JCM212/Stylistic Analysis/Alternative assignment
From Screenpedia
Students who do not have their Stylistic Analysis ready for class discussion must work on an alternative assignment.
Each student should create an analysis of the editing of a scene from Mad Men. Turn it in to Dr. Butler when you're done. If you do not do this assignment, you will be counted absent for the day.
- The scene is available online. Use tcfaccess and tcf123abc! to access it.
- List and number all ten shots in the scene and identify what type of framing was used (long shot, medium shot, etc.; you may use abbreviations: LS, MS, CU). Describe any significant action in the shot, using the characters' names (Ronnie, Jim, and Betty). Include only the most significant action and dialogue; do not include every line.
- Draw a diagram of the scene's camera positions and blocking from an overhead view. Be sure to indicate which shots are done from which camera positions--using the numbers of the shots from your list above.
- How is the scene’s space, the area in which the action takes place, introduced to the viewer? Does an establishing shot occur at the start of the scene (or later in it)?
- Do the camera angles adhere to the 180° rule? Is screen direction maintained? If not, why is the viewer not disoriented? Or if the space is ambiguous, what narrative purpose does that serve? Explain.
- How are match-on-action cuts used? Are there jump cuts?
- How does the camera relate to the characters' perspectives? Are there point-of-view or subjective shots? If so, how are those shots cued or marked? That is, what tells us that they are subjective or point-of-view shots?
- How is shot-reverse shot used? Are there re-establishing shots? What narrative impact do shot-reverse shot and re-establishing shots have? That is, how does the choice of shots help to support the development of the story?
- Do you feel the editing of this scene was effective? Why or why not?
Finish before class time is over?
Please enjoy an episode of Bob's Burgers on Blackboard. We'll discuss it later in the semester.
