Posted: November 17th, 2015

Close Analysis

ASSIGNMENT FROM THE PROFESSOR:
Choose a scene that interests you, that puzzles you, or that you find especially compelling. Choose a scene you think is particularly rich, that has resonance with the rest of the film. For example, our analysis of the “You Were Meant for Me” scene in Singin’ in the Rain demonstrated not only that it echoed many of the ideas present in the rest of the film, but that the structure and mise-en-scene told us a lot about the status of Don and Kathy’s relationship. Similarly, you’ll want to pick a scene and pay close attention to what happens and how it happens. How does the cinematography, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene in this scene convey information that helps us understand the rest of the film? All four elements will be present (except in a silent film), but some may be more important than others. Indeed, each of these elements are broad categories; choose specific, salient techniques within them. You’ll have to decide what is worth paying attention to.

Remember: films give us ideas. They are about ideas. What idea(s) did you get from one of these films? What scene or element seems to best exemplify or lead you to that idea? Tell us about it. But also remember: cinema is a visual/aural medium. When you’re describing a scene, ask yourself, “Could my description just as easily apply to a scene in a novel?” That is, are you describing what happened, without discussion of how (visually and aurally) it happens? If the answer is “yes,” then you are doing it incorrectly. Don’t bother telling us the story—we’ve seen the film. Focus on describing the specifically cinematic elements of the film and demonstrating how they relate to the idea(s) you’re interested in.

The paper should run between 1500 and 2000 words (4-5 pages, double-spaced, 1” margins, 12-point font). Please include a word count at the end of your essay. Number your pages. Within this limited space it is best, as always, to focus the argument carefully. Excellent papers will make their argument clear from the beginning and then support the thesis with specific examples. Again, mere description of scenes does not support an argument; demonstrating how a particular technique or moment supports a theme or function does help a thesis. If you have doubts about the tenability of a choice, please feel free to speak with the professor. One final helpful hint: the best papers will not sprout overnight.

A Hard Day’s Night