FILM APPRECIATION 2

FILM APPRECIATION II

SPRING 2010

spd_152-course of study.htm
course of study
FILM OF THE WEEK

DEATH ON THE NILE

This film will be studied in terms of its Costumes

ASSIGNMENT:
ANSWER ON BLACKBOARD.

Costumes represents another language system in movies. A symbolic form of communication that can be as complex and revealing as any of the other elements at the filmmaker's command. Often they can tell us everything about a character.

The following must be taken into consideration:

PERIOD. Into what era or time does the costume fall? Is it an accurate reconstruction? If not, why?

CLASS. What is the apparent income level of the person wearing the costume?

SEX. Does a man's costume emphasize his virility, or is it neutral, or effeminate?
Does a woman's emphasize her femininity, or is it neutral, or masculine?

AGE. Is the costume appropriate to the character's age, or is it too youthful, dowdy, or old-fashioned?

FUNCTION. Is the costume meant for leisure or work? is it meant to impress, or is it merely to hide the naughty bits?

COLOR. What are the symbolic implications of the colors? (white=pure and chaste. black=evil and death. red=lecherous and whorish. purple=royal or noble. yellow=sick or cowardly. green=the outdoors or jealousy. brown=average, normal. blue=happy and sweet.)
Are the colors hot or cool? Subdued or bright? Solids or patterns?

FABRIC. Is the material coarse or sheer? Sturdy or delicate? Plain or fancy?

BODY EXPOSURE. How much of the body is concealed or revealed? (The more the body is revealed, the more erotic the costume.) is it formfitting or shapeless?

ACCESSORIES. Does the costume include jewelry, hats, canes, or other accessories? What kind of shoes?

THE IMAGE. What is the overall impression that the costume creates?
(constricting, conservative, sexy, unconventional, eccentric, prim. cheap-looking, elegant)

WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING IT?

A systematic analysis of a set involves a consideration of the following characteristics:

1. EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR.
If the set is an exterior, how does nature function as a symbolic analogue to the mood, theme, or characterization?

2. STYLE
(a) Is the set realistic and lifelike, or is it stylized and deliberately distorted?
(b) Is it in a particular style, such as colonial American, sleek contemporary, etc.

3. STUDIO OR LOCATION
(a) If the set is an actual location, why was it chosen?
(b) If the set is a studio shot, what required the scene to be shot under controlled conditions?

4. PERIOD
What era does the set represent?

5. CLASS
What is the apparent income level of the owners?

6. SIZE
How large is the set, and what does the size tell us? (Rich people tend to take up more space than the poor, who are generally crowded in their living area.)

7. DECORATION
How is the set furnished? Are there any status symbols, oddities of taste, etc.?

8. PROPS
Are there any personal possessions about that tell us something about the person who uses such things? (It's a set decoration if it just sits there. If it's used it's a prop.)

9. SYMBOLIC FUNCTION
What kind of overall image does the set and it's furnishings project?

10. (And this is the only question you really have to answer) WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO INHABIT IT?

North By Northwest (1959)

BEING JULIA Sony Pictures Classics : Being Julia

WWW.BLADE-RUNNER.IT - The Replicant Site
http://www.tigerlandmovie.com/

See the links below:

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/canetor/

http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/Multimedia/Popup/0,,21894,00.html

Sergio Leone

http://www.indelibleinc.com/kubrick/films/clockwork/

LINKS TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://www.tigerlandmovie.com/

HELPFUL LINKS:

JAMES KENDRICK [BEST REVIEWER] http://www.qnetwork.com/
you will need to click "movies"when you reach this site