1. Read through the booklets you have been given regarding the thematic issues in the 4 case study films.
2. Using your booklet and lesson notes for the analysis of the context of time and place, representation of the city and the directors' visual style, fill out the comparison grid.
3. Using your comparison grid and reference to the key sequences from your analysis, pick TWO of the films and answer the following question:
How are the key themes represented in your case study films?
Your answer should follow the structure below:
- Intro - define what an urban story is, what we expect to see in an
Urban story and which 2 films you have chosen to write about with a very brief
overview of what make them interesting Urban Stories.
- Context of time and place - discuss how the context of time and place
and how it is represented in both the films. You must give some specific
textual examples from a key sequence you have studied for each film and compare
/ contrast the representation. Also summarise hwo the context of time and place
might affect the visual style or wider themes in the film
- Representation
of the City - discuss how the city is represented in the two
films? You must give some specific textual examples from TWO key sequences for
EACH film and compare / contrast the representation. You need to identify how
the city a) becomes a character or presence in the film through the way
it looks b) how it defines the lives and opportunities for the characters
in the films - can they escape the city or are they trapped?
- Representation of power – discuss how different aspects of power are
represented in the each of the two films. You must give specific textual
examples from key sequences in both of the films to illustrate how power is
represented. You must compare and contrast any similarities and differences
between the way power is represented in both films.
- Representation of Poverty - discuss how different aspects of poverty
are represented in the each of the two films. You must give specific textual
examples from key sequences in both of the films to illustrate how poverty is
represented. You must compare and contrast any similarities and differences
between the way poverty is represented in both films.
- Representation of Conflict - discuss how different aspects of conflict
are represented in the each of the two films. You must give specific textual
examples from key sequences in both of the films to illustrate how conflict is
represented. You must compare and contrast any similarities and differences
between the way conflict is represented in both films.
- Conclusions – make some conclusions about how each film
is a good example of an urban story, how the context of time and place
influences the director’s representation of the city and wider themes of power,
poverty and conflict. What do you think the directors are trying to say (their
messages and values) with the films and how successful do you think they are in
communicate their messages and values through these themes in the film?
