PETERS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

MOVIES AND MEANING

GRADES 9-12

COURSE DESCRIPTION Great films explore great themes, which help us get acquainted with our own lives. In this class, students will view, discuss, write about, and research some of the world’s finest and most renowned examples of cinema. Students will learn to “read” film in order to appreciate, interpret, and critique history’s most complex art form.

STUDY SKILLS Develop strategies for enriching cinematic experiences. Derive interpretations from visual cues and details. Identify universal themes and relate them to personal experiences. Recognize symbolic enhancements to storyline and theme. Acquire a historical perspective on classic cinema. Recognize and synthesize the complex components of the art of film and make judgments on their effective applications. Interpret subtleties of characterization via actions, acting, dialogue, and context. Analyze mise-en-scene with respect to symbolism and emotional effect. Make abstract judgments regarding theme and motivation. Present and refine ideas orally and in writing. Research and summarize expert critical and scholarly opinions. Expand multi-cultural horizons via use of foreign films

UNIT THEMES

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! Recognize, appreciate, and apply the various types of writing about film. Appreciate and interpret the various uses of light and shadow to augment narrative and characterization. Gain an overview of the history of the cinema. Gain exposure to famous film clips from famous films. Gain practical insights to the overall process and tribulations of filmmaking. Sustain an aesthetic discussion on the merits of particular film shots.

RISE TO THE OCCASION! Recognize, interpret, and summarize various expressions of courage via iconic film characters. Evaluate themes and conflicts related to self-interest vs. the greater good, duty vs. fear, self-knowledge, etc. Sustain open-ended discussions exploring thematic issues and their aesthetic expressions.

IN SEARCH OF SELF Empathize and identify with well-drawn characterizations. Appreciate the depth an actor seeks in developing his character. Interpret the way lighting and symbolism augment the story line and characterizations. Examine nuances of character and sustain discussions on their cinematic expression. Express opinions and researched insights orally and in writing.

THIS CRAZY WORLD! Recognize and interpret satire in filmmaking. Evaluate and debate the role of technology in the modern world. Examine the application of different cinematic techniques and merging of art forms to express theme.

MAKE ‘EM LAUGH! Appreciate classic clowning from Chaplin and the Marx Brothers. Make historical connections between vaudeville and cinema. Summarize characterizations.

MATERIALS Resources:

Film: A Critical Introduction. Second Edition, Maria Pramaggiore and Tom Wallis. 2008 Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography Teacher Handouts and Notes

Lights! Camera! Action! Visions of Light The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Man with Movie Camera Meshes of the Afternoon Looking for Richard 9 Edward Scissorhands

Rise to the Occasion The Magnificent Seven High Noon Rocky A Man for All Seasons Casablanca On the Waterfront

In Search of Self The 400 Blows The Bicycle Thief The King of Masks Citizen Kane Cold Comfort Farm

This Crazy World Dr. Strangelove 2001: A Space Odyssey La Jetee Un Chien Andalou Brazil

Make’em Laugh! The Gold Rush Duck Soup

Revised September 2014