![]() The shot refers to the single image before the camera cuts to the next scene (Corrigan, 1998). However, Anderson’s decision to arrange the props focus viewer’s attention on the map and highlight the adventure that the two children are about to go on in Moonrise Kingdom.Ĭlick here for an example of an essay dealing with mise-en-scene. In real life, it would be unlikely that rocks, sticks, and supplies would arrange themselves in an almost perfect circular fashion around the map. ![]() One could note the arrangement of the props. In the following still from Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012), one can analyze it in terms of mise-en-scene. Because movies often present themselves as instances of real life, this fact is easily forgotten and the artistic choices that the film crew made are overlooked. It is important to remember that every aspect of a scene was consciously chosen by the director and his or her team. This includes lighting, costumes, sets, the quality of the acting, etc. Mise-en-scene refers to everything in a scene independent of the camera’s position, movement, and editing (Corrigan, 1998). ![]() Films can be analyzed from traditional literary aspects such as themes, narrative, characters, and points of view but there are also uniquely cinematic aspects: mise-en-scene, the shot, aesthetic history and edited images. “I already know how to do that! It’s all we did in high school English classes!” But here is where the cinematic essay diverges from the literary essay- the elements that we analyze. The crossing over of these settings enables the viewer to visualize the internal struggles of Malick’s characters as they seek higher meaning from God. Likewise, the same motif illustrates Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life. The wilderness represents the way of nature while the family (or civilization) represents the way of grace. In the novel, the town is representative of human civilization and authority while the forest represents natural authority (Sparknotes Editors, 2003). For example, The Scarlet Letter can be analyzed in terms of its motif of civilization versus the wilderness. This is very similar to English analysis papers. In actuality, the most common form of the cinematic critical essay is one in which the writer explores one or more aspects of a film and analyzes how they enhance the film’s meaning and/or artistry. Though its title combines a serious undertone that implies it is both a large chuck of your grade and also really hard and vague, this post will guide you on your way.įirst, what is the critical essay? It may surprise you to note that it is much more than 35% of your grade. But how to go about writing such an essay? While film reviews and theoretical essays are part of Film Studies, the most common paper that students will face is: “the critical essay”įear not. Like it or not, studying film may very well be a part of the well-rounded education you receive here at Northwestern University.
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