English, Compare and Contrast Essay
ESSAY TOPICS (see further instructions under FORMAT)
Select one of the following topics and read the topic carefully (substitutions or other topics are not possible):
1. Because films are “motion” pictures, movement is a key feature of this art form. Examine various kinds of movement (refer to concepts presented in Chapter 5 of Understanding Movies) in two of the following: North by Northwest, The Fisher King, Jurassic Park, Run Lola Run, Moulin Rouge, March of the Penguins. DO NOT CHOOSE BOTH The Fisher King and Jurassic Park for this question. You may choose one but you must compare the film with one of the other films in the list above.
2. Discuss the use of editing (see Chapter 6) in two of the following: North by Northwest, The Fisher King, Lost in Translation, Moulin Rouge, March of the Penguins, One Week. You may wish to consider the impact of editing on point of view or the impact of editing on the compression of time in film. Other possibilities include relating editing to movement or shots/angles, but make sure your essay stays focused on editing.
3. Mise en sce`ne refers to the staging, framing and photography of the visual elements in film (see Chapter 4 Giannetti and Leach for what falls under this designation). Discuss at least two mise en sce`ne elements [e.g. the dominant, open/closed forms (open/closed forms count as one element) or others] in two of the following films: Lost in Translation, Run Lola Run, Moulin Rouge, One Week. While you may consider angles or shots in your analysis as you address other elements (e.g. the dominant), do not make this the main focus in your discussion of mise en sce`ne.
4. Analyze diegetic and/or nondiegetic sound in two of the following: North by Northwest, The Fisher King, Jurassic Park, Lost in Translation, Moulin Rouge, One Week. DO NOT CHOOSE BOTH The Fisher King and Jurassic Park for this question. You may choose one but you must compare the film with one of the other films in the list above. You may discuss just diegetic sound or just nondiegetic sound or both. Do not simply restrict your analysis of sound to music, however.