Thursday, April 30
We watched the second half of Complicated Women, after which students received two handouts -- one about the Hays Code (the Motion Picture Production Code) and the other the text of the code itself in its 1930 form. We went over the first of these and looked briefly at the second.
HW due Friday: Students are to read the two handouts carefully. There will be a quiz Friday over Complicated Women (students kept their notes for review) and the two handouts.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 29
We discussed Freaks a bit more, focusing on Olga Roderick's (the bearded lady's) assessment of the film as "an insult to all freaks everywhere." The discussion wandered to the question of the film's "rating" and students were reminded that there was no rating system at in 1931. From there we turned to the Hays Code, and the "pre-Code" status of Freaks, and began watching Complicated Women, a documentary about the many-faceted presentation of women in pre-Code films from 1929 to 1934.
We discussed Freaks a bit more, focusing on Olga Roderick's (the bearded lady's) assessment of the film as "an insult to all freaks everywhere." The discussion wandered to the question of the film's "rating" and students were reminded that there was no rating system at in 1931. From there we turned to the Hays Code, and the "pre-Code" status of Freaks, and began watching Complicated Women, a documentary about the many-faceted presentation of women in pre-Code films from 1929 to 1934.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 28
Students received a handout with information about the real-life "freaks" who appear in Freaks, which students began watching yesterday in Mr. Potratz's absence. Afterwards, we watched the conclusion of the film.
Nest we discussed the film and its message. Students spoke about feeling guilty for laughing at the freaks in the film when they learned these were actual individuals, and we discussed how the film makes us see "normal" people from the freaks' perspective, and we explored what "freaks" may represent in other contexts.
Students received a handout with information about the real-life "freaks" who appear in Freaks, which students began watching yesterday in Mr. Potratz's absence. Afterwards, we watched the conclusion of the film.
Nest we discussed the film and its message. Students spoke about feeling guilty for laughing at the freaks in the film when they learned these were actual individuals, and we discussed how the film makes us see "normal" people from the freaks' perspective, and we explored what "freaks" may represent in other contexts.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 20
Students took a quiz over German Expressionism.
Anyone who was absent Friday (with an excused absence) may make up the quiz by Tuesday afternoon.
We watched the final scene of Metropolis, then discussed the politics of the film, and its political context. Mr. Potratz gave information about Fritz Lang's relations with Nazism.
We then watched the first 12 minutes of Lang's masterpiece M.
Students took a quiz over German Expressionism.
Anyone who was absent Friday (with an excused absence) may make up the quiz by Tuesday afternoon.
We watched the final scene of Metropolis, then discussed the politics of the film, and its political context. Mr. Potratz gave information about Fritz Lang's relations with Nazism.
We then watched the first 12 minutes of Lang's masterpiece M.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, April 17
We looked at images -- woodcuts and paintings -- by several more Expression artists, then watched two scenes from F.W. Murnau's Expressionist masterpiece The Last Laugh (Der Letzte Mann) (1924).
HW due Monday:
Review your class notes and the two handouts on Expressionism (see Documents page for one of them) for a quiz on Monday over German Expressionism.
We looked at images -- woodcuts and paintings -- by several more Expression artists, then watched two scenes from F.W. Murnau's Expressionist masterpiece The Last Laugh (Der Letzte Mann) (1924).
HW due Monday:
Review your class notes and the two handouts on Expressionism (see Documents page for one of them) for a quiz on Monday over German Expressionism.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, April 13
We began our study of German Expressionist cinema (after reading Brad's most excellent IMDB posting on Battleship Potemkin) by looking briefly at the origins of Expressionism as an artistic movement, specifically in painting (handout and projections).
Following that brief foray, we watched the first two acts of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.
HW due Wednesday:
Read the handout (from Encyclopedia Britannica) and cross-reference it with your notes.
We began our study of German Expressionist cinema (after reading Brad's most excellent IMDB posting on Battleship Potemkin) by looking briefly at the origins of Expressionism as an artistic movement, specifically in painting (handout and projections).
Following that brief foray, we watched the first two acts of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari.
HW due Wednesday:
Read the handout (from Encyclopedia Britannica) and cross-reference it with your notes.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Friday, April 3
Students took a quiz over montage in film, for which they were allowed to use their notes and handouts, after which we graded it together.
Extra credit opportunity for spring break:
Go on imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), and read user reviews for any of the films you have watched in the class, which includes the outside viewing film from your single-scene analysis. (Search for the film by name, then scroll down to the bottom of the films' home page.) Then register and add your own review. Up to 15 points extra credit, up to 20 points for two.
Students took a quiz over montage in film, for which they were allowed to use their notes and handouts, after which we graded it together.
Extra credit opportunity for spring break:
Go on imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), and read user reviews for any of the films you have watched in the class, which includes the outside viewing film from your single-scene analysis. (Search for the film by name, then scroll down to the bottom of the films' home page.) Then register and add your own review. Up to 15 points extra credit, up to 20 points for two.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Thursday, April 2
We watched some of Sergei Eisenstein's favorite films: early Micky Mouse cartoons.
We discussed why Eisenstein may have admired these cartoons and what similarities they have with Battleship Potemkin.
We closed the class with another early sound cartoon creation, the Fleischer Brothers' Betty Boop.
Quiz tomorrow over montage.
Review all the montage handouts.
We watched some of Sergei Eisenstein's favorite films: early Micky Mouse cartoons.
We discussed why Eisenstein may have admired these cartoons and what similarities they have with Battleship Potemkin.
We closed the class with another early sound cartoon creation, the Fleischer Brothers' Betty Boop.
Quiz tomorrow over montage.
Review all the montage handouts.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 1
We reviewed different species of Eisensteinian montage by way of re-viewing yet again the Odessa Steps sequence of Battleship Potemkin and identifying examples of intellectual, rhythmic, tonal, formal, and directional cutting. Handout.
HW: Review all montage handouts in preparation for a quiz on Friday.
We reviewed different species of Eisensteinian montage by way of re-viewing yet again the Odessa Steps sequence of Battleship Potemkin and identifying examples of intellectual, rhythmic, tonal, formal, and directional cutting. Handout.
HW: Review all montage handouts in preparation for a quiz on Friday.
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