May 24, 15: Media studies, part 2.1 FX’s Fargo, season 1, episode 1: “The Crocodile’s Dilemma”

For the next two weeks, we will be revisiting the landscape of television drama in the “New Golden Age” that we began looking at last year with Breaking Bad as our case study. We’ll start by viewing together the pilot episode of FX’s anthology series Fargo, based on one of the best films of all time. In the pilot, a small-town insurance salesman finds himself embroiled in a series of violent mishaps after a chance meeting with a mysterious man.

On May 31 we’ll gather to explore more of this ever-evolving landscape – how have Netflix and Amazon been game-changers? should you cut the (cable) cord? what new dramas are worth your time? – and we’ll consider Fargo, another example of television’s newly-rediscovered ability to present great drama as engrossing and morally adventurous as your favorite novel.

Fargo’s pilot runs just over 70 minutes, so we’ll start our viewing promptly at 9:30; to see the end, you’ll need to stay until 10:40. An additional screening in whole or in part (beginning and/or end of the episode) may also be available after worship. Here is some material to keep in mind as we watch together:

To train yourself to watch closely, try using this “opening shots” exercise for the initial scenes:  Where and when is this story set? How do you know?  What happens? What is this story going to be about? How do you know?  Who is present? What do you learn about them?  What is the mood of the scene(s)?  What questions do you have? What would you like to know?  What do the titles and music contribute to our understanding of the filmed story?

Filmed story is a type of text. How do choices in the following tell the story or represent values?  Locations/set design  Cinematography/color palette  Dialogue  Wardrobe  Music/sound  Editing

How do the following spiritual matters relate to the filmed story?  Attention  Compassion  Connections  Kindness  Shadow

 What power relationships exist in the story?  How do we experience life? What is the world like?  How do the storytellers convey their vision of right and wrong? What is the source of the moral code in the world of the story?  How are genders and social and economic classes portrayed?  Who are the redemptive characters? Who (or what) is God? Are there Biblical themes?  How are we to live our lives? What has value?

Having finished watching the episode, did a particular portion speak to you personally? What did you learn about the people involved?