The Dark Knight

In a post on your personal blog, answer one of the following questions:

·         What is the nature and importance of truth in the film?

      The most obvious example of lying in the film comes from The Joker in his multiple stories of how he got his scars, but there are many others. Is it lying when Harvey uses his two-sided coin? It seems more innocent when he's with Rachel, but what about when he's questioning The Joker's henchman? Bruce Wayne's secret identity is an elaborate lie. Gordon and Batman's decision to make Two Face into a hero is a lie. How important is the truth when the good guys use lies to further their own ends?

     (I've already had some thoughts about this topic in a more general way, if you care to read them.)

·         Who is the Joker? What does he say about himself and how much of that can we trust?

      He says he is an agent of chaos. He says he's a dog chasing a car. He says he's a man of his word. Alfred suggests he's a man who just wants to watch the world burn. Who is this guy? His background is deliberately kept a mystery since he constantly changes his backstory. What do you make of him?

·         What is Harvey’s true nature? Is a hero, a villain, or something in between?

      Gordon says that everyone knows that Harvey Dent is Gotham's White Knight, and he certainly lives up to that reputation in the beginning of the film, putting away mob bosses and showing no fear or hesitation when threatened with a gun. When his fiancee is threatened, things change; he's willing to use mental torture to get information. After his accident, he kills some of those responsible and allows others to go free. He threatens innocent people in an attempt at revenge. Does doing bad automatically outweight all of the good he's done? Does temporary insanity (if he is insane) excuse his actions?

·         Who is the star of the movie?

      There are many candidates for this distinction: Batman, The Joker, Harvey Dent. Each of them has a compelling storyline; each of the actors does a great job of inhabiting that character. Who should we regard as the star of the film and why?

• One additional question that I thought about skipping over: Some people believe that the level of violence in movies such as The Dark Knight inspired the shootings in Colorado during the midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. What do you think? (Keep in mind to look at what others are saying to ensure you are giving a well-informed opinion.)

No matter which question you choose, the post on your blog should be at least 150 words and include specific references to the movie itself (character's voice). Use The Internet Movie Database or YouTube to find quotes from the movie. You should include your thoughts about what the filmmakers are trying to say using your new knowledge of cinematic techniques (e.g. angles, size of subject, camera movement, lighting, etc.) (author's voice). You should let us know what you actually think about these things, your reactions and insights (reader's voice). And if you search the web for other people to support your opinions or are inspired by someone's else's thoughts on the Internet or in class, make sure to give them credit with a mention in the text and a hyperlink where appropriate (other voices).

If you want to be really fancy, you can include YouTube links and pictures to support your thoughts by using the buttons in the posting file menu.

The Quiz

Call the shot. Tell me both the angle and size of shot used.

1. From Pulp Fiction. Dir. Quentin Tarantino. Cin. Andrzej Sekula. Miramax, 1994.

2. From Thor. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. Cin. Haris Zambarloukos. Paramount, 2011.

3. From Citizen Kane. Dir. Orson Welles. Cin. Gregg Toland. RKO Radio Pictures, 1941.

4. From The Matrix. Dirs. Any Wachowski and Lana Wachowksi. Cin. Bill Pope. Warner Bros., 1999.

5. From High Noon. Dir. Fred Zinnemann. Cin. Floyd Crosby. United Artists, 1952.

6.  What is the non-diagetic sound in this clip?

7. What kind of camera movement is used in this clip?

8. What kind of camera movement is used in this clip?

9. What kind of camera movement is used in this clip?

10. Choose one: The following picture is a good example of A) high key lighting B) low key lighting C) bottom lighting D) backlighting.

PowerPoint Presentations

Click here to go to a page where you can download all of the presentations we've been working with.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

So, what do you think? Is this a movie or a film? In a 75 word reply to this post, tell me what you think. If it's just a movie, does it work as entertainment? What was entertaining about it? If it's a film, what is artistic about it? What was the deeper meaning or how was it particularly "arty"?

Share your blog

Today, you are creating your blog through the school's Google account. Follow the instructions I give you in the class. When you have finished putting your blog together, write your first post in which you introduce yourself. Remember that the whole world can see this post, so DO NOT REVEAL PERSONAL, IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF.

Bad: My name is Jeff Boyer, and I live on Wembly Road in Topeka. It's the secluded house that no one can see from the road - hardly anyone ever comes that way anyway. I'm by myself a lot - I mean A LOT - and so that's why I like to watch movies. I watch them so loud that I probably wouldn't even hear it if someone tried to break into my house.

Good: My name is Mr. Boyer. I have been watching movies for a long time. I watch many different kinds, but most often I watch superhero and action movies. Over the summer I watched over forty movies, some for fun (Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises), some to prepare for school (Gallipoli, The Prestige), and some because I'm trying to watch all of the "classic" films to better understand what they're about (The Jazz Singer, Wuthering Heights). I'm looking forward to discussing these films in greater detail with my class this semester. I hope you like what I've picked out.

After you're done writing your first introductory post, publish it and then reply to this post with a link to your blog. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF SO THAT I CAN EASILY GIVE YOU CREDIT IN THE GRADEBOOK.

Next entry question/homework: Write a second short post (50 words or more) in which you pick a work of cinema and defend why it should be labeled a film rather than a movie.

Entry Questionnaire - First Day

1. What are five of your favorite movies?
2. What TV shows do you watch/have you watched on a regular basis?
3. What are you looking for out of this class?
4. What are your career ambitions?
5. What role will the Internet play in jobs in the future?
6. What is your favorite color, and why do you like it so much?
7. If you could be any character from a movie, which one would it be? Explain your choice.
8. If film is literature, that must mean that a film is like a novel and that a television show is like a short story. Then what is this...



Click here for a recap of the discussion on movies vs. film which we had later in the hour.

Next entry question: make a list of 5 potential names for your blog