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Drama Journal Entries

Page history last edited by Mr. Ewing 9 mos ago

Remember: Journal Entries for Drama/Film must be at least 1/2 page long (not including the question)

 

 

Journal Entry Date Assigned
#1 "Because film operates in real time, it is more limited. Novels end only when they feel like it. Film is, in general, restricted to what Shakespeare called "the short two hours' traffic of our stage." Popular novels have been a vast reservoir of material for commercial films over the years.... But commercial film still can't reproduce the range of the novel in time. An average screenplay, for example, is 125 to 150 pages in length; the average novel twice that. Almost invariably, details of incident are lost in translation from book to film." - James Monaco. Respond to this quote by Monaco by answering the following questions: 1) What is Monaco saying about film in relation to novels? 2) Why do you think Monaco feels this way? 3) Do you agree with this statement? Why or Why not? 01/22/09
#2 "Genres" - "Popular cinema cooperates with desire for reverie rather than opposing it. This is why mass-audience movies are so conscious of genre formulas. A formula - the formula for romance, for example, or thrillers, or westerns - is something predictable. If it is made sufficiently obvious through advance advertising and the use of identifying motifs in the introductory scenes of the movie itself, the audience can settle immediately into its reverie, secure in the knowledge that there will be no surprises. Nothing will happen that will require conscious effort. The art film, it should be admitted, attempts to move in just the opposite direction - to awaken and shock and engage the audience." - O.B. Hardison (1928-1990) U.S. Critic - Respond to this quote by Hardison by answering: 1) What does he say about popular cinema in relation to genres? 2) What does he say about art film? 3) Overall, what is the statement that Hardison is making about film? Do you agree? Why or why not? 1/29/09
#3 "Your Surroundings" - "Study lends a kind of enchantment to all our surroundings." - Honoré De Balzac (1799–1850), French novelist. - Respond by answering the following: 1) What does Balzac say about study in relation to our surroundings? (use your own words), 2) How often do you notice your surroundings?, 3) Describe your surroundings at this moment. Concentrate. What do you see? What do you notice that you normally wouldn't? 1/30/09
#4 "Adaptation" Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation but through daring, through obeying the blind urge. - Henry Miller (1891-1980) - What does Miller say in this quote? Next, write about a time when you had to adapt in a certain situation (think about when you went to a new school, visited a different city, etc) 2/5/09
#5 "A Critic" A critic, after a life devoted to spoiling the pleasure of other, was astonished to find himself in eternal hellfire. 'Judge note, lest ye be Judged,' giggled a passing fiend, and all Hades rocked with laughter at this wit. Moral: When you have all Eternity to get through, it is a blessing to be among those who are easily amused. - Stan Washburn (b. 1943) U.S. Artist - 1.) What is Washburn saying about critics? Do you agree or disagree? Why? 2.) Describe a time you were criticized harshly. How did you feel afterwards. Did you take the criticism to heart? Did it change you? 2/12/09
#6 "Perspective" Reality is a question of perspective, the further you get from the past the more creative and plausible it seems - but as you approach the present, it inevitably seems incredible. - Salman Russhdie (b 1948) Indian born British Author - 1.) What is Rushdie saying? Do you agree or disagree? Why? 2.) What is reality to you What affects your views of life, people, etc? Explain in detail. 2/19/09
#7 "Audience"  "The audience is the most revered member of the theatre.  With out an audience there is no theater.  Every technique learnedby the actor, every curtain, every flat on the stage, every careful analysis by the director, every coordinated scene, is for the enjoyment of the audience.  There are our guests, our evaluators, and the last spoke in the wheel which can then begin to roll.  They make the performance meaningful." - Viola Spolin -  Read: "Television's Quiet Gray Revolution" by Brian Lowry and then answer: 1) What does this say about the importance of the audience?  2) Why do you think studios are making more tv shows with older actors? 2/24/09 
#8 "Continuity" Read Samuel Jackson joins 'Iron' cast and answer: 1.) Write the definition of continuity in your own words. Definition: (noun) uninterrupted connection, succession or union. 2.) Why would studios try to hire the same actors to play recurring roles? 3.) Why do we as humans look for continuity? 4.) What feeling does continuity provide the film audience? 2/26/09
#9 "Animation" Read the "Animation" handout and answer the following questions: 1) What is animation in your own words? 2) What is the difference between animated and live action films?  3) What do animated films offer the audience that live action films do not.  Be specific.  4) What is your favorite animated film and why? 3/5/09 
#10 "Sex in Cinema"     Read the article "Sex and the Cinema" and answer: 1) Is sex necessary in film?   2) Is there a limit there should be placed on how much sexual content is allowed in movies?  3) Why do you think that sexual content is used so much in film?  4)  How do you see sex in film?  Does it bother, excite, or disinterest you?  Explain.  Next Read the movie review of "Watchmen" from Entertainment Weekly and define the following words: kinetic, dystopian, verve, fidelity, teeming, obfuscations, intricacy, audacity, hermetic, pastiche, cachet, nihilism, ingenue.  3/12/09 
#11 "Film: More than Art" FIlm is more than the 20th Century Art.  It's another part of the 20th Century mind. It's the world seen from inside .  We've come to a  certain point in the history of film.  If a thing can be filmed, the film is implied in the thing itself.  This is where we are.  The 20th Century is on film...  You have to ask yourself if there's anything about us more important than the fact that we're constantly on film, constantly watching ourselves. - Don Delio - Respond to the quote by answering the following questions: 1) How is film more than art in the 20th/21st Century?  2) What is our fascination with watching ourselves?  3) Where do you see film going in the future? 3/13/09
#12 "Blaxploitation" Blaxploitation: A genre of American film of the 1970s featuring African-American actors in lead roles and often having antiestablishment plots, frequently criticized for stereotypical characterization and glorification of violence. While African-American filmmakers were substantially involved in making early movies in this genre, their participation in subsequent productions was minimal (from Barteby.com).  Answer these questions after class discussion: 1) Why is it historically important that African American actors started to receive lead roles in movies in the 70's?  2) Why do you think Blaxploitation films displayed stereotypes and glorified violence?  3) Why do you think participation from African American film makers in Blaxploitation films decreased? 3/17/09

 

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