Essay Plans Flashcards
How useful is an ideological critical approach in explaining the impact of the films you have studied on the spectator?
How valuable is an ideological critical approach in analysing the use of mise-en-scène in the films you have studied? Refer in detail to at least one sequence from each film
‘Ideological analysis is useful in explaining why particular visual elements and sounds are chosen by filmmakers.’ How far is this true of the films you have studied?
Intro =
Paragraph One = Get Out
- Close up of scratching which highlights how he is trapped in this system
- Slow ramming shot between Missy, the teacup and Chris
- Observe Missy gradually becoming more intimidating
- Close up of a tear trailing down his cheek into a strained smile which mirros the other black characters reflecting their uncomfortable facial expressions
- Close up of chris’ face
- Positioning of chris floating = Shows his helplessness and lack of agency
- Distant square shot of the mum
- Pov from Chris’ body
- The Sunken Place can be read as a metaphor for the systemic silencing and disempowerment of black people in white-dominated society
- Chris’ agency is controlled and overridden by the white mother
- Chris is seen but not heard which encapsulates the idea of the Coagula, echoes how the dominant culture is able to silence black voices and struggles
- The system of the dominant culture is able to marginalise black voices and silenced amongst the dominant culture
- The Sunken Place can be seen as a metaphor for the helplessness and subjugation that black people expierence in society and how white people are able to assert their control
Paragraph Two = Joker
- Extreme close up of the notes in the documents which shows the extreme abuse faced by Penny and how it affected Arthur
- Arthur cornered in the side of the room whilst watching Penny. He appears to be cowarded over in the corner hearing about the monstorsity faced
- It also makes the audience question about Thomas Wayne and highlights the dominant class being able to manipulate things for their benefit
- Low close up of Arthur painfully laughing wiping away his nose which enhances our sadness for him allowing us to feel sympathy for him
- He has been neglected both by society and by his mum
- Setting of an asylum which is people who have been outcast by society but labelled as criminals
Paragraph Three = Get Out
- Non-diegetic rain noise
- Pleonastic exaggeration of the tea spoon, this indicates the feeling imprisonment and power associated with the spoon
- Micheal Abels: strumming and swellingscore
- Dialogue
- Distorted sound
- Echoing dialogue
- Vocally enhanced
- Muted sound when Chris is in the Sunken Place. This symbolises the suression of Black agency
- Strips individuals of their power which keeps them as present and useful tools to commodify
- The teacup is an auditory cue which becomes a weapon od control which is seen as somewhat therapeutic whilst being deeply controlling
- The tea cup is opression disguised as normalised and a part of everyday life
- This reinforces the power of the dominant culture and how black bodies are able to be controlled and silenced by white people
Paragraph Four =
- Joker was subjected to mistreatment by his mother who was fragile and helped him create a happier persona.
- The movie combines both real and delusional scenes which leaves the spectator confused and forced to think
about what actually happened
- A J cut is used to provide context of Penny disagreeing with the pyschiatrist
- Score by Hildur Guonadottir which becomes haunting, there is low mournful tones which reinforces the neglect and failure which contributes to the creation of Joker
- Shows how mental illness and abuse is ignored in society
- Laughter intertwined with sobbing which adds to the upsetting nature and how it has lasted throughout his life from his childhood trauma.
- Ideology analysis of how childhood trauma, neglect and then later abuse and neglect leads to the creation of a killer. Makes the spectator question who is to blame for Arthur’s spiral
- Dialogue of Penny saying how he was always such a happy boy which allows us to understand how has turned to comedy to hide his pain paired with laughter
How useful is an ideological critical approach for understanding the way spectators are positioned by the films you have studied?
‘Film spectatorship is a passive experience’. How far do you agree with this statement in relation to each of the films you have studied?
Intro =
- Films are constructed to provide the spectator with a particular viewing position
- An active audience is engaging and interpret media messages
- Passive audiences are when an audience accepts a message without question
How important is sound in shaping spectator responses to the two films you have studied? Refer in detail to one or more sequences from each film.
Explore how far the two films you have studied demonstrate the filmmakers’ attempt to control the spectator’s response.
How important is mise-en-scène in generating spectator responses? Refer in detail to one sequence from each film you have studied.
Explore some of the reasons why spectators may respond in very different ways to the same character. Refer in detail to at least one character from each of your chosen films.
Discuss how important cinematography is in creating a powerful response in the spectator. Refer in detail to at least one sequence from each of your chosen films.
