****EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY***** 1 paper = erase 1 missed blog post from your record 2 papers = erase 1 absence from your record Assignment: Select a film Western to watch. It can be from any time period or country. Then write a 2-page paper in which discuss the following: Who is the Western hero in this film? How does s/he conform to the traits of the Western hero we discussed in class? How does this film portray the conflict between civilization and savagery? How is this conflict resolved? Finally, what myth is told by this film? What do we learn about the story of the beginning of the US in this particular Western?

Bell hooks bell hooks

bell hooks

bell hooks

bell hooks bell hooks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HQIKAihoBM https://judgmentalobserver.com/2012/11/14/screening-the-room-2012/

John Grierson defined the documentary in 1966 as “the creative treatment of actuality” In 1991 Bill Nichols argues that documentaries have “a common, self-chosen mandate to represent the historical world rather than imaginary ones” BUT…how do we define terms like “actuality” and “historical world”????

Can a picture “lie”?

Framing: a term used by sociolinguists to describe the process of applying a metatextual label or interpretative framework to a discourse

RAW FOOTAGE raw footage is the record of an event that has been minimally influenced by the process of filming or editing brings the viewer as close to the primary experience recorded by the filmmaker as possible BUT THIS IS STILL NOT “REALITY”

Mediation the documentarian is the mediator between the viewer and the event represented by raw footage the degree and type of this mediation by the filmmaker varies from film to film the techniques of mediation that the filmmaker chooses affects how we perceive the raw footage

Observational these filmmakers attempt to not interfere with the event happening before the camera they do not impose more than a minimal structure on the raw footage when they edit it emphasizes pure description over analysis Includes: ethnography and “direct cinema”

“The Philosophy of Non-Interference” the integrity of the event being filmed must be maintained there is an inherent meaning in the event being filmed the camera can record and reveal this meaning to the viewer without mediation by the filmmaker

What do observational docs look like? long takes camera is often hand held camera is rarely static On location sound Available light Occasionally out of focus “Imperfect” look

Analytical -the filmmaker analyzes the subject matter rather than simply recording and presenting it to the audience -these filmmakers also acknowledge their own mediation in the filmmaking process -THIS IS THE KEY DIFFERENCE FROM OBSERVATIONAL -includes: compilation films and cinema verite

What do analytical docs look like? long takes camera is often hand held camera is rarely static On location sound Available light Occasionally out of focus “Imperfect” look

“Talking Heads”

Persuasive a persuasive documentary attempts make a pitch, sell or promote an idea, change a point of view, or incite the viewer to political or social action persuasive films do not have any particular style since they basically use any means possible to get their point across in the most effective way the one element they all share is that they are dependent on the editing process for their power includes: expose and propaganda

See it Now (1951)

Propaganda propaganda is a persuasive film that attempts to stir the viewer’s emotions in order to persuade the viewer to agree with the position of the filmmaker emotional manipulation, at the expense of truthfulness or full disclosure, is the key factor

Aesthetic creative treatment of actuality these filmmakers apply the techniques of poetry and drama to documentary material

Given that it often costs money to dress up for them and so many of the individuals who participate are struggling financially, why are Balls so important to this community? Why do they spend money on them? What role do they serve in the community? Given the different documentary categories we discussed in class, can you identify what kind of doc this is: observational, analytic, persuasive or aesthetic? Or is it a combination? Explain your answer citing specific moments from the film to back your claims. One Ball participant who is interviewed at length, Dorian Corey, is filmed in various states—without make up, applying make-up and jewelry, and in full Ball attire. Why did the director choose to film her in these various states? This film has been praised for illuminating the hidden lives and artistic ventures of LGBT African Americans and Latinos. However, there has also been criticism of the film. Specifically, some critics argue that the director portrayed the LGBT Ball community as thieves, prostitutes and drug users. What do you think about this critique? Is it valid? Where do we feel the filmmaker’s presence in the film, affecting what the subject says and does? Where does she interject, what role does she have in shaping the way we see the Balls? And which parts of the film feel the most “unmediated”? Cite specific moments from the film to back your claims. The filmmaker interviews both very young people (i.e., the children) and old-timers (i.e., the mothers). What do we learn about the differences between Balls of the past and the contemporary scene? How have the outfits changed? How have beauty standards and criteria changed?

Chronicle of a Summer (1961) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxk-fg771r8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhmAVJ4_x0Y&list=PL7wA47GSIVMPwKPbUxwnZCs9esJO7874a Reagan vs. Mondale in 1984 (reelection) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY  Man with Movie Camera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z97Pa0ICpn8 Bush vs. Dukakis in 1988 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io9KMSSEZ0Y  Aesthetic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHwAguHqYnU Direct Cinema—4:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMhOK3Q0Hg See it now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zez7X-kJSQI Nightline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpbH_eVenOU Blair Witch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKy6BtAbTU8 Gimme Shelter (6 minutes) https://vimeo.com/142821057 Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43TLOX_0XAI