Mikey's Film Studies Small Scale Blog: 2011

Thursday, 1 December 2011

Feedback From IMDB

You can reference the blatant over the top patriotism from starship troopers. this is a commentary on the way the media feed the public during wars, stirring up national pride. (as has been portrayed in the gulf wars by mainstream media outlets)

It also shows the false sense of bravado and belief because they are the good guys they are untouchable, war will be easy and even fun, but as they arrive they see the truth of war, not the glorified media propaganda.

It i believe also comments on the American belief they are the, for lack of a better term "world police" and tries to give a vision of what society in this u.s culture could evolve into if they are not careful.

This may be a commentary on the belief that a if a war is justified, it is alright for you to start it. (I.E. justifying the Iraq war and selling to the nation it is fine and honorable to begin it even the enemy was of no threat. it shows what may happen if a similar situation to the Iraq war happened, but the enemy was greatly underestimated)

Also the notions of becoming a "Citizen" if you do your national service, could be a comment on countries such as Israel where military service is mandatory for all citizens.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

American History X

3 scenes from American History X that caused me to have a strong emotional response would be the scenes where Derek kills the black man by kicking his head into the curb, where Derek gets raped in the showers in prison and the ending where Danny gets shot in the toilets.

I chose these scenes because when Derek smashes the mans head into the curb the sound and cinematography make the scene more cringey by the sound of the teeth scrapping the curb and the sound of Derek kicking the mans head into the curb. When Derek gets raped in the shower it makes me and the male spectators feel uncomfortable because Derek, although being a strong figure in the film is being raped by a more powerful figure in the scene. When Danny is shot in the toilets the way it is shot through the slow motion makes the scene more powerful, it shows Danny who had also been a slightly powerful figure become weak.

The emotional responses were shaped by me by the way the micro features were used in the film, when Derek kills the man by kicking his head into the curb the sound and cinematography used in the scene creates a more gritty effect because of the scrapping of the mans teeth as he leans against the curb.

I think different spectators would react to the emotional response the same because it would have a big effect on people emotions throughout the film. When it comes to different spectators viewing the film through the aspect of what the scene is trying to represent they might not have the same impact.