Final Paper

Your final paper grade will go towards your final exam grade. For your research paper you need to discuss one film in detail. You may choose any of the following films: Romeo & Juliet (1968), Romeo + Juliet (1996), West Side Story (1961), Shakespeare in Love (1998), Hamlet (1948), Hamlet (1996), Hamlet (2000), Richard III (1995), The Lion King (1994), Henry V (1999), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), Forbidden Planet (1956), or Ran (1985).

Your paper should contain the five sections following:

1. Introduction

The introduction should include all appropriate metadata and a short review of the film. The introduction should further outline what you will do in the rest of the paper.

2. Narrative Form

In this section you will do a full explanation of the narrative structure of the film.

You will divide the film into three, four, or five acts, depending on the film. Films that are based on Shakespeare plays and which follows the play closely will use the Five Act Structure (according to Freytag’s Pyramid). Other films will fit either within the Three Act Structure or Kristin Thompson’s Four Act Structure. You need to choose the narrative structure that best fits the film you have chosen.

Furthermore, each Act is made up of different scenes. You have to identify the different scenes and provide a précis for each.

As part of the Narrative Form you need to discuss the different aspects of each Act, indicating, for instance, the exposition, the rising action, the turning points, the climax, and the resolution.

You will conclude this section by giving a summary of the film’s plot, making reference to both the fibula and syuzhet where appropriate. You could also mention relevant Cinematic Narrative Elements like Parallels, Allusions, and Motifs if appropriate. 

3. Scene Analysis (Scene Exposition)

For your research paper you have to do an exposition of one scene. An exposition is a detailed description. To do this exposition you have to describe the Mise en Scène, Cinematography, Editing and the use of Sound in the scene. To do it thoroughly break the scene up into all the “takes” (individual camera shots) that constitutes the scene and describe each. The analysis may also include any relevant Cinematic Narrative Motifs.

4. Film Analysis

Finally you need to write an essay that discusses some elements in film, like certain motifs, or certain aspects of the Mise en Scène, Cinematography, Editing or the use of Sound that the filmmaker used to convey a specific idea or message.

[When choosing the scene for your Scene Exposition (Section 3), it is wise to choose a scene that will illustrate some of the points you want to make for your Film Analysis in this section (Section 4).]

5. Conclusion

Conclude your paper by summarising what you have done and giving a more thorough review of the film.

Assignments: Narrative Structure & Postmodernism

Assignment: Narrative Structure

Describe the narrative structure of Shakespeare in Love (1998). Choose from the Three Act, Four Act, or Five Act (Dramatic) structure, the one you think most appropriate for this film then describe the basic plot of the film according to each act. Use the narrative structure terminology you have learned.


Assignment: Postmodernism

The time we are living in is known as Postmodernism. Therefore, the ideas and concepts associated with Postmodernism can often been seen in contemporary art, including contemporary films such as Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Write an essay in which you:

1. explain what Postmodernism is, and
2. describe in what ways the films Romeo + Juliet and Shakespeare in Love are postmodern.

Your essay is likely to have five paragraphs: (1) introductory paragraph; (2) explanation of Postmodernism; (3) discussion of Romeo + Juliet as a postmodern film; (4) discussion of Shakespeare in Love as a postmodern film; (5) conclusion. Remember to include references.

Assignment

Write an essay to function as a short review of 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) in which you:

• Provide the basic metadata,
• identify the Shakespeare play the movie is based on ("intertextual reference"),
• give a short outline of the plot,
• and give an opinionated review.