LOVE AND MADNESS IN THE MOVIES

 

Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.

Director of Online Curriculum Development, The University of Oklahoma College of Liberal Studies and College of Geosciences, The University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus

 

William O. Ray, Ph.D.

Dean of Graduate Studies

The University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Campus

 

 

PROGRAM - 90 minutes

 

Welcome and Introduction - 10 minutes

§ Goals:

      1.  To give individuals new strategies for viewing films, which will enhance their experiences and help them derive more enjoyment from the process

      2.  To become aware of how film techniques shape the way that one generates meaning and elicits emotional responses from a film

      3.  To give participants strategies for implementing some of the techniques they are now aware of, and to use them to empower themselves to generate persuasive and high-impact discourses (e.g. posters)

§ This is sample of what is offered at the Schusterman, and a good example of a College of Liberal Studies course.  The online course can be viewed at <http://www.beyondutopia.net/loveandmadness>

 

Overview of Film Interpretation - 20 minutes

·      Handout

·      Basic concepts

·      Examples

 

VERTIGO collaborative exercise - 25 minutes

§ worksheet (the class has the one that has been partially filled out)

·      brief illustrative examples (from DVD)

§ add more ideas // begin to sketch the movie poster

§ describe the goal of the movie poster; touch on the various highlights

      - Type style / font:  what is the emotional impact or the "message" in the font?  How is the type?  Distressed?  Formal?  Calligraphy?  Like computer code?

      - Color:  emotional impact, visibility, message

      - Images:  do these take the form of symbols, or are the images more complex and realistic?

      - What is the shape of the poster?

      - How is the basic orientation of the layout?

      - How are the stars presented?  photos?  how are their pictures positioned?  what are they doing?  what is their size?  how many are featured?

 

SMALL GROUP MOVIE POSTER EXERCISE - 25 minutes

 

EYE-CATCHING SAMPLES & Wrap-up (an invitation to further events & to sign up for the class) - 15 minutes

 

Installation of Group Posters in a Gallery Setting

Gallery Exhibition & Reception (individuals can tour the posters, which will be displayed on easels around the perimeter of the room)

 

PRE-SEMINAR ACTIVITIES

 

§ Pre-register for the seminar, indicate which optional film has been watched

§ Watch required film:  Vertigo (dir. Hitchcock, 1958)

§ Participants should choose one of the following to view before attending the workshop:

o  American Beauty (dir. Sam Mendes, 1999) - DARK RED

o  Shrek (dir. Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, 2001)  -- GREEN

o  Sunset Boulevard (dir. Billy Wilder, 1950)  -- BLUE

o  The Talented Mr. Ripley (dir. Anthony Minghella, 1999)  -- ORANGE

 

Suggested additional viewing (we will not be discussing these in class)

o  Twelve Monkeys (dir. Terry Gilliam, 1996)

o  Pleasantville (dir. Gary Ross, 1998) o  Romeo + Juliet (dir. Luhrmann, 1997)

o  Moulin Rouge (dir. Baz Luhrmann, 2001)

o  Parenthood (dir. Ron Howard, 1989)

o  Solaris (dir. Stephen Soderbergh, 2001)

o  Fatal Attraction (dir. Adrian Lyne, 1987)