Foundations of Film: Genre, Style, and Suspense

Week 3: Identifying Genre

Day 04: Tuesday, 7/31 – Silent Comedy & German Expressionism

Topics Covered:

• The origins of visual storytelling in silent cinema.
• The impact of Buster Keaton’s physical comedy on modern directors.
• The stylistic influence of German Expressionism on contemporary films and its psychological effects on audiences.

Pre-Class Assignments:

• Crash Course: Silent Film – An overview of how early films relied on visuals to tell stories.
• “Every Frame a Painting” – An Analysis of Keaton – A detailed look at Keaton’s mastery of framing, timing, and physical comedy.

Discussion Questions:

• How do silent films use framing, movement, and composition to tell a story without dialogue?
• How do silent films use framing, movement, and composition to tell a story without dialogue?
• Keaton was known for performing dangerous stunts himself. How does this dedication to realism affect audience engagement?
• Why has Buster Keaton’s legacy faded in comparison to Charlie Chaplin? How did their approaches to silent comedy differ?

In-Class Activities:

• Screening: Keaton’s Sherlock, Jr.
• Analysis:
  • Identify specific sequences where Keaton uses framing and camera movement to enhance humor.
  • Discuss how Keaton’s physical comedy differs from modern comedy styles.
• Screening: Crash Course on German Expressionism
• Discussion:
  • How did German Expressionism’s exaggerated set design and lighting influence later genres, such as horror and film noir?
  • Identify examples of German Expressionist influences in modern films (Examples: Tim Burton’s work, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Logan).
• Screening: Tim Burton – A German Expressionist Influence
• Discussion:
  • How does Tim Burton adapt German Expressionist techniques to create stylized fantasy worlds?
  • Are there examples of German Expressionist influences in films set in realistic or futuristic settings?

Day 05: Thursday, 8/2 – Film Noir: Antiheroes & Femme Fatales

Topics Covered:

• The emergence of Film Noir as a response to World War II and the rise of moral ambiguity in American cinema.
• The role of the Femme Fatale and its cultural significance in the 1940s.
• The evolution of the antihero and its influence on contemporary storytelling.

Pre-Class Assignments:

• The impact of WWII on American culture and film.
• Examples of Femme Fatales in mythology and modern cinema (Gone Girl, Kill Bill, Basic Instinct).
• The characteristics of antiheroes and their presence in contemporary media (Breaking Bad, The Dark Knight, No Country for Old Men).

Discussion Questions:

• How does Film Noir reflect the anxieties and cynicism of post-war America?
• Why was the Femme Fatale a controversial and compelling figure in the 1940s?
• How do modern antiheroes differ from their Film Noir counterparts?

In-Class Activities:

• Screening: Double Indemnity (1944)
• Analysis:
  • Identify Film Noir elements such as low-key lighting, voice-over narration, and fatalistic themes.
  • Examine the role of gender and power dynamics between Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson.
  • Discuss the true central relationship in the film—Walter & Phyllis or Walter & Keyes?

Week 4: Suspense and Terror

Day 06: Tuesday, 8/7 – Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense

Topics Covered:

• Hitchcock’s signature use of cinematography, editing, and mise-en-scène to generate suspense.
• The role of voyeurism in storytelling and its impact on audience perception.
• The psychological effects of tension-building techniques in film.

Pre-Class Assignments:

• Watch: Hitchcock Documentary – A deep dive into Hitchcock’s career and storytelling techniques.

Discussion Questions:

• How does Hitchcock manipulate audience perception through framing and camera movement?
• What are the key elements of Hitchcock’s suspense formula?
• How does Rear Window explore themes of surveillance, isolation, and morality?

In-Class Activities:

• Screening: Rear Window (1954)
• Analysis:
  • Discuss how Hitchcock limits the audience’s perspective to create suspense.
  • Examine how sound design plays a role in increasing tension.
  • Compare Rear Window to modern films that use voyeurism as a central theme (Examples: Disturbia, The Girl on the Train).

Day 07: Thursday, 8/9 – Post-9/11 Terror: Unstoppable Forces in Film

Topics Covered:

• The evolution of cinematic villains from traditional antagonists to existential threats.
• The shift in American cinema post-9/11 and its impact on storytelling.
• The Coen Brothers’ modern take on suspense, morality, and inevitability.

In-Class Activities:

• Screening: No Country for Old Men (2007)
• Analysis:
  • How do the Coen Brothers build suspense differently from Hitchcock?
  • What makes Anton Chigurh an effective and terrifying modern antagonist?
  • How does the film reflect post-9/11 themes of uncertainty, fate, and moral ambiguity?

Discussion Questions:

• How does the film subvert traditional hero-versus-villain storytelling?
• In what ways does No Country for Old Men mirror themes found in Hitchcock’s films?
• How does the lack of a traditional soundtrack affect the film’s tension?

Expectations & Deliverables:

• Daily Reflections: After each class, students should submit a 1–2 paragraph reflection via email, analyzing the day’s discussion and screenings.
• Active Participation: Students are expected to contribute to discussions, provide examples from contemporary films, and make connections between different genres.
• Instructor Contact: Students should reach out with any questions or clarifications.