Week 10 Homework

Due Wednesday, May 8 (12:00 pm) (noon)

—Watch the film Do the Right Thing (1989)

—What is the “right thing” in the film? Who do you think does the right thing? Why?

—The film uses a few examples of direct address. What is the purpose of this technique in the film?

—The film ends with two quotations (Martin Luther King, Malcolm X). Which one do you think the filmmaker (Spike Lee) agrees with?

Homework Week 9

—Due Wednesday, May 1 12:00 pm (noon)

—Watch the film Halloween (1978)

—Describe the opening shot. Why does the director film the scene this way?

—Compare Halloween and Psycho as horror films, especially in terms of their “monster”.

—Describe the character of Laurie compared to the other female characters. Why does Laurie survive and other girls do not?

Week 6 Homework

Watch Star Wars (1977)

—Compare Luke and Han as characters with Rick and Laszlo in Casablanca. Which of these two Star Wars characters is most typically American?

—How does the film deal with “good versus evil” compared to the other films we have watched?

—The film makes use of the editing device of the “wipe”. Why is this unusual technique used so often? What purpose does it serve?

Week 5 Homework

Watch Taxi Driver and answer one of the following questions:

—Discuss the ending of the film. Is the audience supposed to identify with Travis, or is the ending ironic?

—Taxi Driver is a loose remake of The Searchers. Describe the similarities and difference between the two films.

—There is one clear example in the film of an “unmotivated camera movement”. Why does the director make this choice?

Week 4 Homework

Watch The Godfather and answer one of the following questions:

—Describe the opening shot of the film (after the credits). Why does the film open this way (also consider the opening line “I believe in America”)?

—Describe the last shot. How does it compare to the other films we have watched, especially The Searchers?

—Analyze the sequence (near the end) of the baptism/shooting. Why is the film edited this way?

Homework is due on Monday, April 1st at 12:00 noon. 

week 3 homework

Watch the film Psycho

—Answer one of the following questions:

—In what way(s) does Psycho break with classical narrative?

—Analyze the shower scene and the use of editing. Why is the sequence edited the way it is? 

Homework is due on Monday, March 25th. 

 

Homework Week Two

Watch The Searchers. Answer one of the following questions.

—(1) How are the characters Ethan and Scar seen as parallel or similar? Why does the filmmaker choose to make these two characters alike?

—(2) When Ethan finally finds Debbie, why does he want to kill her instead of save her? And why does he decide to save her at the end? 

(3)  Final shot: Why doesn’t / can’t Ethan enter the house?

Due on Monday, March 18th at 12:00 PM (noon)