Category: Film studies

For Response Assignment #2, please watch the two videos linked below. Both videos feature choreography by Hofesh Shechter, whose work falls into the category of contemporary dance–a subset of modern dance.

You must submit your response assignment in ESSAY form.

The first video is “The Other Seder,” from 2010. Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G15sGc91HU

The second video is an excerpt from “Political Mother” from 2015. Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azBGpM9qYhs

Please watch the following videos and write an essay that does the following:

Identifies and describes the elements (similar or contrasting) that you see that help classify each work as an example of contemporary dance.

Comments on Shechter’s use of the choreographic elements of dance discussed in your text.

Describes why you think this dance would be considered modern and contemporary. Describe in detail what movements and ideas helped you form your opinion.

Your essay must include the following:
Your essay response must have an introductory statement that gives context to the assignment.
The body of your essay must answer the three listed questions.
Your conclusion must tie up your analysis.
You must cite all your sources within the text and in a Works Cited page using MLA Formatting.
Your Works Cited Page should be its own page, not listed after your concluding paragraph. When you are ready to add your Works Cite, enter a Page Break after your last paragraph, and you will have a new page to write on.

Your essay must be written using MLA-approved structure, such as:
Approved fonts, such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
It must be in 12-point font.
It must have 1-inch margins.
It must be double-spaced.
You must indent the beginning of each paragraph.

This Response Assignment is worth 50 points.

Before you submit, make sure you have read the instructions carefully and have included all the required parts, like a Works Cited Page.

You must submit your essay as a .doc, .docx. or .pdf to complete the assignment. PAGES is not accepted.

You will submit your essay through this link.

A short background on Shechter:
He started his career as a dancer with the Batsheva Dance Company in Israel. At the same time, Shechter was pursuing his interest in percussion and music. He later moved to Paris, where he studied music. In 2002, he moved to London to perform with the Jasmin Vardimon Company, and in 2003 he created his first dance work, Fragments, for which he also composed the music.

This end-of-term written assignment (600 – 800 words, typewritten) will be an examination and analysis of a selected film clip, and the role of music—and more broadly, the role of sound—within that clip, as it interacts with the film’s visual track. Each student will select a clip between one and three minutes in length (with perhaps some flexibility in length, one way or the other, depending on the clip). A “first-come, first-claimed” set of sign-up boards is now available. Each student must select a film clip (by title and times) that has not already been claimed. An extensive list of films is provided (below) from which to select a clip.
PLEASE NOTE: You may select a film that someone else has already selected. Two or more of you can select the same film. But you must select a film clip that is uniquely your own. And you must make your selection from one of the films listed below.
Remember you have access to three of the five full-length films in this course. Any clips not included in the lessons, open forums, or discussion boards are fair game. Also, any film on the list is fair game–you simply need to own, rent, or borrow the film.
Your paper provides an opportunity to apply the O.A.R.S model of examination (Observation, Analysis, Reflection, Synthesis), which has been practiced in the discussion boards, and which has been repeatedly modeled in the lessons of this course. The key is to focus, and to examine in detail.
Here are some more tips about writing your paper: You can assume the reader has seen the film, but you still want to orient your reader with a brief introduction of your topic. Similarly, at the end of your paper, you want a conclusion that provides insight and synthesis–stating the sorts of things that come from reflecting on the observations and analysis that make up the “meat” of your paper.
Peruse the film list, and select a film from the list and identify a clip between 1 and 3 minutes in length that will be the subject of your paper. It’s possible that the clip could be shorter or longer—but check with your instructor about any exceptions.
There are four Sign-up Boards, based on the first letter of the film titles. Be sure to select the correct sign-up board—as presented in the list here—based on the alphabetical category under which your selected film is listed.
When you are sure of your selection, go to the corresponding Sign-up Board and post your film title with start and stop times for your selected clip. The Sign-up Board explains exactly how to do this.
Some examples of clips that have already been “claimed” (by virtue of their having been the subject of examination within our lessons) provide a model for your sign-up “posts.”

“Which of the two films- “K-Pax or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”- Uses the elements os storytelling more effectively to develop their story?”
Issues to consider and compare in this essay:
1. The points of view from which the two film stories are told
2. The way “institutional authority” is defined in both films
3. Prot and R.P. McMurphy as main characters
4. The structures (Especially beginnings and endings) of the two stories
5. Some (not all) of the minor characters and their roles in each story
6. The final messages Prot and McMurphy leave behind
Note The essay is to be a personal reflection based on the essay topic, but using your own voice and first person point of view.
No additional outside sources are to be used or cited in this paper. The essay should address the film and elements of storytelling as stated in the prompt. It is not a research paper.

Write a formal analysis essay about the film “Ghost World”. Write about the movies “performance”.
In this assignment, the fundamental question to answer is: “How does the formal aspect you’re studying construct meaning in the film you’ve selected?” Remember the formal aspect is the “performance” of the movie. If you’re writing on Performance, interpret the Persona of the actor you’re studying, as well as the specific Performance and Character in the film, plus Styles of Acting, Types of Performance, etc.
DO NOT MAKE THIS ESSAY REPETITIVE. the last essay was very repetitive and not well explained. Use details and examples from the movie to explain your thesis. Use Chapter 4 pages 134-140 from the book “ Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: an Introduction (Eleventh Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill, 2016.” To help further explain the performance of the movie throughout the essay. Thank you so much ! I really need a “B”. Below I linked an example essay so hopefully it will help.

Your paper should be written in a narrative format, in a formal composition style, and be constructed clearly with an introduction, body and conclusion. Format: 12-point Times New Roman (or similar) font, 1” margins, double spaced, and at least 3 pages in length. Your paper should: evaluate the effectiveness of the production elements in performance with specific examples. answer the questions: did it achieve its goal to entertain, to stimulate thought, to raise social concern, and/or to provoke emotion? not give me a plot summary! I do not need the storyline repeated. If you think a simple introduction is necessary to set up your ideas, keep this at a minimum of a few sentences. Writing your paper: Think about each of the production elements: acting, directing, and design. Which were effective and why? Acting: which actor stood out to you as the best? Why? How did they demonstrate their understanding of the character? How did the actor’s physical and vocal choices (posture, movement, gestures, tone, volume, diction, accent) communicate the nature of the character? Directing: did the performance’s pace, tone, and casting make sense? Why or why not? Which moments were the strongest? Weakest? Why? What images from the production were you left with? How was the scene, lighting and costume design able to create the setting? Were their stronger aspects than others? Why? Which moments on stage were the strongest/most interesting and why? Which were ineffective? Why? What could have been done to improve this production?

Your paper should be written in a narrative format, in a formal composition style, and be constructed clearly with an introduction, body and conclusion. Format: 12-point Times New Roman (or similar) font, 1” margins, double spaced, and at least 3 pages in length. Your paper should: evaluate the effectiveness of the production elements in performance with specific examples. answer the questions: did it achieve its goal to entertain, to stimulate thought, to raise social concern, and/or to provoke emotion? not give me a plot summary! I do not need the storyline repeated. If you think a simple introduction is necessary to set up your ideas, keep this at a minimum of a few sentences. Writing your paper: Think about each of the production elements: acting, directing, and design. Which were effective and why? Acting: which actor stood out to you as the best? Why? How did they demonstrate their understanding of the character? How did the actor’s physical and vocal choices (posture, movement, gestures, tone, volume, diction, accent) communicate the nature of the character? Directing: did the performance’s pace, tone, and casting make sense? Why or why not? Which moments were the strongest? Weakest? Why? What images from the production were you left with? How was the scene, lighting and costume design able to create the setting? Were their stronger aspects than others? Why? Which moments on stage were the strongest/most interesting and why? Which were ineffective? Why? What could have been done to improve this production?

Only need help to correct my grammar and make it look more professional (words, transition words etc). No links or anything need to be added.

“Explain It” is an essay in MLA format on a film topic of your choice. You may pick a film that we have already covered in class, or a film outside of class. The only parameters are that it be a documentary, it may be a film or a documentary series. If you choose a documentary series then you need to watch the entire series and that needs to be clear in your analysis. You need a lens of analysis in which to discuss your topic. For example, if you would like to discuss Michael Moore’s influence on documentary cinema by analyzing a couple of his films like Roger & Me (1989) and/or Bowling for Columbine (2002). Or if you would like to discuss sensationalistic documentary biographies, like Mucho Mucho Amor: the Legend of Walter Mercado (2020) directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch, Dolly Parton: Here I Am (2019) directed by Francis Whately and Navalny (2022 directed by Daniel Roher and how they shape public opinion. For your works cited you need at least 3 academic sources (which means peer-reviewed) in addition to the film(s) you will cite. (50 points)

ONLY need help to correct my grammar/better quality of my work. No links or anything need to be added.

There’s 3 options of books you may write a report on:
– Vito Russo, The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies
– Donald Crafton, The Talkies: American Cinema’s Transition to Sound, 1926-1931
– Mary Ann Doane, The Desire To Desire: The Woman’s Film of the 1940s
In the report you should summarize the book’s argument in detail. You should also address the following questions:
How is the book organized?
What are the main factors at work in this historical account? What people/institutions/events are the most significant shapers of the history?
What are the strengths of the book?
What did you learn from the book?