Questions and Answers
What is the definition of Narrative?
Story structure defined by Aristotle: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
Which of the following are types of movies? (Select all that apply)
Match the following Documentary Approaches:
Factual = Records real life events Instructional = Teaches or informs the audience Persuasive = Aims to change opinion or perspective Propaganda = Promotes a specific agenda or viewpoint
What are the subgenres of Experimental Legacy: American Underground Cinema? (Select all that apply)
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What are genre conventions?
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Which of the following are considered Six Major American Genres? (Select all that apply)
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When an object or animation becomes too humanlike, we tend to feel revulsion instead of empathy, and it falls into the ____
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What is the term for a work of art that attempts to capture the unedited flow of experience through the mind?
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What is documentary footage that shows action as it unfolds called?
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What is the process called when creating 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' by painting each individual frame?
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Genre is the only reliable way of categorizing narrative films.
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Most experimental films try to break from the formulas and conventions of mainstream films.
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The categorization of narrative films by the stories they tell is referred to as genre.
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A grassroots subculture that has grown out of the affordability of digital video, microcinema is an example of how experimental film continues to grow.
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The basic organizing structure of most movie narratives is ____
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What is the term for the change in horror films reflecting societal concerns?
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All commercial movies can be categorized by genre.
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The genre convention displayed in romantic comedies is ____
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Which of the following are facts about experimental films? (Select all that apply)
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What are the reasons why filmmakers continue to make genre films?
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Film noir was both delayed and heavily influenced by what event?
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If we examine a film's lighting, use of mise-en-scène, and editing, which genre convention are we analyzing?
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What do we call a set of films made by like-minded filmmakers attempting to create a particular style and approach?
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A movie's normal world tells us what the rules of its universe are.
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In Stagecoach (1939), Luke Plummer and the Apache warriors act as antagonists, working in opposition to the passengers with whom we identify.
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What are the types of duration in films?
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Study Notes
Narrative
- A narrative is a structured story comprising exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
- Essential for fiction films, it defines the cinematic structure that guides storytelling.
Types of Movies
- Narrative films convey fictional stories.
- Documentaries document real-life events and often adopt narrative elements.
- Experimental films challenge conventional definitions and push artistic boundaries.
- Hybrid films blend two or more film types, exemplified by "Under the Skin" (2013).
Documentary Approaches
- Four primary approaches to documentaries include:
- Factual: Presenting real events without embellishment.
- Instructional: Aimed at teaching or informing.
- Persuasive: Intended to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint.
- Propaganda: Promoting a specific ideology or political agenda.
Experimental Legacy: American Underground Cinema
- Two notable subgenres include:
- Formal: Focused on the aesthetics and structure of film.
- Self-reflexive: Encourages viewers to reflect on the filmmaking process itself.
Genre Conventions
- Genres are characterized by specific:
- Story formulas
- Themes
- Character types
- Settings
- Presentation styles
- Star personas.
Six Major American Genres
- Primary genres in American cinema:
- Gangster: Revolves around organized crime.
- Film Noir: Characterized by moral ambiguity and fatalism.
- Science Fiction: Explores futuristic concepts and speculative technologies.
- Horror: Designed to elicit fear or dread.
- Western: Depicts life in the American West, often focusing on cowboys and outlaws.
- Musical: Integrates song and dance into narrative storytelling.
Uncanny Valley
- A phenomenon where humanoid objects evoke revulsion instead of empathy, illustrated by films like "The Polar Express."
Ways of Looking at Narrative in Film
- Narrative constructs include:
- Storytelling mechanisms.
- Frameworks for structuring films.
- Varieties of movie types.
Stream of Consciousness
- An artistic technique portraying the uninterrupted flow of thoughts and experiences in the mind.
B-Roll
- Documentary footage that captures action as it happens, often used to supplement primary footage.
Hand-drawn Animation
- Traditional animation involves painting each frame sequentially, requiring 24 frames per second for fluid motion, as seen in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Genre Categorization
- The notion that genre is the sole method for categorizing narrative films is incorrect.
- Many experimental films defy typical genre expectations and conventions.
Generic Transformation
- Genres evolve to remain relevant by reflecting societal changes and concerns, such as horror films adapting cultural fears or anxieties.
Genre Films
- While many commercial movies can be assigned a genre, not all fit neatly into genres.
Story Formula in Romantic Comedies
- Typical romantic comedies feature a narrative structure where characters fall in love, face challenges, and reunite, demonstrating standard story formulas.
Facts about Experimental Films
- Experimental films often eschew traditional narratives, encouraging diverse interpretations and cultural critiques.
- Frequently referred to as avant-garde cinema.
Reasons for Filmmakers to Create Genre Films
- Genres resonate culturally and are familiar to audiences.
- Predictability in genres appeals to many viewers.
- Filmmakers may aim to challenge or reimagine genre limitations.
Influence of WWII on Film Noir
- The emergence of film noir was notably delayed and shaped by the influences of World War II.
Analyzing Genre Conventions
- Examining a film's lighting, mise-en-scène, and editing aids in understanding its presentation style within the genre.
Film Movements
- A cluster of films created by like-minded filmmakers sharing similar styles and approaches is termed a film movement.
Movie's Normal World
- A film's normal world establishes the rules governing its universe, guiding audience expectations and understanding.
Antagonists in Stagecoach
- In "Stagecoach" (1939), characters like Luke Plummer and Apache warriors serve as antagonists, opposing the main characters aligned with the audience's sympathies.
Types of Duration
- Screening duration refers to the total runtime of the film.
- Plot duration involves the elapsed time of the story's events within the film's narrative.
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Description
Test your knowledge on film narratives and types of movies with flashcards from chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. This quiz covers key concepts such as narrative structure and different film genres. Whether you're studying for an exam or just curious about films, these flashcards will help reinforce your understanding.
