TEST on Friday, 10/23

The test will focus on Gus Van Sant's Elephant, the documentary Jesus Camp, and the terms from chapter 8 of our textbook, Understanding Movies. Also, you should know all critical terms that we learned earlier in the course, from cinematic terms (such as "long shot") to other terms such as "metonymy."

Look over your notes, your homework assignments, and all Viewing Guides and handouts.

Be sure to focus on these areas in your review:

• In Jesus Camp: the features of a documentary; where do you put the film on the 'spectrum of film types' between cinema verite and 60 Minutes style documentaries?; in your opinion, does the film inform or persuade? Cite specific examples from the film to prove your point.
• In Elephant: What's realistic and what's formalistic about the film?; In your opinion, does Van Sant offer clear-cut motivations for the killers? Cite specific examples from the film to prove your point. Where would you place the film on the 'style spectrum'?
• Key Terms: Realism, formalism, classicism, deep focus, shallow (soft) focus, tracking shot, dailies, intertitle, establishing shot, final shot, long take, Evangelical, creationism, praying in tongues, indoctrination, separation of church and state
• Chapter 8, Understanding Movies: mimesis, diegesis, avant-garde, plot, story, conventions, genre, classical paradigm, linear vs. non linear narratives, realism as style, rites of passage, cinema verite

This is only a general guide and not a complete list of everything we learned and everything you should study!

Extra help will be after school on Thursday, 10/22 in rm. 452. Good luck!