Stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene

Stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene

For your term paper, complete a stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene. Select one scene of three to five minutes in length from one of the films selected during the full course. You can pick any film listed in any of the Units. Use the following questions to assist you:

Complete a stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene

For your term paper, complete a stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene. Select one scene of three to five minutes in length from one of the films selected during the full course. You can pick any film listed in any of the Units. Use the following questions to assist you:
Complete a short breakdown chart of the scene you have selected. Below is a sample (at least 30 shots).

Introduction:

Provide background information on the film you have selected. You will need to do some research for this.
Who is the director? When and where was this film made? Is it related to a film movement? What kind of film is this: a documentary, experimental film, fictional narrative film? What genre(s) might this film fall into?

Provide any other relevant information about this film?

Thesis statement: This is your argument. The thesis statement should explain the relevance of the scene you have selected.

How does it connect with the rest of the film and its narrative?

What is the importance of the scene and its relation to other scenes?

Is it a major turning point? How does the scene support the film’s theme(s)?

Part 1:

Firstly, Write a brief description of the selected scene.

Secondly, Explain what is so important about the succession of shots that comprises the scene?

Also, Analyze (don’t just describe) the shots’ mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, acting, and sound.

Thirdly, How do these stylistic elements work together to create emotional and intellectual effects?

Fourthly, Discuss how the shots work together and separately:

Further, How is meaning created and imparted to the viewer?

Additionally, How do the shots convey information and characterization?

Lastly, Why might these particular shots have been used? What gives them impact?

Finally, How is meaning built up in the scene?

Part 2:

How does this scene relate to other scenes; think of the form of the film.

How does the scene relate to the theme you have selected to focus on?
How does the scene relate to the form of the film? Is it part of a repetitive pattern?

Part of the development of the film?

Explain the scenes relation to the theme created through the form.
How does the scene relate to the Narrative?

Is there a 3-act structure? How does it relate to the character goals? Does this film follow a Classical Hollywood Narrative? Where does your scene fit into this narrative?

What is the film’s explicit meaning? What is the film’s implicit meaning?

Conclusion:

And, lastly, return to your thesis by broadening your scene analysis to the rest of the film. Explain the significance of analyzing this one scene.

Explain why analyzing this one scene is important in the interpretation and analysis of the film as a whole.
Do not:
Discuss the plot in detail. Your reader has already seen the film you are writing about;
Just list and describe the shots;
Use extensive quotations or lines of dialogue for your analysis;
Repeat yourself.

Be sure to:

Firstly, Use correct spelling, grammar, and syntax;
Secondly, Describe and analyze the scene in detail;
Thirdly,Build analysis through use of detail;
Fourthly, Use terms from the textbook so as to show you understand them;
Furthermore, Include an original title for your paper, and to number each page;
Further, Use the present tense and use characters’ (not actors’) names in your paper;
Lastly, Proofread.

Stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene Stylistic analysis and interpretation of a scene

For your analysis, it is crucial that you watch the film in its original aspect ratio (letterbox). Do not watch a film in Full Screen unless that is the aspect ratio the film was distributed as. Some of these films are available at Learning Resource Center. You may select a different film, but you will need to have the film approved.

Shot Breakdown:
In addition to the 7-9 page paper (at least 2,300 words), provide a shot breakdown for the scene you have selected to analyze – in list, column, or table form – that includes the following information. You can create this as a list (look below) or as a table.

Shot number (you will assign each shot a number).

Mise-en-scene: Describe the setting, the props, the lighting, the costumes, etc.

Cinematography: camera distance (e.g. LS [long shot], MS [medium shot], CU [close-up]….). Is the camera moving or is it stable? Is the lens wide or long?

Editing: describe the editing? Is it following a classical Hollywood structure? Is it fast-paced?

Acting and dialogue: is the acting convincing? Does the dialogue provide insight into the themes?

Sounds, Music, Narration and/or Titles: Describe the diegetic and non-diegetic elements of the film.