The Passion of Joan of Arc

OK, guys. I am posting this a little late, so you get an extra night to work on it. Your responses are due on Tuesday, September 20. If you are having difficulties with Blogger, email me your responses. Please do try to post to the blog because I want to see you guys commenting on each other's comments. You get bonus points from me if you comment twice or more. Once as your response and once (or more) as a response to one of your colleagues.

Please choose one essay prompt and write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs.

Essay #1: From Roger Ebert's essay on The Passion of Joan of Arc:

"There is not one single establishing shot in all of "The Passion of Joan of Arc,'' which is filmed entirely in closeups and medium shots, creating fearful intimacy between Joan and her tormentors. Nor are there easily read visual links between shots. In his brilliant shot-by-shot analysis of the film, David Bordwell of the University of Wisconsin concludes: "Of the film's over 1,500 cuts, fewer than 30 carry a figure or object over from one shot to another; and fewer than 15 constitute genuine matches on action.''


 Many avant garde films also do not have matches on action or carryover shots. Compare The Passion of Joan of Arc to one of the avant garde films we watched in regards to editing and mise en scene.


Essay #2: From the Ib Monty article I gave you:


"When the film was released, the close-up technique was regarded as shocking. Dreyer defended his method by stating: ‘‘The records give a shattering impression on the ways in which the trial was a conspir- acy of the judges against the solitary Jeanne, bravely defending herself against men who displayed a devilish cunning to trap her in their net. This conspiracy could be conveyed on the screen only through the huge close-ups, that exposed, with merciless realism, the callous cynicism of the judges hidden behind hypocritical compassion— and on the other hand there had to be equally huge close-ups of Jeanne, whose pure features would reveal that she alone found strength in her faith in God.’’ As in all of Dreyer’s major films the style grew out of the theme of the film. In La passion de Jeanne d’Arc Dreyer wanted ‘‘to move the audience so that they would themselves feel the suffering that Jeanne endured.’’ It was by using close-up that Dreyer could ‘‘lead the audience all the way into the hearts and guts of Jeanne and the judges.’’

Agree or disagree with this quote.

I look forward to reading your responses!

Avant Garde Cinema

Please post your answers to the Avant Garde screening sheet. Watch and write about all three films. Films are Le Retour a la Raison, Entr'acte, and Le Ballet Mecanique. If you are interested in watching other avant garde films, click here.

Independent Study Topics

OK. I know I dropped the ball last night. Sorry this wasn't posted until now!

Please post your overarching topic and your four films. Please comment and help your colleagues as well...