Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Scene Analysis
Remember The Titans: Scene Analysis
Ever since the beginning of the United States of America, a free and diverse nation, the inhabitants of this great country fight and struggle with the equality of all races and people. Throughout the centuries, many individuals continuously strive to change the injustice of racism and segregation in order to create a truly free land. One such story of one such circumstance became publicly known in the form of a non-fiction movie, Remember The Titans, a story of a Negro football coach who changed a segregated town in the South. During the scene of the fall football camp, Coach Boon takes his players on a run to Gettysburg and relays to them the importance of respect for one another no matter what race that person may be. This scene, directed by Boaz Yakin, reveals, through reaction shots, a specific character, and the music, that although the world may seem against a person or group, if that person or group stands up for the right thing they will ultimately prevail. Only through through sacrifice and struggle can this be accomplished. He also reveals, through the lighting, the setting, and close up shots of the characters, the importance of respecting others in order to keep humanity strong and together.
Through the use of reaction shots, a main character, and the music, the director illustrates the importance of standing up for the right thing in order to achieve “victory” over injustice even though the journey brings about hardships and sacrifice. At the beginning of Coach Boon’s speech, he stresses the idea that throughout history people die for what they believe in and the camera takes a shot of the player’s faces in response. The fatigue and intensity in the reaction shots of the characters create a reflective and solemn tone, which emphasizes the idea that standing up for the truth comes hand in hand with sacrifice and struggle. Gerry Bertier, a main character, huffs and puffs as he strives to catch his breath after running. This struggle for gaining complete composure and a calm state symbolizes the hardships that the players face once they return to civilization and a segregated community. Through his fatigued actions and solemn facial responses to Coach Boone’s words, Gary portrays the hardships that one must face in order to overcome injustice and stand up for truth and justice. The intense and serious music that plays during the climax of Coach Boone’s speech gives the scene a majestic and triumphant tone showing that hope never completely vanishes and that one must stand up for the right thing even through the hardships. The truth will ultimately prevail.
Through the lighting, the setting, and close up shots of the characters, the director shows the importance of respecting others in order to keep humanity strong and together. The high contrast lighting, after the players break from their run, shows the lack of respect amongst the players to each other. This allusion of shadow and darkness from their lack of respect creates a tone of hopelessness and discouragement. As long as the players disrespect each other, they cannot work as a team and continue to destroy their “world”. After Coach Boone speaks for a time, the lighting changed to a lower contrast and brightens the tone to hopeful and gives the feeling of a more connected group of men. The players begin to gain respect for one another. The setting during Coach Boone’s speech involves a mist, the solemn sight of Gettysburg, and a sunrise which all contribute to the majestic and intense tone of the scene. The setting backs up the coach’s important words and the mood of the scene. The fact that the team runs to Gettysburg creates the idea of a new respect for one another and the importance of that respect in order to avoid a fate like those at Gettysburg. The close up shots throughout the coach’s speech shows the intense faces of the players and the extent to which they are taking the coach’s words. Their serious and heartfelt faces show the newfound respect that the players have for each other and their coach. They are growing together as a team and as a family.
This inspirational scene reveals that although the world may seem against a person or group, if that person or group stands up for the right thing they will ultimately prevail. This cannot, however, occur without sacrifice and struggle. The scene also illustrates the importance of respecting others in order to keep a society strong and united. These issues are relayed through the lighting, music, setting, reaction shots, close up shots and a main character. Through these different techniques and components, the director conveys to the viewer that if a person or group cannot respect their fellow human beings or stand up for the truth no matter what the cost, society and even the world will fall apart and mankind will never experience true peace.
Through the use of reaction shots, a main character, and the music, the director illustrates the importance of standing up for the right thing in order to achieve “victory” over injustice even though the journey brings about hardships and sacrifice. At the beginning of Coach Boon’s speech, he stresses the idea that throughout history people die for what they believe in and the camera takes a shot of the player’s faces in response. The fatigue and intensity in the reaction shots of the characters create a reflective and solemn tone, which emphasizes the idea that standing up for the truth comes hand in hand with sacrifice and struggle. Gerry Bertier, a main character, huffs and puffs as he strives to catch his breath after running. This struggle for gaining complete composure and a calm state symbolizes the hardships that the players face once they return to civilization and a segregated community. Through his fatigued actions and solemn facial responses to Coach Boone’s words, Gary portrays the hardships that one must face in order to overcome injustice and stand up for truth and justice. The intense and serious music that plays during the climax of Coach Boone’s speech gives the scene a majestic and triumphant tone showing that hope never completely vanishes and that one must stand up for the right thing even through the hardships. The truth will ultimately prevail.
Through the lighting, the setting, and close up shots of the characters, the director shows the importance of respecting others in order to keep humanity strong and together. The high contrast lighting, after the players break from their run, shows the lack of respect amongst the players to each other. This allusion of shadow and darkness from their lack of respect creates a tone of hopelessness and discouragement. As long as the players disrespect each other, they cannot work as a team and continue to destroy their “world”. After Coach Boone speaks for a time, the lighting changed to a lower contrast and brightens the tone to hopeful and gives the feeling of a more connected group of men. The players begin to gain respect for one another. The setting during Coach Boone’s speech involves a mist, the solemn sight of Gettysburg, and a sunrise which all contribute to the majestic and intense tone of the scene. The setting backs up the coach’s important words and the mood of the scene. The fact that the team runs to Gettysburg creates the idea of a new respect for one another and the importance of that respect in order to avoid a fate like those at Gettysburg. The close up shots throughout the coach’s speech shows the intense faces of the players and the extent to which they are taking the coach’s words. Their serious and heartfelt faces show the newfound respect that the players have for each other and their coach. They are growing together as a team and as a family.
This inspirational scene reveals that although the world may seem against a person or group, if that person or group stands up for the right thing they will ultimately prevail. This cannot, however, occur without sacrifice and struggle. The scene also illustrates the importance of respecting others in order to keep a society strong and united. These issues are relayed through the lighting, music, setting, reaction shots, close up shots and a main character. Through these different techniques and components, the director conveys to the viewer that if a person or group cannot respect their fellow human beings or stand up for the truth no matter what the cost, society and even the world will fall apart and mankind will never experience true peace.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Remember the Titans Movie Scene
Movie: Remember the Titans
Scene: Lesson From the Dead
Scene Running Time: 2:22
Discription of the Scene:
The scene begins with a fade into shot of a wood where the football players are panting and running. Its early morning and they are running through a creek as the camera pans downward to show different levels of the terrain as the boys are running. The camera cuts from that scene and show in a long shot the boys continuing to run. The camera fades into the next clip where one player is struggling to continue and the other is encouraging him to keep going. The camera is focused on these two players but shows the others in the background until they all stop exhausted and the camera pans through the players. The camera cuts over to the coach who is standing in front of a mist Gettysburg. He pauses and asks the players about the significance of the ground they are standing on. The camera shows a long shot of him and then cuts back to zoom in on some of the players catching their breath. The camera cuts back to the coach and shows him at a low angle as he tells the players about what their ancestors fought for. The camera cuts back to the players and a inspiring, low and beautiful music is heard in the background. The camera scans back to the coach at a long shot and mist is coming from the field as he speaks about how his family was torn apart by the civil war. The camera scans over the player again and pans their faces moving upward. The camera scans back to the coach a bit zoomed in. Back to a zoom in on some of the players. As the music grows louder and more inspirational the camera zooms in to the coach and he tells the players that they can learn a lesson from the dead about how to work together as a team regardless of color. Back to the players and then back to the coach and then back to the players and again back to the coach.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Theme Journal
GENDER ROLES:
In Medea, the gender roles of men and woman really stand out. Not only are woman considered lower to men in status but they are thought of as a tool for reproduction and pleasure and to take care of the man. When Jason left Medea, he didn't think twice about the fact that he was cheating on her or being unfaithful. In fact, he assumed that it was the right thing to do and that Medea should just deal with the situation because of her place. This is very similar to the way women are supposed to behave in both versions of Antigone. They are to act with reverence and respect to the men because they are underneath them. The men dominate the women but are afraid when the women suddenly take charge and become strong as humans.
BLINDNESS:
In Oedipus, blindness is a prominent theme throughout the story. It reveals the lack of sight that Oedipus uses to solve problems and to see the world but not the physical sight. Oedipus is blind to reality and refuses to face the truth even though at times truth is staring at him in the face. This theme can also be seen throughout the play of Antigone although the blindness is seen in Creon. Creon is smacked in the face with the truth and morally right decisions through Antigone's strength and reluctance to give into what is wrong but he refuses to open his eyes and do what is right because of his inner fear of losing power.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Journal: Word Choice
Journal: Word Choice
Creon uses the word "happiness" very often. This idea of one being satisfied in life reflects Creon's character as well as Antigone's character. Anouilh uses the term to help the reader understand what Creon and Antigone want out of life. Creon believes that happiness can be achieved and therefore pushes the idea on others. Antigone believes that only a select few obtain happiness and only find it when they peacefully lay at rest in the afterlife. This outlines the manner in which both of the characters act and how each of them end up in the story.
Anoulih's usage of ambiguous terms allows the reader to feel uncertain about the characters and their motives. When he uses these terms, it is hard to relate to exactly the character is trying to say and what the message Anouilh is trying to convey. The lack of details and clarity provides some wiggle room for the reader to make their own conclusions to some degree and extent. The terms often leave room for an opinion other than what the writer was originally expressing.
Creon uses the word "happiness" very often. This idea of one being satisfied in life reflects Creon's character as well as Antigone's character. Anouilh uses the term to help the reader understand what Creon and Antigone want out of life. Creon believes that happiness can be achieved and therefore pushes the idea on others. Antigone believes that only a select few obtain happiness and only find it when they peacefully lay at rest in the afterlife. This outlines the manner in which both of the characters act and how each of them end up in the story.
Anoulih's usage of ambiguous terms allows the reader to feel uncertain about the characters and their motives. When he uses these terms, it is hard to relate to exactly the character is trying to say and what the message Anouilh is trying to convey. The lack of details and clarity provides some wiggle room for the reader to make their own conclusions to some degree and extent. The terms often leave room for an opinion other than what the writer was originally expressing.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Journal for Character
MEDEA
The motivation behind the character Medea comes from her eagerness to get back at her husband Jason for deserting her for another woman. She decides to do the worst possible thing that could hurt him the most, take away his woman and take away his children. Because of the intensity and cruel intentions behind her motives, she carries them out without a moments hesitation and the plan does work.
EVIDENCE
"Death take you all--you and your father: The whole house wither" (Medea 37).
"I kill my sons--my own--no one shall snatch them from me... Never again alive shall he see thesons he had by me, nor any child by this new bride of his" (Medea 58).
Monday, May 11, 2009
Antigone 3
Journal: 4 literary techniques and their effects
Repetition: "Stronger than all fever, stronger than any nightmare, stronger that the shadow of the cupboard that used to snarl at me and turn into a dragon on the bedroom wall" (Antigone 14). This repetition of the word "stronger" emphasizes the amount of strength that Antigone needs to perform the task of burying her brother against the law. She must change her personality from weak to strong.
Personification: "Your arms around me aren't lying are they?" (Antigone 17). Antigone speaks about Haemon's arms as "lying" conveys the message that she is making sure that Haemon is not just putting his arms around her because he has to but because he truly is showing Antigone that he loves her. His arms are conveying that he loves her and Antigone is reassuring herself that he truly does before she dies.
Foreshadow: "But if there was a reason why I couldn't go on talking to her--" (Antigone 15). This foreshadows the end of Antigone's life and what will happen to her once she is caught. She will never be able to speak to her dog again.
Similie: "A little young for what, my kitten?" (Antigone 14). This comparison of Antigone to a kitten is used to help the reader to understand the kind of motherly affection that the nurse has for Antigone. She calls her a kitten to show affection and to make her feel comfortable during her time of sorrow.
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