Film analysis and thematic elements

Film and Lit

1. WEEK 1
Film Analysis and
Thematic Elements

2. Film as an artistic media
Film employs the compositional elements of the visual arts:
line, form, mass, volume, and texture.
Like sculpture,
film manipulates
three-dimensional
space
Like pantomime, film
focuses on moving
images
Like in dance, the
moving images
have its rhythm.
Like in poetry, film
communicates
through imagery,
metaphor, and symbol
Like the drama, film
communicates visually (action
and gesture) and verbally
(dialogue)
Like the novel, film expands or compresses time and space,
travelling back and forth freely within their wide borders

3. Why Analyze Films?
If a film is artistic, can it be analyzed intellectually?
Considering its beauty, intuition, emotions, etc
Read Whitman’s poem p.7
“The soulof the poet and the intellect of
the astronomer can coexistwithin all of us,
enriching and enhancing the film
experience.”
Pandora's floating "Hallelujah
Mountains" were inspired in
part by the ChineseHuang
Shanmountains (pictured).[76]
Source: wikipedia

4. Theme and Focus
Theme refersto the unifying central
concernof the film, the special focus that
unifies the work
“What the movie is about will determine how it will be cast, how
it will look, how it will be edited, how it will be musically
scored, how it will be mixed, how the titles will look, and, with
a good studio, how it will bereleased.
What it’s about will determine how it is to be made”
-SidenyLumet, a director-

5. Focus on Plot
The aim is generally to provide escape from the
boredom and drabness of everyday life, so the action
is exciting and fast paced.Speed,1994

6. Focus on Emotional Effect or Mood
Theme in some films which are best be stated by identifying the
prevailing mood or emotional effect that the filmmaker has
createdHachiko: A dog’s story (2009)

7. Focus on Emotional Effect or Mood
In some films, a balanced combination of two emotions may
make it difficult to tell which emotions is dominant
Dark
Shadows
(2012)

8. Focus on Emotional Effect or Mood
Scream 1, 1996

9. Focus on Character
Some films, through both action and dialogue, focus on the
clear description of a single unique character.
The Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland, 1996)

10. Focus on Style or Texture
These films have a quality that sets them apart –a unique look,
feel, rhythm, atmosphere, or tone that echoes in our minds and
senses long after we leave the theater300 (2006)

11. Focus on Ideas
Ideas in film reflected in order to clarify some
aspect of life, experience, or the human condition.
Think of a film that reflects at least one of the
following ideas.
Moral Statements
The Truth of Human Nature
Social Problems
The Struggle for Human Dignity
The Complexity of Human Relationships
Coming of Age/ Loss of Innocence / Growing Awareness
A Moral or Philosophical Riddle

12. Focus on Ideas
Ideas in film reflected in order to clarify some
aspect of life, experience, or the human condition.
Moral Statements
Persuade the audience to accept moral principle
The Truth of Human Nature
Universal characteristics about human nature
Social Problems
Vices, follies, or institutions are critized

13. Focus on Ideas
Ideas in film reflected in order to clarify some
aspect of life, experience, or the human condition.
Conflict between opposing sides of human
nature (animal instincts, cowardice, brutality,
stupidity, sensuality vs. courage, sensitivity,
intelligence, spirituality, individualism)
The Struggle for Human Dignity
The Complexity of Human Relationships
Love, friendship, divorce, family
relationships, etc

14. Focus on Ideas
Ideas in film reflected in order to clarify some
aspect of life, experience, or the human condition.
A dynamic character must step into maturity
Ambiguous symbols, images, etc. lead to diverse
subjective interpretations
Coming of Age/ Loss of Innocence / Growing Awareness
A Moral or Philosophical Riddle

15. Identifying the Theme
—We need to watch and see the film as a whole from the
beginning to the end.
—Make a tentative identification of its theme to provide a
starting point for close analysis.
—Be open for new or other analysis.
—There are possibilities where a film can contain more than
one focus.
—For the less important points, the areas of emphasis called
motifs
—Our statement can not merely defines the whole film as it
should be seen as a unique artistic

16. Evaluating the Theme
Universality; a film that is
meaningful not just to people here
and now but to all human beings
in all ages.

17. Discussions
Find a sample film from each of the focus on
ideas, provide reasons that reflecting the
ideas.

18. Group Presentation-Timetable
Group MembersTopicFilm Date
Fictional and Dramatic
Elements
The Fault inOur StarsJan, 30th
GenrePublicEnemiesFeb,6th
GenreLittle WomenFeb, 13tht
British CinemaPride and PrejudiceFeb,20th
BritishCinemaBilly ElliotFeb 27th
Women and FilmMonalisaSmileMarch,27th
Lesbian and Gay CinemaThe ImitationGameApril, 10th
AnimationMoanaApril, 17th
AdaptationsThe Great GatsbyApril, 24th
AdaptationsThe Lifeof PiMay,8th