Here's a clip from a real Stasi training video; its in German:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWX3v6uHo-w&NR=1
And here's the Iwatch videos that we found from LA:(Stasi in America?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmRPJv5jZE&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djw3w-4rJxY&feature=player_embedded
http://lapdonline.org/iwatchla
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Guidelines for Second Essay!
CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN CINEMA
Second Essay Guidelines
Due date: Friday, April 30 in class.
No late papers will be accepted. Print copies must be turned in unless alternate arrangements are made with the instructor’s approval.
The essay should be 6-7 pages in length, between 1200-1500 words.
You need to use at least three outside sources. All sources, whether print, or web-based, must be cited properly (Either MLA or Chicago Manual of Style). You should also have either footnotes or endnotes (or cite sources in parentheses after each example), as well as a Works Cited/Bibliography page. If you aren’t sure how to do this, go to the Writing Center or look online for assistance; both the MLA and Chicago Manual have websites with easy to access guidelines.
Your sources may include reviews or interviews, as well as scholarly articles.
All topics must be approved by the instructor first! The best way to find a good topic is to work on formulating thesis statement (or several) and submit them via email. Do this no later than one week before the paper due date (that is, Friday, April 23rd).
A topic is not a thesis statement. A topic might be “female body image in LOOK AT ME/COMME UNE IMAGE”; a thesis statement is more along these lines: “Agnes Jaoui addresses issues of body image and female identity by portraying complex characters who struggle to win approval from the men in their lives.”
Topics:
The topic is open, within some parameters. Your topic must be based on a film we have viewed in class during the second half of the semester (that is, after the first essay was due). You may approach this in one of several ways:
1) Analysis of the film via a specific topic (e.g., images of claustrophobia in THE LIVES OF OTHERS).
2) Discussion of the film via consideration of the filmmaker or writer’s body of work; you still need a specific topic here (e.g., dysfunctional sexuality in the films of Pedro Almodovar).
3) Analysis of the film via discussion of a specific movement or trend in cinema, or in terms of cinema’s response to a particular social issue (e.g., Explicit sex or violence, abortion, etc.). Again, you must have a very specific topic.
Revise, revise, revise. This is the key to producing a good essay. Clarify your intent and meaning, use the best examples you can, eliminate superfluous or overly descriptive information. You want to show how well you understand the ideas we’ve discussed in class, and how well you “read” and respond to cinema.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me or make an appointment to discuss your essay with me. Please also feel free to ask questions here in the blog.
Second Essay Guidelines
Due date: Friday, April 30 in class.
No late papers will be accepted. Print copies must be turned in unless alternate arrangements are made with the instructor’s approval.
The essay should be 6-7 pages in length, between 1200-1500 words.
You need to use at least three outside sources. All sources, whether print, or web-based, must be cited properly (Either MLA or Chicago Manual of Style). You should also have either footnotes or endnotes (or cite sources in parentheses after each example), as well as a Works Cited/Bibliography page. If you aren’t sure how to do this, go to the Writing Center or look online for assistance; both the MLA and Chicago Manual have websites with easy to access guidelines.
Your sources may include reviews or interviews, as well as scholarly articles.
All topics must be approved by the instructor first! The best way to find a good topic is to work on formulating thesis statement (or several) and submit them via email. Do this no later than one week before the paper due date (that is, Friday, April 23rd).
A topic is not a thesis statement. A topic might be “female body image in LOOK AT ME/COMME UNE IMAGE”; a thesis statement is more along these lines: “Agnes Jaoui addresses issues of body image and female identity by portraying complex characters who struggle to win approval from the men in their lives.”
Topics:
The topic is open, within some parameters. Your topic must be based on a film we have viewed in class during the second half of the semester (that is, after the first essay was due). You may approach this in one of several ways:
1) Analysis of the film via a specific topic (e.g., images of claustrophobia in THE LIVES OF OTHERS).
2) Discussion of the film via consideration of the filmmaker or writer’s body of work; you still need a specific topic here (e.g., dysfunctional sexuality in the films of Pedro Almodovar).
3) Analysis of the film via discussion of a specific movement or trend in cinema, or in terms of cinema’s response to a particular social issue (e.g., Explicit sex or violence, abortion, etc.). Again, you must have a very specific topic.
Revise, revise, revise. This is the key to producing a good essay. Clarify your intent and meaning, use the best examples you can, eliminate superfluous or overly descriptive information. You want to show how well you understand the ideas we’ve discussed in class, and how well you “read” and respond to cinema.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me or make an appointment to discuss your essay with me. Please also feel free to ask questions here in the blog.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Lives of Others
This film put me in such a strange, disconnected, and depressed state, that I went back to my office and drank a half a bottle of wine.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Discussion: Head On
This film by Fatih Akin deals with questions of gender, sexuality and cultural oppression fairly directly. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this and on the film in general.
Also, how have topics of sex and gender been addressed in other films we've seen this semester? Obviously sex and gender were central to Sally Potter's Orlando (as we explored in our discussion) but what about some of the other films we've viewed so far?
Also, how have topics of sex and gender been addressed in other films we've seen this semester? Obviously sex and gender were central to Sally Potter's Orlando (as we explored in our discussion) but what about some of the other films we've viewed so far?
Friday, March 5, 2010
Films on Reserve for Assignment Due March 19
You are to see one contemporary European film (1984 or later) and write a 500 word response to be turned in March 19 in class. Please don't just try writing about a film you saw months or even years ago; watch something now and write about it, informed by your coursework.
The following British films are on reserve in the library (British counts as European!) if you wish to watch them:
Brazil
Morvern Callar
Secrets and Lies
A Zed and Two Noughts
Ratcatcher
The library may have other contemporary European films available, or feel free to partake of any films showing in Boston at the moment, such as The Kendall Square Cinema (which currently has The White Ribbon and A Prophet, among other European films), or The Brattle Theatre (which is showing some Merchant-Ivory films tomorrow).
You can rent from Netflix or a video store, too, or visit your local library, which normally have excellent video selections.
Presentation schedule
March 19 (Orlando): Matthew Serpico, Erica Femino, Kevin Stanton
March 26 (Head On): Mari Emori, Felicia Hadzipanijotis, Alaina Mahoney
April 9 (Look at Me): Kristin Texeira, Elysha Roberts, Sarah Flavin, and (Cache) Erin Whitson, Erica Scoppettuolo, Elysha Roberts
April 16 (The Lives of Others): Ben McNamara, Nic Gascoigne, Jared Friedman, Tin Tranh
April 23 (Volver): Jenifer Cuddy, Sarah Karten, Allison Smith
April 30 (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days): Amber Kafalas, Lucy Parker, Nicole Dugan and (Let the Right One In): Kira Maintanis, Justin Walker
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Exam Study Guide!
This is what you should be studying for the mid-term exam on Friday:
Go over the reading materials (including the Dogme readings linked on the blog). There won't be terribly specific memorization questions re: names and dates but you should be familiar with general concepts and ideas discussed, as well as basic definitions of terms we have been using (such as the various genres, mise en scene, the principles of Dogme 95, and the basic information on color, etc.)
Go over the lecture notes; these are somewhat based on the readings but include additional material you may be tested on.
Be sure you have seen all of the films viewed in class.
Take a look at the blog discussions about films.
Be on time for class. No one will be allowed to leave the room during the exam.
Go over the reading materials (including the Dogme readings linked on the blog). There won't be terribly specific memorization questions re: names and dates but you should be familiar with general concepts and ideas discussed, as well as basic definitions of terms we have been using (such as the various genres, mise en scene, the principles of Dogme 95, and the basic information on color, etc.)
Go over the lecture notes; these are somewhat based on the readings but include additional material you may be tested on.
Be sure you have seen all of the films viewed in class.
Take a look at the blog discussions about films.
Be on time for class. No one will be allowed to leave the room during the exam.
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