Question 1

A viewer's ability to find meaning in a film is based on ________.
A) knowledge
B) cultural experience
C) preferences
D) all of these

Accepted Answer

A viewer's ability to find meaning in a film is based on their knowledge, cultural experience, and preferences. All of these factors contribute to how a viewer interprets a film and what they take away from it.

Question 2

________ films may depict characters and stories,but may draw attention to their status as works of art,often using unusual visual and sound techniques to explore abstract ideas.
A) Formalist
B) Realist
C) Classical
D) Post-modern

Accepted Answer

The description fits the characteristics of formalist films, which prioritize artistic techniques over realistic storytelling.

Question 3

Any detail that takes on meaning through repetition is called a ________.
A) motif
B) signifier
C) element
D) pattern

Accepted Answer

A motif is any element that appears repeatedly throughout a text and takes on a symbolic or thematic meaning. It can be a word, an image, a color, or a pattern. Repetition helps to emphasize its significance and unify the text.

Question 4

Viewer expectations of a film directed by Woody Allen might include ________.
A) European settings
B) neurotic characters
C) elaborate costuming
D) sparse dialogue

Accepted Answer

Woody Allen is known for his films featuring neurotic characters. While some of his films may have European settings, this is not a consistent expectation. Elaborate costuming is also not a defining characteristic of his films, and his dialogue is typically quite fast-paced and abundant.

Question 5

In Steamboat Bill,Jr.,Bill Jr.and a female friend are shown to have identical ________,a parallel suggesting that Bill is not manly. A) haircuts B) outfits C) shoes D) cars

Accepted Answer

The film shows Bill Jr. and his female friend both having the same haircut, implying that Bill Jr. lacks masculinity and is perhaps too effeminate. The other options (B, C, and D) do not have any clear connections to the film's themes or plot.

Question 6

A turning point is a moment that signals an important shift in ________.
A) a film's commercial potential
B) a star's persona
C) the narrative
D) the audience's perception of which characters are good and which are evil

Accepted Answer

A turning point is a moment that signals an important shift in the narrative. It often marks a change in direction or conflict in the story that leads to a significant event or resolution. The other options are not necessarily related to the concept of a turning point in storytelling.

Question 7

Which of the following would be an example of an "interpretive claim"?
A) A casual viewer discusses his or her enjoyment of a particular actor's performance.
B) A film critic discusses whether or not a film is "good" or "bad."
C) A film scholar discusses a recurring theme present throughout the film.
D) All of these are interpretive claims.

Accepted Answer

Interpretive claims involve analyzing and interpreting a text or work of art, rather than simply stating personal opinions or judgments. Option C fits this definition by discussing a recurring theme in the film. Options A and B involve personal opinions or judgments rather than interpretation. Option D is technically correct, but option C is the most specific and accurate answer.

Question 8

In Citizen Kane,newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's last spoken word is ________,which serves a motif throughout the film. A) "rosebud" B) "xanadu" C) "snow" D) "lily"

Accepted Answer

"Rosebud" is the correct answer. It is Kane's last spoken word, and the film's plot revolves around the search for the meaning behind this mysterious word. Throughout the film, we see glimpses of Kane's past and how his childhood and upbringing shaped who he became as an adult, and the significance of "rosebud" is finally revealed in the movie's iconic final scene.

Question 9

In the documentary In a Dream,filmmaker Jeremiah Jagar indicates the emotional cost of his father's marital infidelity by ______________________. A) inserting a shot of his father that parallels an earlier moment, only with muted colors B) playing a downbeat song whose lyrics focus on betrayal C) showing his father out drinking obsessively D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Jagar uses color directly to indicate the emotional cost of his father's marital infidelity in the film. He inserts a shot of his father that parallels an earlier moment, only with muted colors, which signifies the sadness and emptiness that Jagar feels in his relationship with his father due to his infidelity.

Question 10

When audiences go to the cinema,they bring with them expectations about ________.
A) how the film will be organized
B) the type of story the film will tell
C) the kind of character the star will play
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Audiences bring with them a set of expectations regarding how the film will be organized, the type of story the film will tell, and the kind of character the star will play. Therefore, option D, all of the above, is the best choice.

Question 11

________ is a marketing process that studios,talent agencies and the press use to transform actors into brand-name products.
A) The star system
B) Method acting
C) Mass-production
D) Green lighting

Accepted Answer

The star system is a marketing process that turns actors into brand-name products. This system involves selecting and promoting actors based on their looks, personality, and ability to attract audiences, rather than their acting ability. The star system has been used by studios, talent agencies, and the press to create and promote successful actors.

Question 12

A __________ arises when two characters,events,or locations are compared through the use of a narrative element or visual or sound device.
A) motif
B) parallel
C) cut
D) clip

Accepted Answer

Comparing two characters, events, or locations through the use of a narrative element or visual or sound device is known as a parallel. This is a common technique used in literature, film, and other mediums to draw comparisons and highlight similarities or differences between different elements in the work. A motif is a recurring theme or symbol that is used throughout a work, while a cut and clip refer to editing techniques used in film and video production.

Question 13

Audiences typically expect fiction films to offer __________________.
A) open endings
B) closure
C) explicit social commentary
D) radical experimentation with story structure

Accepted Answer

Audiences typically expect fiction films to offer closure, meaning a resolution or conclusion to the narrative. While some films may offer open endings or social commentary, these are not necessarily expected by audiences. Radical experimentation with story structure is also not a typical expectation for mainstream fiction films.

Question 14

An allusion to another film or work of art is called ________________________.
A) cribbing
B) artistic quotation
C) an intertextual reference
D) plagiarism

Accepted Answer

An allusion to another film or work of art is called an intertextual reference. It is a way of referencing or paying homage to a previous work of art.

Question 15

Motifs can encourage viewers to compare and contrast ________.
A) characters
B) plot events
C) objects
D) all of these

Accepted Answer

Motifs can be used to draw attention to various aspects of the story, including characters, plot events, and objects, and encourage viewers to compare and contrast them. Therefore, all the given options are correct, making choice D the best answer.

Question 16

The arrangement of visual elements in the frame is called ________.
A) composition
B) mode of operation
C) cinematography
D) frame situation

Accepted Answer

Composition refers to the way in which the visual elements of a scene are arranged within the frame. It involves considerations such as balance, framing, and the use of color and shape to create a visually appealing and effective image. Mode of operation and frame situation are not terms commonly used in film or visual arts, and cinematography refers to a broader range of technical aspects of filmmaking beyond composition alone.

Question 17

A parallel is when a film emphasizes the similarities between characters,events or locations through the use of a:
A) narrative element
B) visual device
C) sound device
D) any of the above could establish a parallel

Accepted Answer

Any of the above could establish a parallel. A narrative element can establish a parallel through dialogue or thematic connections. A visual device can establish a parallel through framing, lighting, or color. A sound device can establish a parallel through music, sound effects, or dialogue. Therefore, any of these elements could be used to emphasize similarities and establish a parallel.

Question 18

When directors conclude their films with an unhappy ending,one potential side effect is ________.
A) audiences will be alienated
B) other directors will emulate the narrative innovation
C) the film will be criticized for being too derivative
D) the film will appeal more to women than men

Accepted Answer

Concluding a film with an unhappy ending may alienate audiences as people generally prefer happy endings. This is because happy endings leave the audience with a sense of closure and satisfaction, while unhappy endings can leave them feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

Question 19

In the film Notorious,Alfred Hitchcock uses a ________ motif to suggest the change and development of a "party girl" character. A) dress B) dancing C) drinking D) musical

Accepted Answer

In "Notorious," Alfred Hitchcock uses a drinking motif to suggest the transformation and development of the "party girl" character, Alicia Huberman, played by Ingrid Bergman. Her alcohol consumption is depicted at various points in the film, reflecting her emotional state and growth.

Question 20

________ filmmakers explore the aesthetic possibilities of the film medium itself,rarely telling stories or presenting arguments.
A) Narrative fiction
B) Documentary
C) Avant-garde
D) Horror

Accepted Answer

Avant-garde filmmakers focus on experimental or innovative techniques in film making and are less concerned with traditional narrative structures or presenting a clear argument or message. Instead, they often use the film medium to explore artistic, abstract, or sensory experiences.

Quiz 2: An Approach to Film Analysis

A viewer's ability to find meaning in a film is based on ________.

________ films may depict characters and stories,but may draw attention to their status as works of art,often using unusual visual and sound techniques to explore abstract ideas.

Any detail that takes on meaning through repetition is called a ________.

Viewer expectations of a film directed by Woody Allen might include ________.

In Steamboat Bill,Jr.,Bill Jr.and a female friend are shown to have identical ________,a parallel suggesting that Bill is not manly.

A turning point is a moment that signals an important shift in ________.

Which of the following would be an example of an "interpretive claim"?

In Citizen Kane,newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane's last spoken word is ________,which serves a motif throughout the film.

In the documentary In a Dream,filmmaker Jeremiah Jagar indicates the emotional cost of his father's marital infidelity by ______________________.

When audiences go to the cinema,they bring with them expectations about ________.

________ is a marketing process that studios,talent agencies and the press use to transform actors into brand-name products.

A __________ arises when two characters,events,or locations are compared through the use of a narrative element or visual or sound device.

Audiences typically expect fiction films to offer __________________.

An allusion to another film or work of art is called ________________________.

Motifs can encourage viewers to compare and contrast ________.

The arrangement of visual elements in the frame is called ________.

A parallel is when a film emphasizes the similarities between characters,events or locations through the use of a:

When directors conclude their films with an unhappy ending,one potential side effect is ________.

In the film Notorious,Alfred Hitchcock uses a ________ motif to suggest the change and development of a "party girl" character.

________ filmmakers explore the aesthetic possibilities of the film medium itself,rarely telling stories or presenting arguments.