Urban Stories: Power, Poverty & Conflict. Exam Preparation. La Haine, City Of God and Elite Squad Seminars. TASK. You will be producing a Prezi to upload to Moodle on one of the films above. Your seminar will consist of the following:
Topics for your seminar •
Context of the films
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Micro elements (film language)
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Macro elements (narrative & genre)
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Messages & Values
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Issues of Representation (of groups/gender/class/authority/countries )
(Social, political, historical, cultural, production)
When you have researched your topic try and answer the question below in 6 bullet points.
Past/possible questions 1. How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this unit depend on distinctive uses of film techniques? 2. How far do the films you have studied for this topic offer an analysis of the social issues they present? 3. To what extent do you think the films you have studied present either clear or ambiguous messages about the worlds they represent? 4. What is the importance of mise-en-scène and/or sound in creating meaning and generating response in the films you have studied? 5. What are some of the cinematic devices and techniques in your films that the film-makers use to provoke a response from audiences? You may wish to refer to two sequences in detail from each film to illustrate your answer.
6. Consider some of the ways the style of your films communicates their subject matter. Refer to at least two sequences from each of your films to illustrate your answer.
7. How has studying the production context of your films increased your understanding of the film? 8. The favela (slums) and les banlieues (the projects) as places are as important as any character in the films". Does this reflect your own understanding of City of God & La Haine? 9. How important are the narrative structures of City of God & La Haine in developing characters in the film? 10. Compare the youth cultures to be found in the films of your choice 11. In order to understand the films you have studied, how important is it to be aware of relationships of power within the societies depicted? 12. What challenges do the films you have studied here present to the viewer? 13. How important is it to understand social, political and historical contexts in order to appreciate the films you have studied?