Eng 225 Introduction to Film
To participate in the following discussion, go to this week’s Discussion link in the left navigation.
Effective Use of Aesthetic Choices
Think about how you watch film and how the aesthetic elements work together to create meaning for the viewer audience. Some of the important elements to consider are: editing, cinematography, and lighting. Analyze each of these aesthetic choices by following the instructions below.
Editing – visual transitions between shots that work to move the story forward
- Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of editing.
- Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of editing in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the transitions between specific shots and the overall effect this has on the scene.
Cinematography – camera angles, types of shots, framing, and color all working to set a particular mood
- Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of cinematography.
- Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of cinematography in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the way specific shots are composed, paying particular attention to the camera angles, types of shots, framing, color, and the overall effect this has on the scene.
Lighting – light and shadow used to affect the mood, the way we view characters, and set the overall tone of the film
- Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of lighting.
- Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of lighting in one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the way the light looks in specific shots, how it affects the mood and the way we view characters, and how it sets the overall tone of the film.
Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. By Day 7, respond to at least two classmates who analyzed at least one different clip than you did in your initial post, focusing on the clip that you did not discuss. In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas relate to those of your peers. Each response should be at least 125 words in length.
Part 2
Blog
To complete the following assignment, go to this week’s
Blog link in the left navigation.
Narrative/Storytelling
Throughout this course, you will be creating and maintaining a blog. Before beginning your blog post for this week, review the following links:
Our textbook sets up a distinction between story and plot, stating that story is what happens in a movie, and plot is
how it happens. The distinction may seem minor; however, throughout this course, we will be scrutinizing the various aesthetic choices and cinematic techniques that work together to create meaning in any movie. With that in mind, we can understand that the way a film presents action can be as important as the action it is presenting.For your initial blog post
- Select a full-length film and identify the title, writer, director, major actors, and the year it was released.
- Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.
- Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly. In your discussion, address the following:
- How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?
- How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?
- If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?
You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style as outlined by the
Ashford Writing Center. To submit this blog, you will be required to post a link to the specific blog entry in the discussion forum. You are encouraged to explore your classmates’ blogs, but no replies are required.Please note that if you opt to write about the same film in your Final Film Critique, applicable entries from this blog can be used to write that assignment. Please also note that you should reflect on and revise this blog material based on the instructor’s feedback before you incorporate it into the Final Film Critique.
