Film Style Exam

In the video embedded below, you will find six clips from six different films. Each clip is labeled with the film title and year of release. Your task is to determine where on the film style continuum you believe each film clip belongs. Your will be graded primarily on the rational portion of each response. Write your responses in a Googledoc and share the doc with your instructor. Each of the six sections should include the following information:

1. Film Title
2. Film Style Scale Ranking
3. Rational

Remember to refer to the notes from unit one of the class - cinematography, editing, sound, and mise en scene. This is the language you will use to craft your responses. Also, include rich, descriptive details in your responses.

Because this is an exam, you are expected to work on your own and not work with your peers. You may, however, research as much as you would like. If you use material from your research, you are expected to cite this information properly.

The exam is due to your instructor via shared Googledoc by class time Thursday, Nov. 13.

Keep in mind that your goal here is to prove to your instructor that you've been processing all the material we've been tackling in class. This is the real deal. Pounding this exam out in twenty minutes is not going to cut the mustard. You need to observe, think, and reflect.

See your instructor if you at any time have any questions.

Use the following diagram for reference when determining the film style scale ranking for each clip.

The Western

Here are some things I know about Westerns...


1.  Westerns take place in one of three eras: (I) conquering the Western Frontier,  (II) establishing law and order, and (III) the death of the Western Myth and the birth of the Industrial Age.















2.  In the Western, the code of the West is founded in the notion of personal honor and private justice, not the abstract philosophy of law and government.





3.  Common Western motifs include few against many, the life of the nameless nomadic gunfighter, man against the harsh ruggedness of nature and 'savagery.'





4.  Early-to-mid century Western tales are often morality tales; later Westerns explore the ambiguity of such naivete and question whether or not life actually does have value.








5.  The wandering protagonists of Westerns are quite similar to the ronins (masterless samurai) of Japanese culture.







6. Just because a film takes place in the west, does not necessarily make it a Western.



Any comments or questions?