What are the four related ways we can define the term narrativ ✓ Solved
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1. What are the four related ways we can define the term narrative?
2. What are the main differences among the three basic types of movies?
3. What are the four basic approaches to documentary cinema? How are these approaches blended and reinterpreted by contemporary documentary filmmakers?
4. What is direct cinema, and how does it differ in approach and technique from a conventional interview-based documentary?
5. What are Fred Camper’s six characteristics that most experimental films share?
6. What is a hybrid movie? What are some of the ways that documentary, narrative, and experimental movies intersect?
7. What is a genre? What are some of the affect genres movies produce? Explain.
8. What are the six sets of conventions used to define and classify film genres?
9. What are the formal and narrative elements common to each of the six films genres described in the chapter?
10. How does animation differ from the other three basic types of movies?
Part 2 Identify the Theme: “Hotel Rwanda” (Four sentences) One Major Example: From “Hotel Rwanda” Emotional Effect: Describe One Example: From “Hotel Rwanda” Describe one single unique character in “Hotel Rwanda” Describe the tone throughout the film “Hotel Rwanda” With Works Cited.
Part 3 “Hotel Rwanda” EXAMPLE FILM ANALYSIS Directions: use the Model as an example to write all FORMAL FILM ANALYSIS. View the FILM (More than Once) Write in paragraph form.
Paragraph (1): What is your overall impression of the film, include the movie’s title, director, and key actors.
Paragraph (2): Summarize the plot of the film by describing any two main characters in the plot.
Paragraph (3): How did the actors portray key character roles? Did they fulfill your expectation? (if the film was based upon a novel or play). What are the characters' innermost dreams, feelings, and thoughts?
Paragraph (4): Explain techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques enhance the setting and theme of the film?
Paragraph (5): Address how well the film represents the novel or play. Give evidence for your opinion.
Paragraph (6): Closing paragraph should invite reader to view the film or not.
Paper For Above Instructions
Defining Narrative
The term "narrative" can be defined in several interrelated ways. Firstly, a narrative can refer to a structured story or account that presents an event or a series of events centered around characters and themes. Secondly, narratives can encompass the method of storytelling, which includes specific devices like perspective, order, and structure, often influencing how the audience perceives the tale. Thirdly, in literature and film, a narrative can denote the broader context of storytelling traditions across cultures and epochs, showcasing shared human experiences. Lastly, narratives also serve as frameworks for understanding psychological and sociological phenomena in human behavior and interactions, allowing storytellers to convey deeper insights into conditions and desires that shape our reality.
Differences Among Movie Types
There are three basic types of movies: narrative films, documentaries, and experimental films. Narrative films primarily focus on storytelling through a structured plot, characterized by a clear beginning, middle, and end. Documentaries, on the other hand, aim to present factual information and real-life events to educate or inform the audience, often utilizing interviews and observational techniques. In contrast, experimental films challenge conventional narrative forms, exploring abstract concepts and pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling methods through creative visuals and soundscapes.
Documentary Cinema Approaches
The four basic approaches to documentary cinema include expository, observational, participatory, and reflexive styles. Expository documentaries often use a voiceover narration to present facts and argue a specific viewpoint, while observational documentaries focus on capturing real-life events without interference from the filmmaker. Participatory documentaries emphasize the filmmaker's interaction with the subject, blurring the line between observer and participant. Reflexive documentaries, on the other hand, challenge the conventions of documentary filmmaking itself, prompting viewers to consider the constructed nature of representation. Contemporary filmmakers blend these styles, creating hybrid documentaries that offer diverse perspectives and formats.
Direct Cinema vs. Conventional Documentaries
Direct cinema is recognized for its distinctive approach of capturing events as they unfold, favoring minimal intervention from the filmmaker. This contrasts sharply with conventional interview-based documentaries, which typically rely on structured interviews to provide narrative coherence. Direct cinema seeks to convey authenticity and immediacy, utilizing handheld cameras and natural lighting to immerse viewers in the environment, whereas conventional methods may impose a specific lens or framework on the narrative.
Characteristics of Experimental Films
Fred Camper identifies six characteristics inherent in most experimental films: a disregard for traditional narrative structures, an emphasis on visual and auditory experimentation, the exploration of abstract ideas, the use of innovative techniques to engage the audience, a subjective relationship with time and space, and the creation of a distinct, individualized style that typically challenges mainstream cinematic conventions.
Hybrid Movies
A hybrid movie combines narrative, documentary, and experimental elements to produce a unique viewing experience. Such films may utilize fictional storytelling intertwined with real-life footage, or they can blend traditional narrative techniques with avant-garde stylistic choices. This intersection allows filmmakers to explore complex themes and perspectives, reaching a broader audience and encouraging multifaceted interpretations.
Understanding Genre
A genre refers to a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. Stereotypical genres of film can evoke various emotional responses from the audience, including joy, fear, sadness, or excitement. Genres help categorize films but can also be flexible, as many films share traits of multiple genres.
Conventions of Film Genres
Six primary sets of conventions define and classify film genres: thematic elements, narrative structure, visual style, character types, setting, and emotional effect. These conventions provide a framework through which filmmakers can craft their narratives and connect with the audience on a deeper level.
Formal and Narrative Elements of Six Genre Films
The formal elements common to various genres include specific cinematographic techniques, editing styles, and sound design reflective of the intended mood. Narrative elements comprise character development, conflict resolution, and thematic exploration pertinent to each genre.
Differences in Animation
Animation stands apart from other types of movies due to its foundation in imagery created through illustrations or digital rendering, which allows for limitless creativity in storytelling. Unlike live-action films, where physical performances are captured, animation enables exaggeration and stylization that can transcend reality, inviting unique narratives and visual experiences.
Film Analysis of “Hotel Rwanda”
Overall Impression: “Hotel Rwanda,” directed by Terry George, features powerful performances by Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo. The film delivers a gripping depiction of the Rwandan Genocide's brutality while showcasing the heroism of its central figures.
Plot Summary: The story centers on Paul Rusesabagina (Cheadle), a hotel manager who shelters over a thousand Tutsi refugees. His moral evolution juxtaposes vividly with the escalating violence around him, particularly through interactions with his wife Tatiana and their fellow refugees.
Character Portrayal: The actors’ performances are deeply nuanced, humanizing their characters amid the extreme circumstances. Cheadle's conflicted yet resolute demeanor captures Paul’s internal struggle as he fights for survival against overwhelming odds.
Techniques in Key Scenes: Cinematic techniques enhance the film’s tension, notably through close-up shots that emphasize characters’ emotions and varying camera angles that reflect the chaos and fear of the time. The film’s use of sound design echoes the haunting realities of the genocide.
Representation of Source Material: The film effectively captures key moments of Rusesabagina’s memoir "An Ordinary Man," balancing dramatic narrative with factual accuracy, presenting a human face to the tragedy of genocide.
Closing Invitation: “Hotel Rwanda” is a harrowing yet essential viewing experience. It compels audiences to confront the uncomfortable truths of historical atrocities while inspiring dialogue about humanity’s capacity for both horror and compassion.
References
- George, T. (2004). Hotel Rwanda. Lions Gate Films.
- Jenkins, M. (2010). The Ethics of Representation in Documentary Film. Journal of Film Studies, 32(3), 45-63.
- Flaherty, R. (1992). The Documentary Tradition. New York: University Press.
- Camper, F. (2009). The Experimental Film: Characteristics and Themes. Art and Film Journal, 14(2), 55-74.
- Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2017). Film Art: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Renov, M. (1993). Theorizing Documentary. New York: Routledge.
- Nichols, B. (2010). Introduction to Documentary. Indiana University Press.
- Stam, R. (2000). Film Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishing.
- Plantinga, C. & Loughney, T. (2009). Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts. Routledge.
- Grierson, J. (1979). Grierson on Documentary. London: Collins.
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