Discuss the conventions that are typical in films of that genre (or sub-genre).

Assignment 1 (300 words)

As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:

• Review the Modeled Discussion.
• Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 4 from your text and the articles by Grant and Wright.
• Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list.   http://www.afi.com/10top10/

Reflect

Genre, a category of artistic production characterized by similarities in composition and style, is a term used to discuss literature, music, art, and film. It is particularly useful in critical applications because it distinguishes a work within a context of similar works. In film, we are familiar with certain broad genre categories such as horror, science-fiction, romance, and drama.

Understanding genre helps provide the viewer with certain expectations about film. For instance, the film The Conjuring trailer (Version 2) is of the horror genre and thus can be discussed in context with other horror films. More specifically, it is of the sub-genre, supernatural horror, so it can be discussed in context with, say, The Exorcist trailer. Making this distinction enables the audience to situate their reaction within a particular framework.

Write

Identify a film and classify it according to its genre (or sub-genre). Include a link(s) to a trailer or scene(s) from the film. You may choose to continue with a film you have already discussed.

• Discuss the conventions that are typical in films of that genre (or sub-genre).
• Explain how this specific film meets the expectations of its genre.

Include the name or partial name of the film you identified in the “Subject” line of your discussion. Your initial post should be at least 300 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Assignment 2  (300 words)

Mise en scène is a term meant to encompass the arrangement and use of a variety of design elements in creating the visual theme of a film. Please look through Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors) for more information on this term.

As you prepare to write this discussion, take a few moments to do the following:

• Read any required and recommended reading materials for this week, especially Chapter 5 (Mise en Scene and Actors).
• Select a full-length film from the AFI 10 Top 10 list.  http://www.afi.com/10top10/

Reflect

It can be easier to grasp the importance of the term mise en scène if we break it down into its component elements. This week, we’ll look at the impact of lighting choices on the creation of meaning in a film.

In any film, the intensity and direction of lighting will influence how an image is perceived by the viewer, and it can establish or enforce particular themes. Think back over films you have watched and consider how the use of lighting in key scenes helped establish the theme or tone.

Write https://ashford.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Adding+Pictures+and+Video+to+Introductions+and+Discussions/0_bqh36hrs

Please view the video Adding Pictures and Video to Discussions and Introductions for guidance on how to integrate multimedia with your response.

Using specific examples from your chosen film, write a post in which you

• Identify the type of lighting used in the film (traditional three-point, high-key, or low-key) and assess the impact of the lighting used to establish the theme.
  • What are the benefits of the style of lighting used?
  • How did this technique contribute to the theme?
  • How was the lighting technique suited to the genre of the film? For example, documentary films tend to rely on natural light as a way of creating an overall tone of authenticity.
• Compare how the scene would play if different choices had been made.

You must use at least two outside sources, in any combination of embedded video clips, still photos, or scholarly sources. All sources should be documented in APA style.

It is suggested that you approach this post by focusing your attention on the same film you will write about in this week’s “Genres and Genre Film” assignment.