Introductory+Notes

Class Notes 11/30-12/1 (recorded by Mr. Donnelly):

We discussed why people watch films - some of the reasons people suggested were

because they are full of attractive people (Bruno) the way they make you feel (? - someone will have to remind me who said this one) real life sucks/form of escape (Connor) share an experience [w/out talking] (Tate?) entertainment (Abby) form of empathy - possibly (Mr. Donnelly - it's weird referring to myself in the 3rd person - it's like I'm a famous athlete or something, or Henry Adams in his Education of Henry Adams [it's a good one - maybe check that out if you get a chance])

We talked about the good/bad of movies being a form of escape. I suggested that I get bored of being around myself all the time, so movies offer a nice break from me. I talked about some good forms of escape (sports) and ones that are not so good (drugs and alcohol). As far as the way you make me feel, we talked (very briefly alas - it's a topic I find interesting) about how it is good to feel. We did not get to the attractive people one unfortunately, but I had not thought of that one before and liked it quite a bit - in a way movie-watching is somewhat voyeuristic (remember this point when we get to Rear Window). The share an experience with others is something we will also discuss when we get to music and Almost Famous - loved the without talking observation. Think it is part of the reason that Christmas nite (I know this is not how that word is commonly spelled, but I am working on changing that) is the busiest nite of at movie theaters. I also suggested (very tenuously) that watching movies might allow us to become better people by allowing us to (resorting to a cliche here, but they often hide a terrible truth) "walk a mile in someone else's shoe." I mentioned Hoop Dreams, the last movie we will watch, as a particular example of this.

We watched a number of clips highlighting things I like about movies - why talk when we can actually see what we are talking about?

We watched a clip from the recent Pride & Prejudice from the very beginning of the film. I loved seeing a character read a book the same way I do, especially since I had never reflected on how I finish a book just as Lizzy does in the film.

We watched a clip from LA Confidential twice, the second time focusing on Kevin Spacey's face.

We watched a clip from You Can Count on Me.

We watched the diner scene from Dumb & Dumber - I particularly love the way Seabass points at himself.

We watched a clip from 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin impersonating five people in about 30 seconds.

We watched the second scene of Once - love the way the camera holds back until the song takes off, then moves in and is clearly hand-held.

We watched the opening of 24 Hour Party People - enjoy the way the main character breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the audience, plus his advocacy of cultural literacy.