Joss Whedon (1964-present)• 3rd Generation television writer (started career writing for “Roseanne”)
• “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (film, 1992; TV series, 1997-2003)
• “Angel” (1999-2004)
• “Firefly” (2002-2003)
• “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” (2008)
• “Dollhouse” (2009-2010)
Recurring Elements• Existentialist Themes: stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's actions
• Feminist Perspective: Strong Female Characters
• A Student of Genre and Narrative
• Core “Ensemble” of Actors
Transmedia Storytelling: Storytelling across multiple forms of media
Is Whedon a transmedia auteur?
-Yes, Whedon is definitely a transmedia auteur, covering not only film and television, but now the internet with his clever and hilarious “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”.
“Firefly” (2002-03)
-Western in futuristic outer space
-Deals with existential captain who seems closed off and reserved but has a soft spot after all
-Extremely strong willed and proactive female protagonists
"Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” (2008)
-Extremely witty, clever and entertaining musical
-Deals with a likeable villain & his "good" but rather shallow and obnoxious arch nemesis
Influenced by:
-“High School Musical” (2006)
-“The Guild” (2007), created by Felicia Day
-Possible Glee influence? I think yes!
What is the “personal stamp” reflected in the texts of the auteur?
-All of Whedon's characters, no matter what extreme occupations or worlds they may be living in, deal with deep, internal problems that every person can relate to and understand.
I must say that I have recently been quite disappointed with Hollywood and its lack of creativity. Dr. Horrible is the most fresh, fun and creative piece of work that I have seen in such a long time. It has given me hope that innovative directors who are willing to sacrifice generic studio money makers for their own creative desires still exist. This web show goes to show that viewers are bored of the bleak, same old romantic comedy/over indulged action films and want something of value and worth. I say he keeps up the good work and keep encouraging directors to break away from the system and bring good films back on the map!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Week 11: Auteur Theory
The Auteur Theory1. a single “author” is the primary creative force behind a text
2. the body of work by that “author” expresses the author’s distinctive vision of the world
• Formalized by French cinephiles and critics of 1940s and 1950s
• Alexandre Astruc, Birth of a New Vanguard -- The Camera-Stylo (1948)
• François Truffaut, A Certain Tendency of French Cinema (1954)
• Challenged the prevailing view of the aesthetic superiority of European Cinema over American
• Focused on the artistry of Hollywood movie making
Oeuvre – the lifework of an artist
Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
• Born within a samurai family.
• Influence of father (military, disciplinarian), and brother Heigo (worked as a benshi – narrator for silent movies)
• Art/Literary influences: Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, Van Gogh
• Japanese Cultural Influences: traditional theatrical forms of Kabuki, Noh
Sampling of Films Discussed/Explored:
• “Rashomon” (1950)
- Receives Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival (1951)
-Academy Award: Best Foreign Language Film (1952)
• “Seven Samurai” (1954)
- jidai-geki (period drama, heroic epics)
-heroism, sacrifice in war
-Great acting and realistic portrayal of the battle scene, especially for a 1950's film
• “Kagemusha” (1980)
-futility and waste of life in war
• “Dreams” (1990)
-Traditional fables/Buddhist stories
-Uses costumes of Noh & Kabuki theatre
-Influenced by West (Van Gogh)
-Strong metaphor of death throughout "dreams"; evil can be overcome by becoming one with nature
I have to say that even though the auteur theory exists, and directors like Kurosawa, Hitchcock and Eastwood are undeniably talented, I don't think it is fair to say that they are the sole proprietors of the success of their so called films. It takes an extremely large and talented team to make as good as movies as they do/did, and these "auteur's" would not be able to do it without the brains and man power of their team.
2. the body of work by that “author” expresses the author’s distinctive vision of the world
• Formalized by French cinephiles and critics of 1940s and 1950s
• Alexandre Astruc, Birth of a New Vanguard -- The Camera-Stylo (1948)
• François Truffaut, A Certain Tendency of French Cinema (1954)
• Challenged the prevailing view of the aesthetic superiority of European Cinema over American
• Focused on the artistry of Hollywood movie making
Oeuvre – the lifework of an artist
Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
• Born within a samurai family.
• Influence of father (military, disciplinarian), and brother Heigo (worked as a benshi – narrator for silent movies)
• Art/Literary influences: Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, Van Gogh
• Japanese Cultural Influences: traditional theatrical forms of Kabuki, Noh
Sampling of Films Discussed/Explored:
• “Rashomon” (1950)
- Receives Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival (1951)
-Academy Award: Best Foreign Language Film (1952)
• “Seven Samurai” (1954)
- jidai-geki (period drama, heroic epics)
-heroism, sacrifice in war
-Great acting and realistic portrayal of the battle scene, especially for a 1950's film
• “Kagemusha” (1980)
-futility and waste of life in war
• “Dreams” (1990)
-Traditional fables/Buddhist stories
-Uses costumes of Noh & Kabuki theatre
-Influenced by West (Van Gogh)
-Strong metaphor of death throughout "dreams"; evil can be overcome by becoming one with nature
I have to say that even though the auteur theory exists, and directors like Kurosawa, Hitchcock and Eastwood are undeniably talented, I don't think it is fair to say that they are the sole proprietors of the success of their so called films. It takes an extremely large and talented team to make as good as movies as they do/did, and these "auteur's" would not be able to do it without the brains and man power of their team.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Week 10: Ideology & Genre II
Romantic Comedy <3
Romantic Comedy: Semantic
Character Elements
• Opposites Attract
• Contrast of Lovers
• Shapeshifter
• Mentors of Love
Narrative Elements:
• The “cute meet”
• Breakups and Makeups
• Kiss and Consummation
• The Comic Chase
• A Wedding
Romantic Comedy: Syntactic
• Love’s Opposition? Self-transformation and Self-actualization
• Celebrating love and romance:
-“Love fulfills and enriches”
-“Love is silly, but we need it”
-“Love is painful, but we need it”
-“Forget about it, Love’s too painful!”
“500 Days of Summer” (2009)
Director: Marc Webb/ Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Opposites Attract
• Character’s Ideological Stance on Love
– Tom vs. Summer
– Pushing one’s agenda for love
Narrative Perspective:
• Objective / Omniscient
• Subjective – Tom’s Story
Use of Time:
• Linear
• Non-linear – Tom’s Memory
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. Tom’s perspective of love? Summer’s? Are they transformed by the end of the film?
-Tom's perspective of love is that of a hopeless romantic who believes in fate and soul mates. Summer's on the other hand is that of a pessimist, who doesn't believe in such thing as true love. Ironically they seem to flip perspectives at the end of the film, as Summer finds this fateful love and Tom is heart broken by it.
2. When is the “cute meet”?
-When they are in the elevator at work and she hears the music he is listening to.
3. Tom’s Childish Want vs. Social Responsibility?
-Tom's childish want is to find his happily ever after with the women he loves, while his social responsibility is to follow his dreams and desires and pursue his career as an architect.
4. The use of surprise and suspense in the “Expectations/Reality” sequence: What does Tom expect? What actually happens?
-Tom expects that Summer will respond to him as she once did (they talk all night, kisses him, shows him attention & affection). But this dream is soon shattered as she goes about her business all night and shows off her engagement ring to her guests.
5. Is there a “comic chase”?
-Yes, when Tom realizes he needs to go after her and profess his love.
6. What/who are the mentors guiding Tom on his Journey of Love?
-Tom's sister, Summer, his friends at times.
Romantic Comedy: Semantic
Character Elements
• Opposites Attract
• Contrast of Lovers
• Shapeshifter
• Mentors of Love
Narrative Elements:
• The “cute meet”
• Breakups and Makeups
• Kiss and Consummation
• The Comic Chase
• A Wedding
Romantic Comedy: Syntactic
• Love’s Opposition? Self-transformation and Self-actualization
• Celebrating love and romance:
-“Love fulfills and enriches”
-“Love is silly, but we need it”
-“Love is painful, but we need it”
-“Forget about it, Love’s too painful!”
“500 Days of Summer” (2009)
Director: Marc Webb/ Writers: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Genre: Romantic Comedy
• Opposites Attract
• Character’s Ideological Stance on Love
– Tom vs. Summer
– Pushing one’s agenda for love
Narrative Perspective:
• Objective / Omniscient
• Subjective – Tom’s Story
Use of Time:
• Linear
• Non-linear – Tom’s Memory
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. Tom’s perspective of love? Summer’s? Are they transformed by the end of the film?
-Tom's perspective of love is that of a hopeless romantic who believes in fate and soul mates. Summer's on the other hand is that of a pessimist, who doesn't believe in such thing as true love. Ironically they seem to flip perspectives at the end of the film, as Summer finds this fateful love and Tom is heart broken by it.
2. When is the “cute meet”?
-When they are in the elevator at work and she hears the music he is listening to.
3. Tom’s Childish Want vs. Social Responsibility?
-Tom's childish want is to find his happily ever after with the women he loves, while his social responsibility is to follow his dreams and desires and pursue his career as an architect.
4. The use of surprise and suspense in the “Expectations/Reality” sequence: What does Tom expect? What actually happens?
-Tom expects that Summer will respond to him as she once did (they talk all night, kisses him, shows him attention & affection). But this dream is soon shattered as she goes about her business all night and shows off her engagement ring to her guests.
5. Is there a “comic chase”?
-Yes, when Tom realizes he needs to go after her and profess his love.
6. What/who are the mentors guiding Tom on his Journey of Love?
-Tom's sister, Summer, his friends at times.
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