the decline of the studio system was attributed to the US v Paramount case which prevented blockbooking and ultimately meant that the exhbition aspect was removed meaning that films needed to have wide appeal to gain profit
- Ridley Scott was abile to craft stunning visuals and immerse audiences in the dark atmosphere. Directors has significantly more input in the filmmaking process
- Previously directors had limited input however New Hollywood directors
- Studios were more concerned with mass-market appeal that were tailored to mainstream tastes rather than pursueing personal and experimental projects
- Alien was highly unconventional in the approach of a dark claustrophobic atmosphere
- New Hollywood focused on the rise of the auteur which allowed directors to be the primary creative force behind a film such as George Lucas and Martin Scoresee
- This allowed a gritty industrial look of the Nostromo
- The decline of the studio system meant Hollywood saw a rise of new trends which disrupted convential genres and were innovative
Paragraph Three = Vertigo
- The Hays Code was a set of moral guidelines which regulated content in Hollywood films
- This had a significant impact on director’s creative freedom which prohibited depictions of anything that violated the code such as immoral behaviour
- However some directors managed to develop techniques which insinuate topics that the Hays Code forbade
- Alfred Hitchcok incorporated subtext elements of suspense or sexuality
- Hitchcok relied on suggestion and psychological tension which explores themes of obession and identity
- Hitchcok is known for subtly conveying sexual themes rather than explicit depictions of this behaviour
- This can be seen in the fantasy idea where Scottie attempts to mould Judy in seemingly intimate mments
- Vertigo is based on the twisted, obsessive and psychologically violent love
- Hitchcock subverts this utilising James Stewart who is the typical everyman who was morally strong and clear ethical lines however in Vertigo, Scottie is morally ambiguous progressing with his necrophillic tendencies
- Hitchcok is able to explore the ambigious narrative which was unconventional and followed themes of obsession and identity. He was able to explore these themes because of his status in Hollywood
Paragraph Four = Alien
- Introduction of independent producers and the growing influence of filmmakers
- The rise of New Hollywood in the 1970’s allows a power dynamic shift from traditional studio systems to filmmakers who had greater creative control allowing them to experiment with storytelling and style
- Filmmakers were no longer just working under the constrained studio system but auteurs shaping artistic decision
- This is seen in Alien as Scott’s significant amount of control is shown through the dark, atmospheric tone and innovative use of horror
- This was encouraged by the evolving industry environment which allowed filmmakers to take risks
- Spielberg’s pioneering Jaws which quickly became a blockbuster led studios to create films with wide appeal and heavy advertising
- The rise of the blockbuster also saw new special effects which is seen in groundbreaking practivcal effects and set design.
- Scott worked closely with HR Giger to create an unsettling atmosphere which fit with fears of isolation and horror
- Alien also reflects the freedom that filmmakers has in New Hollywood to subvert audience expectation which relies on the slow build of tension
- The film resonated with a broader audience because of psychological depth and blending of genres
- The New Hollywood allowed freedom and for filmmakers to break of traditional storytelling
- Alien may not be a traditional blockbuster similiar to Jaws and Starwars because it is a horror genre with a slow pace focusing on suspense rather than visuals
- Alien shares similiarties with these blockbusters such as grounbreaking visuals, strong resourceful women and a sense of vastness
- The emphasis on the role of directors allowed Ridley Scott to apply his dark slow-burn approach to storytelling
- New Hollywood encouraged directors to take risks and experiments with genres, subverting genre expectations, opportunities to push boundaries and gain creative indepdnece from studios which allowed a unique atmosphere
Compare how far the two films you have studied reflect the times they were made.
The director is always the most important influence on a film.’ Compare how far your two chosen films support this statement.
