The test will focus on Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot, and the key terms and concepts from Chapter 8 of our textbook, Understanding Movies. Also, review everything from the beginning of the course, such as literary, dramatic, and cinematic elements, etc. Be sure to look over your notes, your homework assignments, and all Viewing Guides and handouts.
Along with the general plot and character developments of the films, be sure to focus on these areas in your review:
- In Some Like It Hot: Comic structure (beginning with social upheaval), Sugar's songs' lyrics, Screwball Comedy, curtain line, filmed in black and white for a reason, parallel editing (crosscutting), using proxemic patterns to create humor, parody, sight gags, slapstick, repartee, situational comedy, sexual innuendo, running gag, dramatic irony, meta-filmic moments. Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point.
- In Do The Right Thing: title credits; match cut; breaking the fourth wall; litany; episodic story structure; montage; allusion; racial tensions in NYC; Spike Lee's DVD Special Features. Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point.
- In Chapter 8 - Understanding Movies: mimesis, diegesis, avant-garde, plot, story, conventions, genre, classical paradigm (including exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution & closure), 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 offered after school at 2:35 p.m. on Monday, 4/30 in room 452.
The approximate test breakdown: 40% multiple choice / 20% mini-essay / 40% short answers
Good luck!
