L8 fm2 - goodfellas - key scene analysis l1

Entrance Activity2 minutes

Rick Al_______ (19___) –

Genre is defined by S__________ Elements (Iconography, Setting, Characters) and

S___________ Elements (Narrative, themes & issues)

YOU MUST give an example of a SIMILAR Syntactic Element (Narrative) that is represented in BOTH Texts in a PECA Paragraph.

tman 84

EMANTIC

YNTACTIC

The “rise and fall” (Robert Warshow – 1946) of a ‘tragic hero’

YOU MUST state HOW this Syntactic Element (Narrative) is represented in a PECA Paragraph.

Entrance Activity2 minutes

In the Gangster genre, the characters have an “i_________e f_____m” (Warshow – 19__)

rresponsibl reedo54

Title:‘Goodfellas’ –

Key Scenes Analysis – Screening (L1 of 3)

Monday 13th April 2015

FM2 – British and American Film (60%) of AS Level)

Section C – US Cinema Comparative Study –

‘Goodfellas’ and ‘American Gangster’ - (40 marks)

Why?

Aims & Objectives

• YOU WILL re-cap prior learning.

• YOU WILL develop your understanding of the key messages & values represented in some of the key scenes from ‘Goodfellas’

• YOU WILL be able to recognise where theory/key ideas apply to these key scenes.

• Review the learning.

AO1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of film as an audio-visual form of creative expression together and

AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding, including some of the common critical approaches that characterise the subject, when exploring and analysing films.

FM2 – EXAM BOARD EXPECTATIONS

Mark Scheme

‘Goodfellas’ (1990 – Martin Scorsese) ‘American Gangster’ (2007 – Ridley Scott)

Robert Kolker (2000) stated the editing ‘provide a kind of rhythm section for the shots’ as Henry’s drug fuelled life comes crashing down.

YOU SHOULD compare the drug fuelled life of Henry – the ‘tragic hero’ – to the addicts of Harlem in the ‘Hold on, I’m coming scene’ OR the Heroin House raid scene.

“story of enterprise and success ending in precipitate failure” (Warshow – 1954)

Main Task 1) – 10 minutes

YOU MUST analyse the scene and establish what Film Language (Mise-en-scene, Sound – Diegetic & Non-Diegetic, Cinematography) helps construct the representation of Henry’s “precipitate failure” (Warshow – 1954) YOU SHOULD also consider the role the editing plays in representing this downfall.

FEEDBACK

‘Goodfellas’ (1990 – Martin Scorsese)

YOU MUST analyse the scene and answer the Questions on the next slideYOU SHOULD support your analysis with Film Language examples from the scene – THEN establish HOW they compare/contrast to a scene from ‘American Gangster’

Main Task 2) – 10 minutes

Henry got “pinched” scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBPly1aT8y0

1) Henry saying “It’s ok” to the men who confront him – WHY?

2) “The people of the State of New York vs. Henry Hill” – Connotations?

- Does this provide an enigma clue (Barthes) to Henry’s eventual downfall?

3) John Locke (17th Century) stated we are all born with a blank slate (inheriting nothing) and are shaped by our experiences –

WHAT does Henry experience from being arrested? WHAT does Jimmy say to him?

4) “You broke your Cherry!” - WHAT does Henry learn from this?

Henry got “pinched” scene

‘Goodfellas’ (1990 – Martin Scorsese)

“Funny How” scene“men's weakness is their facade of strength” (Farrell - 1993)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_DwZfyXAXI

“Funny How” scene

1) “men's weakness is their facade of strength” (Farrell - 1993) –

HOW does Tommy’s defiant ‘face of strength’ impact the spectator?WHAT character role does he conform to?

2) “I wonder about you sometimes Henry, you may fold under questioning” –

WHAT is this an enigma clue (Barthes) of in terms of the ‘fall’ of Henry?

“irresponsible freedom” (Warshow – 1954)

3) Does Tommy conform to this? HOW?

4) Stella Bruzzi (1995) points out how the fusion of violence and wealth is a ‘fusion epitomised in the loud glamour of the mob’s clothes’ –

Is this represented in the scene?

YOU MUST summarise the messages and values represented in the 3 scenes we have analysed from this text.

Extension – YOU COULD consider HOW they compare to other similar/different representations in ‘American Gangster’ in terms Syntactic Elements (Altman – 1984)

“Both sexes had roles: women's role was [to] raise children; men's role was [to] raise money."

(Warren Farrell - 1993)

“Both sexes had roles: women's role was [to] raise children; men's role was [to] raise money."

(Warren Farrell - 1993)

YOU MUST analyse the scene and deconstruct the mise-en-scene and sound in order to establish HOW the wedding scene confirms Henry’s status of taking over the throne in the ‘Wedding’ (Propp’s Narrative functions)YOU SHOULD analyse the Semantic Elements (Rick Altman – 1984) of the Gangster Genre as well to establish the impact this has on the spectator.

What have you learnt?

TRUE or FALSE ‘Vicarious Learning’ (Bandura – 1977) =

How an individual learns by watching OTHERS being rewarded or punished.

TRUE

Rick Altman (1986) – Genre is defined by SEMANTIC Elements (Iconography, Setting, Characters) and SYNTACTIC Elements (Narrative, themes & issues)

FALSE - 1984

Homework

1) FINISH your L8 Key scene Analysis and watch the key scenes again.

2) Continue to complete your FM2 – Section C Revision Booklets

3) Continue with FM2 – Section A & B Revision Due: Next Lesson – Tuesday 14th April