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ENG 232
Think of a favorite character from a film.
Why do you respond to that character?
Character
Characters
Many movie characters sound generically interchangeable when described. However, even simple characters can be given an infinite variety of traits to make them interesting.
What is similar about these two characters? What makes them different?
Round versus Flat
Round characters possess traits that change over the course of the story.
Flat characters possess few distinct traits and change very little during the story.
Character
- has a goal.
- defined by traits.
- driven by motivation.
Analyzing Character
Thesis
A statement, observation, or opinion about a character from the film summarized in a sentence.
Examples
[Character] begins [trait] but becomes [trait] due to [causes and choices].
[Character] is a flat character who [motivation] because [evidence].
How is Han Solo characterized in Star Wars?
How has Han developed over the decades?
The Problem of Characterization for Han Solo
How is Han Solo characterized as untrustworthy?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Idp15dobfU8krLWhqCvBv1wh1RcA9lws/view?usp=sharing
"[When looking back at these films] Han Solo was going to marry Leia, and you look back and say, 'Should he be a cold-blooded killer?' Because I was thinking mythologically--should he be a cowboy, should he be John Wayne? And I said, 'Yeah, he should be John Wayne.' And when you're john Wayne, you don't shoot people [first]--you let them have the first shot. It's a mytholoical reality what we hope our society pays attention to."
George Lucas
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WuHxCoiv8MlKZXGucnJzPQXkJEOlhrF/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/152Zoxwp8Q-GShYnh9ssAkPFV9e4XfqnV/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bkKLqd_ahNHEqpLpMBky83axP8bMS9lh/view?usp=sharing
Han Solo
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w5HW5Dgw15ZDWx06YqiNEz5WSOOp7R61/view?usp=sharing
Why was Han Solo so untrustworthy?
How does Han Solo evolve over the course of the film?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cnBFOegp1SWnR7pA98mZGeHaUrOwx4Ds/view?usp=sharing
Because of his experiences with betrayal as a young man, in Star Wars Han Solo is an untrustworthy and selfish rogue who is deeply skeptical and seemingly incapable of loyalty. However, because of his friendship with Luke Skywalker and his experiences belonging to the Rebel Alliance, by the time of The Force Awakens, Han Solo evolves into a selfless heroic character with a powerful belief in the principles of The Force.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qgZ465sOu7sUVmuIZaWtiYTeI0E-rHo/view?usp=sharing
Close Reading Film Form:
How are character traits created through film form?
- Mise-en-scene,
- Cinematography,
- Editing,
- Sound
Character and Film Form
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) makes his way to an ill-fated television interview. How does sound contribute to our understanding of this character?
Hugh Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans) arrives for the reading of the will. How is his character created through wardrobe?
Cliff (Brad Pitt) is drawn into a conflict with Bruce Lee (Mike Moh). How does the camera contribute to how we feel about these two characters?
In the opening of this film, Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) gets some encouragment from his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi). How does the editing contribute to our understanding of this boy?
What is an observation you can make about a character and their character traits? How are their character traits created through film form?
1. Mise-en-scene
2. Cinematography
3. Editing
4. Sound
Close Reading Film Form
Marriage Story (2019)
Written and Directed by Noah Baumbach
Marriage Story
The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Margot at the Wedding (2007)
Greenberg (2010)
Frances Ha (2013)
While We're Young (2014)
Mistress America (2015)
The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)