Geog/Film

Final call for theory topics and questions

Last chance to get your film questions answered.

Theory questions

Next to last chance to ask whatever you want about film.

Theory questions for this week

Post questions about theory here. Remember, you don't have to keep to our main points of discussion. We can talk about anything related to film.

Theory questions for this week

Post film questions you would like to discuss here. Remember, these can focus on the topics that are central to our course - m-e-s, the shot, the frame - or other topics that we aren't focusing on this term, but that you are curious about. I will follow up in our class meetings.

Theory questions

Share any topics in film theory that you want to talk about. I will do what I can to find time in class to address your questions. Questions about our core concepts (m-e-s, the shot, the frame) or other topics that we have not been focusing on, but that you are curious about.

Topics for mid-term theory review

On M (10/28), we will be using some of our time to start a series of review sessions on film theory. So, if there is a concept, or part of a concept, like mise-en-scène, the frame and the shot, that you are confused by or want to know more about, post those here and I will address them in our discussion.

In future sessions, I will also be asking for topics that might be unrelated or adjacent to our core concepts, e.g., editing and sound. But for this week, I'd like to stay focused on our primary ideas.

The film we will be screening next, Leave No Trace, will afford us some time to also review on W.

Topics posted by noon on M 10/28 will be addressed in class. Topics posted after that deadline, may be addressed on W or at a future date.

Class canceled M 10/21

I have a cold and plan on staying home M 10/21. This means our 4:00 meeting in NPE 113 is canceled. You can discuss Goodfellas here, here and here. I have a blog post set up for discussing the reading assigned for M here. And there's always the weekly Open Thread for topics.

Critical discussion of mise-en-scène

This Monday, part of our discussion will be about the concept of mise-en-scène and how useful or coherent it is. You can get the conversation started in comments here.

The Long Take

One of the hallmarks of both this past week's film, Children of Men, and this coming week's film, Goodfellas, is the use of the "long take," or the use of a shot or shots of longer duration than the norm. Did you notice this while watching either film? What was the effect? This article provides additional examples and critical commentary on the use of this device. What do you think? How does this device affect your experience of mise-en-scène?

Questions about The Frame and The Shot

What questions do you have about The Shot and The Frame (go to week 2 reading)? Replies made by 8:00 am on M 10/7 will be used to structure class discussion that day.