1. Bell Ringer – Siskel & Ebert on Citizen Kane
Martin Scorsone on Citizen Kane
Steven Spielberg on Citizen Kane
Watch the following discussion of Citizen Kane and listen for things that you hadn’t previously considered about the movie, its FORM, and its impact on filmmaking. Record your observations as your Bell Ringer for today.

2. I can analyze the historical/political elements of Citizen Kane.
Learning Targets
I can differentiate between form and content in a movie and be able to explain how they’re related.
I can analyze the form and content of Citizen Kane and evaluate the qualities that have created the movie’s respect and admiration.
I can analyze the historical/political elements of Citizen Kane.

3. Form and Content Content is the subject of an artwork
Form is the means by which the subject is expressed.
Consider the following images. They offer similar content but a wide variation in form.

4. The Walking Man, by Giacometti What is the content?

5. Michelangelo’s David What is the content
Michelangelo’s David What is the content? How is the form different from the picture before?

6. Self- Portrait, by Keith Haring How is this similar content but different form?

7. Form: Toy Story 3, The Incredibles, Wall-E
Similar Form/Different Content

8. Examples of Form:

9. Film Form
A movie is highly organized and deliberately assembled and sculpted by a film-maker from various elements including
Mise en Scene
Sound
Editing
Narrative
(We will discuss each of these in detail later in the course.)

10. Mise en Scene-the arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume
Composes design
elements such as:
lighting
setting
props
costumes
within individual
shots

11. Editing juxtaposes individual shots
• shots are placed into sequences, sequences into scenes, and scenes into movies
• often relies on patterns and progressions to build story and engage viewer interest

12. Sound
dialogue
music
ambient sounds
sound effects

13. Narrative
Many films strive for an element of verisimillitude, a quality that suggests a kind of reality.
It doesn’t mean a film has to be realistic, but we need to be able to buy in and believe that in the world created by the film, the events that unfold are plausible.
Example: We know dinosaurs aren’t real, but we believe that in the world of Jurassic Park, they are.
Once the narrative begins, we ask questions about the story’s outcome, questions we will ask repeatedly and wait to have answered over the course of the film.

14. Synthesis The synthesis of all of these elemental forms Mise en Scene
Editing
Sound
Narrative
constitutes the overall FORM that a movie takes

15. Screening Checklist
A useful initial step in analyzing any movie is to distinguish an individual scene’s content from its form. Try to first identify a scene’s subject matter:
What is this scene about?
What happens?
Once you have established that content, you should consider how that content was expressed.
What was the mood of the scene?
What do you understand about each character’s state of mind?
How did you perceive and interpret each moment?
Did that understanding shift at any point?

16. Continue Citizen Kane Viewing
As you view, complete your viewing analysis organizer.
You should also consider what Socratic questions you plan to bring to discussion and write those down.

17. After Viewing Whole Class Socratic Socratic Review:
Students lead discussion (everyone must participate)
No need to raise hands (Think of it as discussing a movie while out for pizza. It’s a conversation.)
Ask at least one question and provide at least one insightful comment
Respect and defer to your peers
Use of phones or side conversations will result in grade deduction

18. Enrichment Assignment (if time):
After viewing the following clip from Citizen Kane (it will be shown multiple times), pick one aspect of FORM, CONTENT, and/or HISTORICAL significance to analyze. Describe what you notice and analyze what you think might be Welles’s reasoning behind these cinematic choices and how these details affect the audience’s perspective.
Citizen Kane Political Speech