ENG 225 Film Analysis and Techniques

ENG 225 Entire Course Introduction to Film
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ENG 225 Week 1 DQ Effective Use of Aesthetic Choices
ENG 225 Week 2 Assignment Genres and Genre Film
ENG 225 Week 2 DQ Genre Theory
ENG 225 Week 3 Assignment Establishing Theme
ENG 225 Week 3 DQ The Impact of Cinematography and Editing
Optionsdocx
ENG 225 Week 4 Assignment Final Film Critique Preparation
ENG 225 Week 4 DQ The Cinematic Auteur Theory
ENG 225 Week 5 DQ 1 The Impact of Evolving Technologies
ENG 225 Week 5 DQ 2 Film Analysis and Its Applications
ENG 225 Week 5 Film Critique Final Paper
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ENG 225 Week 1 DQ Effective Use of Aesthetic
Choices

Effective Use of Aesthetic Choices. Think about how you watch film
and how the aesthetic elements work together to create meaning for the
viewer audience. Some of the important elements to consider are:
editing, cinematography, and lighting. Analyze each of these aesthetic
choices by following the instructions below.
Editing: visual transitions between shots that work to move the story
forward.
1. Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of
editing.
The baptism murders – The Godfather (8/9) movie clip (1972) HD
The shower –Psycho (5/12) movie clip (1960) HD A Beautiful Mind
(4/11) movie clip - Nash cracks the code (2011) HD 
2. Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of editing in one
short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the transitions between
specific shots and the overall effect this has on the scene.
Cinematography: camera angles, types of shots, framing, and color all
working to set a particular mood. a. Watch the following clips. Each
demonstrates the effective use of cinematography.
Manhattan – The bridge scene 
Miriam‟s last breath – Strangers on a Train (4/10) movie clip (1951)
Goodfellas – Copacabana nightclub tracking shot (HQ)
b. Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of
cinematography in one short paragraph. In your
analysis, describe the way specific shots are composed, paying particular
attention to the camera angles, types of shots, framing, color, and the
overall effect this has on the scene.
Lighting: light and shadow used to affect the mood, the way we view
characters, and set the overall tone of the film.
1. Watch the following clips. Each demonstrates the effective use of
lighting.

Jurassic Park (10/10) movie clip – Raptors in the kitchen (1993) HD
Lost in Translation (7/10) movie clip – Bob and Charlotte meet (2003)
HD
The stuff that dreams are made of – The Maltese Falcon (10/10) movie
clip (1941) HD
2. Choose one of the clips and analyze the effective use of lighting in
one short paragraph. In your analysis, describe the way the light looks in
specific shots, how it affects the mood and the way we view characters,
and how it sets the overall tone of the film.
Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your
claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other
scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. By Day 7, respond
to at least two classmates who analyzed at least one different clip than
you did in your initial post focusing on the clip that you did not discuss.
In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your ideas
relate to those of your peers. Each response should be at least 125 words
in length.
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ENG 225 Week 2 Assignment Genres and Genre
Film

Genres and Genre Film. After reviewing the discussion of genre in
Chapter 8 of Film: From Watching to Seeing, demonstrate your
understanding of one selected genre using a feature-length film.
Note: Several films are listed in Chapter 8 as emblematic of a specific
genre. You are allowed to choose a film or genre not mentioned in
Chapter 8, but you are strongly encouraged to email your professor to
receive approval before doing so.
In 800 to 1200 words:
• Explain genre theory and, using Chapter 8 of the text as a reference,
thoroughly describe the conventions
and attributes of your selected genre.
• Identify a feature-length film that fits this genre and provide a basic
summary of the movie. As you
develop this summary, remember the differences between a film’s story
and a film’s plot and how these
differences can lead to the inclusion of genre elements.
• Interpret at least two genre conventions exhibited in your chosen
feature-length film that help classify it in
the selected genre. Be sure to provide a specific example of each
convention (e.g., a particular scene or
plot component).
• Provide an example of a third convention from your chosen feature-
length film and explain how this
convention expands the boundaries of the specified genre.
Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement that focuses
on how your chosen feature-length film both aligns with and expands
upon your chosen genre.
•
1. The paper must be 800 to 1200 words in length (excluding title and
reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in
the Ashford Writing Center. You must use at least two scholarly sources
other than the textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources
(including the feature-length film) within the text of your paper and on
the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples

and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the
Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar, in your online
course.
Please note that if you opt to write about the same film in your Final
Film Critique, applicable pieces of this assignment can be used to write
that assignment. Please also note that you should reflect on and revise
this assignment based on the instructor’s feedback before you
incorporate it into the Final Film Critique.
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ENG 225 Week 2 DQ Genre Theory
Genre Theory. Genre, a category of artistic production characterized by
similarities in composition and style, is a term used to discuss literature,
music, art, and film. It is particularly useful in critical applications
because it distinguishes a work within a context of similar works. In
film, we are familiar with certain broad genre categories such as horror,
science-fiction, romance, or drama.
Understanding genre helps provide the viewer with certain expectations
about the film. For instance, the film The Conjuring trailer (Version 2) is
of the horror genre and thus can be discussed in context with other
horror films. More specifically, it is of the sub-genre, supernatural
horror, so it can be discussed in context with, say, The Exorcist trailer.

Making this distinction enables the audience to situate their reaction
within a particular framework.
That framework is important to our work here. In this discussion:
• Identify a film and classify it according to its genre (or sub-genre).
Include a link(s) to a trailer or scene(s)
from the film.
• Discuss the conventions that are typical in films of that genre (or sub-
genre).
• Explain how this specific film meets the expectations of its genre.
Include the name or partial name of the film you identified in the
“Subject” line of your discussion.Your initial post should be at least 150
words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required
material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any
references. By Day 7, respond to at least two classmates, making sure to
respond to classmates who have chosen a different film than you did
(though it is acceptable to respond to a classmate who chose the same
genre). In your responses, reference your initial post and show how your
ideas relate to those of your peers. Each response should be at least 125
words in length.
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ENG 225 Week 3 Assignment Establishing
Theme

Establishing Theme. Select a movie from AFI’s 10 Top 10 lists and
explain how three cinematic techniques and/or design elements have
helped establish a major theme in that film.
In 800 to 1200 words:
1. Describe a major theme of the movie you have selected using
evidence from the movie itself as well as
course resources and other scholarly sources to support your position.
2. Identify at least three techniques (cinematography, lighting, acting
style, or direction) and/or design
elements (set design, costuming, or hair and makeup), and explain how
these techniques and/or design elements contribute to the establishment
of the theme. Reference particular scenes or sequences in your
explanations.
3. State your opinion regarding the mise-en-scène, including:
How do the elements work together?
How congruent the design elements are with the theme of the movie?
Whether or not other techniques would be as effective (Explain your
reasoning).
Note: According to Goodykoontz and Jacobs (2011), “A theme is an
idea, subject, or topic of some kind that pervades the plot” (section 2.4,
para. 1). As the authors explain, “It is not so much what „happens,‟ but
rather what the movie is „about,‟ part of the meaning you are expected
to take away from the work” (section 2.4, para. 1).
Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement that focuses
on how the elements of your chosen
feature-length film both establish and maintain one of its major themes.
The paper must be 800 to 1200 words in length and formatted according
to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. You must use at
least two scholarly sources other than the textbook to support your
claims. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the
reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and

tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning
Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar, in your online course.
Please note that if you opt to write about the same film in your Final
Film Critique, applicable pieces of this assignment can be used to write
that assignment. Please also note that you should reflect on and revise
this assignment based on the instructor’s feedback before you
incorporate it into the Final Film Critique.
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ENG 225 Week 3 DQ The Impact of
Cinematography and Editing Options docx
The Impact of Cinematography and Editing Options. Explore movie
clips from the Movieclipswebsite or the Internet Movie Database –
IMDB. Choose a clip that you wish to analyze. The clip you choose
must be from a film (preferably from a film with which you are familiar)
– not a film trailer or a mash- up. Re-watch your chosen movie clip
while closely observing the mise en scène, making sure to analyze the
placement and movement of characters and props in the scene as they
relate to camera shots, color, and lighting, and other elements of
cinematography.

In your discussion, analyze at least three elements of cinematography
and editing (e.g., lighting, color, shots, focus, transitions, and types of
cuts) by evaluating the dramatic impact of the scene. Interpret the scene
based on your analysis. In your view, what mood, symbolism, or
meaning results from the scene’s creative editing and cinematography?
Include the name or partial name of the film clip you analyzed in the
“Subject” line of your discussion. Include the link to your film clip in
the body of your post. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in
length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s)
and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. By
Day 7, respond to at least two classmates who reviewed a different clip
than your own. After watching the movie clips reviewed by your
classmates, compare how the scenes would be different had the editors
or cinematographers chosen other options. Each response should be a
minimum of 125 words.
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ENG 225 Week 4 Assignment Final Film
Critique Preparation
Final Film Critique Preparation. Look ahead at the Final Film Critique
and review the instructions carefully. Use this time to prepare for the
completion of your project. Review the feedback from your Week Two

and Week Three assignments and integrate the suggested changes. Be
sure to reach out to your instructor if you have questions.
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ENG 225 Week 4 DQ The Cinematic Auteur
Theory
The Cinematic Auteur. Auteur theory in film suggests not only that a
director is the primary author of a film, but also that the film must be
analyzed within the context of the director’s other films.Directors create
certain expectations with their films much in the same way authors
create certain expectations with their writing.
As you construct your initial post, focus on the importance of auteur
theory in film analysis and interpretation.
1. Name a director who you would consider an auteur and explain your
reasoning.
2. Discuss the arguments against auteur theory and provide examples to
support your points.
3. Examine how the auteur theory influences audiences and critics, using
examples from film criticism, film
marketing campaigns, and your own personal experience.
Include the name of the director you identified in the “Subject” line of
your discussion. Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length.
Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or

other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. By Day 7,
respond to at least two of your classmates who have named a different
director than you. In each response, discuss whether or not you agree
with your classmate’s assertion that the director being considered is an
auteur, and be sure to provide examples to support your position. Each
response should be a minimum of 125 words.
************************
ENG 225 Week 5 DQ 1 The Impact of Evolving
Technologies
The Impact of Evolving Technologies. There are many ways in which
technology is affecting the production, distribution, and appreciation of
films. According to the first letter of your last name, respond to your
designated topic. Indicate Topic A or Topic B in the “Subject” of your
post.
Topic A (Last names beginning with A through M)
Think of how CGI, animation, and other advances in digital technology
have changed the ways in which stories are told on film. Choose a film
and discuss the importance of these advancements to its success as a
mode of storytelling. How might it have been told differently, for better
or worse, without these technological advancements?
Topic B (Last names beginning with N through Z)

Consider how the Internet has changed the way we access, evaluate, and
discuss films. Choose a film that gained notoriety due to the Internet and
discuss how social media and other instant modes of communication
have changed the ways in which we approach, appreciate, and consume
films. What do these changes imply about the future of film distribution
and audience participation in the film’s lifespan?
Indicate Topic A or Topic B in the “Subject” of your post. Your initial
post should be at least 200 words in length. Support your claims with
examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources,
and properly cite any references. By Day 7, reply to a post by at least
one classmate who was assigned to the topic group you were not. For
example, if you wrote your initial post on Topic A, then choose a
classmate who responded to Topic B. In your reply, provide your
opinion on the topic and discuss how it is similar or different than your
classmate’s. Each response must be a minimum of 125 words.
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ENG 225 Week 5 DQ 2 Film Analysis and Its
Applications
Film Analysis and Its Applications. As you have learned in this class,
film is a far- reaching medium with the potential to affect the greater

fabric of our culture. Our understanding this potential and our ability to
analyze it reach far beyond just this medium and into all areas of our
social structures and culture. For example, the practice of closely
analyzing particular films, which we’ve honed in this course, is the same
practice of analysis which you will find in other courses – or in learning
any new skill.
Based on the films you have watched and the ways you have learned to
interpret meaning in them, discuss your ideas about how films engage
social concerns and have lasting effects on society. Pick a film (or films)
as evidence of this dynamic and describe the social and cultural
resonance you see.
Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Support your
claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other
scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. By Day 7, respond
to at least two classmates who referenced different films than those you
have chosen. In your responses, compare the film you discussed as
having a lasting effect on society with the films noted in your
classmates’ posts
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ENG 225 Week 5 Final Paper Film Critique
Focus of the Final Film Critique

Throughout this course, you have been compiling a blog and writing
essays that analyze various elements of film such as theme, cinematic
techniques, and genre. It is now time to combine those elements into a
comprehensive analysis of one movie.
You will be completing this assignment in two stages: for the first stage
(1500 to 1800 words), you will analyze an entire movie; in the second
stage (300 to 600 words), you will reflect on how you analyzed the
movie as well as how your ability to analyze film in general has evolved.
You are encouraged to incorporate writing from your Week Two
Assignment and your Week Three Assignment if (a) you have reflected
on the instructor’s feedback, (b) you have revised the relevant parts of
the essays accordingly, and (c) the essays discuss the same film that you
discuss here.
Stage 1: Analysis
For this stage, you will be analyzing a movie selected from the AFI's 10
Top 10 list. The film you choose can be one that you have previously
analyzed in this course. The analysis portion of your paper should be
1500 to 1800 words in length. You should analyze the film through the
lens of one of the broad theories you have learned about in class (auteur
theory, genre theory, formalist theory). Your analysis must address four
main areas (contextual information, story / plot, aesthetic
choices, and social/personal impact) and how these areas work together
to develop the theme of the movie. As you
construct your analysis, assume that your reader is not familiar with this
film. Use your analysis to explain why your reader why they should
watch this film.
In addition to the film you are analyzing, you must use three scholarly
sources to support your arguments. List these sources on your references
page and provide in-text citations for quoted, paraphrased, or
summarized content in the body of your paper. Cite your sources
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Your analysis must address these four components:
1. Contextual Information – In this area, you will provide some of the
basic identifying information of the film.
This includes:

o Title
o Director, cinematographer, major actors/actresses. Be sure to describe
their roles in the overall design process.
o Year of release
o Type of film (blockbuster, indie, documentary, etc.)
o Genre 
o
1. Story/Plot – In this area, you should offer a brief summary of the film,
and then show how it was deployed in the narrative structure of the film.
Explain the difference between the film’s story and its plot. This area
can be addressed as a separate paragraph, or can be threaded throughout
your analysis of the film.
2. Aesthetic Choices – In this area, you will assess the efficacy of
specific techniques and design elements employed in the film as they
apply to the overarching narrative and theme of the film. These elements
include:
 Mise en scène (lighting, sound, composition of frame, costuming)
 Editing (cuts and transitions, shots used, angles)
 Technology (Analyze the impact of any notable technological effects:
film stock, targeted release venue,
special effects, etc.)
3. Social/Personal Impact – In this area, you will critically address the
following questions:
 What impact did this film have on society (politically or culturally,
positive or negative)? The impact can be as major as inspiring political
or social changes or as minor as inspiring the production of toys or
lunchboxes.
 How did society affect this film (i.e., what currents in society led to
the creation of the film)? 
 If you are unable to find any information about the social impact of
the film, explain the personal impact it has had on you.
Note: Not every bullet point under the four listed components will
necessarily apply to your movie. However, you will still need to discuss
each of the four main components thoroughly, which means that you

may need to explain a concept even if it can‟t be directly applied to your
movie.
Your paper should be organized around a thesis statement that clarifies
what you will attempt to accomplish in your paper, and how you will
proceed. Additionally, you must conclude with a restatement of the
thesis and a conclusion paragraph.
Stage 2: Reflection
After completing your movie analysis, you will reflect on the analysis
process and how you have learned to more thoroughly analyze film as
well as how rigorous study of film enhances your development as a
student and thinker. In this 300- to 600-word reflection, review your
initial post from the “Post Your Introduction” discussion in Week One,
and consider how your ability to analyze movies has changed or grown.
Append your reflection to the analysis portion of your paper. Your
reflection should be personal and exploratory in nature.
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ENG 225 Film Analysis and Techniques

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