Questions for television shows
media studies

Comparing family dramas and sit coms from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s

Ask about various characters:

What do they desire?
What problems do they face?
What virtues do they display?
What are the rules? (social, economic, ethical)

List 4 adjectives to describe the characters that hold the following roles

father
mother
boys
girls
neighbors or “outsiders”

Table for tabulating data

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 01/17 at 10:07 AM
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Handouts • Media Studies •

Test over Pride and Prejudice
film studies

Test over Pride and Prejudice

These should be typed in class by the end of the period. Type your name, and “Pride and Prejudice”, and today’s date in the upper left hand corner.

You may use your notes. Answer 3 of the following questions. Be sure to put the question number at the beginning of your paragraph.

Each answer should be one paragraph (6 or more sentences). Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, and it should be unified (everything in the sentence should relate to the topic sentence). Good, clear writing is as important as the “right” answer.

If you do not capitalize the first word of each sentence, your paper will not be graded. If you do not capitalize the pronoun “I” your paper will not be graded. If you do not spell check your paper, it will not be graded.

1. Describe how Elizabeth’s view of Mr. Darcy changes from the beginning of the movie to the end. Begin with a topic sentence that summarizes this change.

2. Describe the character of Mrs. Bennet. Begin with a statement about what sort of person she is, then develop the paragraph by telling about three or more incidents that support your view.

3. Explain why you think Jane Austin included the character of George Wickham in the story. Begin with a topic sentence that states his main function in the movie, then give two or more incidents that show what you mean.

4. Elizabeth is quick to judge people. State your opinion about how good a judge she is, then give three or more examples from the movie to support your opinion. Things you may want to think about: her first impression of Darcy and of Wickham, her judgments of Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, her attitude toward Charlotte’s decision to marry Mr. Collins.

5. What is one thing you think is better about the “storyworld” created by this movie than today’s actual world? Start with a clear statementa topic sentence֖then compare two or three details from the movie with details from today’s world. Or, if you prefer, tell about one thing that is better about today’s world than the “storyworld” created by the movie.

test-pride_and_prejudice.pdf

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 01/16 at 12:22 AM
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Media Studies •

Media studies course outline (draft - in progress)
syllabus

Start with the role of the storyteller in traditional cultures

Streaming video: the persuaders: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/view/
Merchants of Cool: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/
Killing us softly: http://www.mediaed.org/videos/MediaGenderAndDiversity/KillingUsSoftly3/#
Our ideas of beauty http://www.frankwbaker.com/cosmetics.htm

Media Literacy Kit http://www.medialit.org/pdf/mlk/01_MLKorientation.pdf
5 key questions, 5 core concepts
Classroom guide
Articles
Media literacy clearinghouse http://www.frankwbaker.com/

5 key questions pdf

Lesson Plans from NYT (good)

Week One: how we are influenced by mass meda? What is a brand? What is an identity?

Use “I am” poem template

I will use transparencies on the overhead projector of photographs of people and ask the students what they think about the images and what does the photograph tell them about who the people are without any other information provided. For example, to define and explore the term stereotype, I might put a photograph of a young Latina female inside a home cooking, cleaning surrounded by five children. I would then ask the students to describe what they see in the image and what does this image tell us about the person illustrated in the picture and how society represents the woman presented. This probing of questions will result in a list of student responses that I will chart on the board as a method of defining the term. Also, students will receive a copy of the Power of Reading written by Colleen Connell which is a wonderful excerpt that defines stereotyping and sparks discussion on the concept. I will use the same strategies noted above to define four more terms for the day. source

Brand sirens: statistics

Week Two: Who owns the media? What is their mission?

As a balmy October turned into a frigid November, 12-year-old Tamara’s mother repeatedly suggested to her daughter that they go shopping to replace Tamara ‘s outgrown winter jacket. Tamara refused. She said she wasn’t sure what sort of jacket she wanted, admitting that it depended on what the other girls in her class would be wearing. As yet, the key girls had not yet worn jackets to school, despite the cold. They, too, were waiting and watching! Finally, in mid-December, one popular girl in the seventh-grade class capitulated to her mother’s demands and made a jacket choice. Tamara and her classmates at last knew what to wear. Adolescent Identity

Five multimedia conglomerates—Viacom, Disney, News Corporation, Vivendi Universal and AOL Time Warner - exert unprecedented power in marketing messages and products to young people.

Here are some statements by media critics about this power.

Where are the adults?

What is it doing to kids?

How does media coarsen the culture?

Does media replace reality? An interview with Mark Crispin Miller

Does media marketing undermine freedom and democracy? Interview with Robert McChesney

Handout: what is a corporation?

Children of the Brand
Media and Family

Television Series focusing on Families:

I Love Lucy
All in the Family
Leave it to Beaver
The Waltons
Father Knows Best
My Three Sons
The Simpsons
The Cosby Show
Sanford and Son
Rosanne
Dick Van Dyke
Home Improvement
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Andy Griffith

Themes:
The Home vs the Workplace
Gender Roles

Questions:
Should art influence reality or reflect it?
Most popular shows 1960s (Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons)
Most popular shows 1970s
Most popular shows of 1989: Cosby Show Cheers Roseanne A Different World America’s Funniest Home Videos
Golden Girls The Wonder Years Empty Nest 60 Minutes Unsolved Mysteries

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 12/31 at 05:24 PM
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Media Studies •

Apocalypse Now resources
Film Studies

Mix Magazine

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 12/27 at 02:15 AM
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Media Studies • Readings •

The Mighty: notes on knights
film and media studies

References to knights

The movies begins with Max talking about knights--they are “gentle to the weak and terrible to the wicked.” “It was Freak that told me about King Arthur. It was Freak that told me about everything.”

Their friendship begins with Kevin reading to Max about King Arthur--introducing him to the story.

Pond: after the pond incident, Kevin says to Max: “A knight of the realm fears not death.” This is the end of Chapter 2.

Restaurant: when Max stops the thief, saying “Get your filthy hands off her,” a knight appears in the movie for the first time. When he acts bravely on behalf of the weak, forces from somewhere else come to him. As they leave the restaurant, they pass a knight in a doorway. As they cross the bridge, they are surrounded by knights.

Fight in alley: Kevin: “A Knight fights for what is good and right.”

Museum: Kevin and Max knight each other. They make commitments to the story of knights (of goodness). “From that day on we never talked about our fathers, because that’s not who we were.” They find their identity in the story of King Arthur. That’s who they are.
The music comes up, triumphant. Knights accompany them as they walk through the halls of the school.

After we learn Kevin is dying and the world has gotten dark and dangerous, Max’s mother says to him: “"You’re my noble knight.” The view of those around him has changed toward him. He’s not just trouble any more.

After Kevin wrecks the van, Knights show up. As though Kevin has forces on his side as he moves toward Max’s father and the fight that lies ahead.

The book ends with Max reflecting on how Kevin “saved maidens and slayed dragons.” He is writing his own story, modeled after King Arthur’s story. He notes that if someone was once great, then they are great forever--like the once and future king.

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 12/17 at 09:55 PM
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Media Studies •

The Mighty
Viewing guide and assignment sheet

Learning Objectives: The Mighty

1. Explain what a stereotype is. Identify the use of stereotypical characters.
2. Demonstrate an ability to form a thesis about the film that draws on its main ideas and themes.
3. Make connections between different texts and media by comparing features such as themes, issues, styles, and appeal (Compare and contrast the Mighty to Casablanca and to the advertising videos we’ve watched).
4. Relate ideas and information in communications media to universal themes.
5. Compose or create communications works for specific audiences and purposes, including to entertain, persuade, or inform

Final assignment at end of film: Write an outline for a persuasive speech stating your opinion about one of the following three themes: the value of teamwork, being judged for our actions and deeds, rising above our limitations.

Process:

1. Take notes on all three themes during the film. Watch for details that you can use to support your case. What is the film saying about the above three themes? What makes you think so?

2. Look over your notes and pick one of the three to work on. Form a thesis: what is the film’s main point about this theme?

3. List at least three supporting reasons, which you can illustrate with moments from the film.

Other things to watch for and take notes about:

1. How is the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table used? Keep a list of all the references to (visual and auditory) to this story. What role does the Metaphor of King Arthur serve in this film?

2. Note what type of shot is used to accomplish the following:

a) to focus attention on the man and women fighting in the bar
b) to provide a sense of the surroundings of the place where Iggy and Loretta live
c) tell Max that Kevin was in trouble in the cafeteria
d) establish Max’s grief over Kevin’s death

3. How is camera work used to illustrate the theme of rising above one’s limitations?

4. What message is the film sending about the use of violence? How does it send this message?

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 12/11 at 05:07 PM
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Handouts • Media Studies •

Deconstructing “the invisible style” of Hollywood Movies
from Annenberg's American Cinema Series

Film Language: What decisions does the director have to make?

http://www.learner.org/resources/series67.html 30 minutes
PDF Handout

TThis video focuses on the creation of a single scene from a movie. It will help make the invisible styleӔ used in constructing Hollywood storyworlds more visible by deconstructing one scene--letting you see all the decisions that are part of the creation.

1. What is a dolly?

2. What is a shot?

3. What is a cut?

4. What is a scene?

5. What is a take?

6. What does “framing” refer to?

7-9. List three decisions the director needs to make while planning the rooftop scene?

10-12. Name three things a director needs to decide while shooting.

13-14. Name two things a director needs to decide while editing.

key

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 11/29 at 05:04 AM
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Handouts • Media Studies •

Thinking about storyworlds
Making judgments about art

Questions to consider:

What are the rules of the storyworld this movie/advertisement/text creates?

What does the protagonist desire?

Does the storyworld accurately reflect the “real” world?

Should art reflect life? Does life reflect art?

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 11/16 at 09:18 AM
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Media Studies •

Casablanca screen shots
Slideshow of the movie

Lots of large screen shots from the movie:

http://crowemovies.tripod.com/casablanca/

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 11/15 at 11:06 AM
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Media Studies •

Casablanca: screen shots
Film Studies

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 11/06 at 05:21 AM
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Introduction to film studies
film as art

Cinema includes elements from all the great art forms in one medium. When we watch movies we experience:
Photography the individual images in a film
Theatre ֖ fine acting performances, not to mention set and costume design
Storytelling both fictional stories and real-life stories in documentary films
Music ֖ the soundtrack or score
Poetry especially in experimental films
Architecture ֖ set design and the spatial design of shots
Graphic Design the opening and closing credit sequences

What’s more, film combines all of these elements and adds movement at twenty-four frames per second ֖ the speed at which films are projected in theatres to create a magical world of illusion, drama, comedy, and intrigue.

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 10/30 at 12:28 PM
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Media Studies •

Resources on Casablanca
a classic movie

Scene by scene analysis

Posted by Michael L Umphrey on 10/29 at 09:46 PM
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The angry librarian
5 minute story of life in modern bureaucracies