Comparative Film Analysis

In the arts, a comparative essay or analysis is considered basic to good writing. The comparative film analysis requires you to

• closely watch the films in question, preferably multiple times in order to better understand the story, its function, and the actual making of the films,
• take detailed notes while watching,
• perform research in the library and on the Internet, and
• discuss the films, your ideas, and the results from your research with your classmates. The two films that you are comparing should be related in some meaningful way. Since comparative film analyses involve a lot of preparation and generally lead to better results after multiple points of view have been discussed, this particular assignment is usually a group assignment.

The comparative film analysis should result in a group presentation in class with subsequent discussion with other presenting groups as well as a short (roughly 2-3 pages) paper or an extensive outline reflecting the most interesting findings and discussion points of your group. You need to include all bibliographic information of your secondary sources (i.e., books, articles, Web sites).

The following provides you with steps for your research, group work, and in-class presentation:

1. Library research and Internet research. You are required to cite a minimum of two printed sources, such as books or articles in professional journals, magazines or newspapers, such as The New York Times, plus two reliable Internet sources!
2. In your group sessions, discuss the following questions:
   

• What factual information about the film(s), the film director(s), the writer(s) of the screenplay, and/or some of the actors could you retrieve in your research?
• What was your first impression after viewing the film(s)?
• Did you clarify your first impression after discussions in your group and additional research on the movie(s)?
• What is the storyline (i.e. what is the film about)?
• Who are the main figures?
• How are the main figures characterized?
• How is the story visualized?
• How do the images relate to the commentaries?
• What role does the sound (i.e. the musical background) play?
• What functions do the pictures, sound, and commentaries play?
• In case of historic films, what could the movie(s) have meant for the contemporary audience?
• How do the movie(s) fit in with the visual art works, the literature, the music, and the politics/history of the period?
• In case of biographical films about individual artists, is the information based on facts or on fiction?

Classes that might require comparative film analyses:

• 300-level art history courses
• especially Art 363
• Art 364
• Art 366
• Art 368