Deck 2: The Significance of Film Form

Question 1

Drawing your examples from the opening sequences of [title of film shown in class], write a brief essay describing how this sequence generates expectations about the film's development. Use concrete examples to illustrate your points.

Answer 1

Answers will vary.

Question 2

How can film form create new emotional reactions in the audience instead of simply triggering practiced ones? Give an example of how the Wizard of Oz used form to override our everyday emotional responses.

Answer 2

Answers will vary.

Question 3

Describe the differences between the four kinds of meaning-referential, explicit, implicit, and symptomatic-using examples from The Wizard of Oz or [title of film shown in class].

Answer 3

Answers will vary.

Question 4

Evaluation of films is done on the basis of objective criteria. What are some of these criteria and how could they be applied in evaluating [title of film or films shown in class]? [Or, if you keep up on current movies, you might ask the students to use the criteria to evaluate a film of their choice that they have seen recently.]

Question 5

Define "function" and "motivation" as they apply to film form, giving specific examples from Film Art , the lecture, or [title of film shown in class].

Question 6

Define "motif" as it applies to film form, giving specific examples from Film Art , the lecture, or [title of film shown in class].

Question 7

What can we discover about a film's 'architecture' from analyzing its plot segmentation?

Question 8

Explain two factors that help create unity in a film. Give some specific examples, drawing on Film Art , the lecture, or [title of film shown in class].