Film Storytelling & Visual Design: Narrative and Mise en Scène
Film Narrative: Storytelling Frameworks
- Narrative form is the organizing storytelling framework of a film.
- The opening scenes of a film, during which a great deal of information about characters and situations is imparted, are known as the exposition.
- The standard pattern that shapes narrative films is the three-act structure.
- The dénouement is a series of events in the third act of the film that resolves the conflicts that have arisen.
- In a film, the exposition usually takes place near the beginning.
Shakespeare & Swift: Tragic Flaws, Satire, Humanism, and Identity
Literary Analysis: Key Themes and Interpretations
Hamlet: Tragic Flaw and Humanism
Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw: Interpretations
- Indecision and Overthinking: Often identified as Hamlet’s primary flaw, leading to delays in avenging his father’s death.
- Goethe’s View: Goethe believed Hamlet is a sensitive and thoughtful character, too delicate and intellectual to handle the burden of revenge. For Goethe, Hamlet’s flaw lies in being overwhelmed by a task too great for his nature.
- Schlegel & Coleridge: Schlegel
Art Fundamentals: Concepts, Functions, and Historical Movements
Understanding Art: Core Concepts and Elements
Art comes from the Latin Ars, artis, which translates the Greek techne and signifies the technique, skill, or expertise to do something.
Fundamental Art Concepts
Painting
The art and technique of representing on a flat surface any visible concrete object or something imaginary, using lines and colors.
Rhythm in Art
The repetition of an element within a structure at marked intervals, creating a regular or periodic recurrence.
Terrain
Consists of a cut or reduced
Read MoreFriends S1E1: Deconstructing Media & Cultural Impact
Media Language in Friends S1E1
Multi-camera Sitcom Style & Laugh Track
- Example: Scenes set in Central Perk and Monica’s apartment use fixed cameras, with audience laughter cued after jokes like Ross saying “We were on a break!”
- How it’s shown: The laugh track guides audience response and highlights comedic timing.
- Theory link: This fits Curran & Seaton’s idea of formulaic sitcom production aimed at mass appeal, using standard genre conventions to maintain audience comfort and expectations.
Renaissance Transformations: Humanism, Science, and Art
The Renaissance: A New Era of Thought
Humanism: The Anthropocentric Shift
There were many political, social, and economic changes in Europe from the 15th century onwards. These changes were accompanied by important shifts in the way that people viewed the world.
Humanism was the philosophical and cultural movement that spread through Europe in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The medieval theocentric viewpoint held that all human activities revolved around God. Humanists still believed in God; however,
Read MoreNavigating Global Business Cultures: Dimensions & Etiquette
Universalism vs. Particularism in Culture
Understanding the fundamental differences between universalist and particularist approaches is crucial for effective cross-cultural interaction.
Universalism: Rules and Equality
Universalism emphasizes systematic approaches, imposing rules and laws on all members to ensure efficiency and equal treatment. Key characteristics include:
- Equality: Strives to treat all people equally, where everyone’s vote counts.
- Rule of Law: Laws apply to everyone, including the