Crash Tasks Write - in English - what you find when answering the questions underneath, and post it in the blog (provide instructions). If you work in a group and do not agree, try to explain how the disagreement came about, and whether you found some aspects to agree on.
Themes for discussion
The Title 1. In good films, the title is always important. Why do you think the film is called Crash? What kind of “crash” do you think the film is about? Explain. 2. Do you find any intense dramatic peaks in the film where the title comes through as important? In more than one sense? Explain. 3. Do you find “crash” to be a positive or a negative word? Explain.
Racism – Prejudice 1. Does the theme of racism apply to this film? Do you find Crash to be a racist film? Explain. 2. The themes “hatred” and “prejudice” are important in this film. How? Give examples and explain.
Intercultural Dialogue - Minority / Majority 1. Do you find the film positive or negative? Explain. 2. Are there any pessimistic aspects about the film? Explain. 3. Are there any optimistic aspects about the film? Explain. 4. Do you find any similarities between conflicts shown in the film and conflicts in your own country? Explain. 5. Do you find the question of being different important in this film? How does it show? Explain. 6. Are there any conflicts in the film that you would have solved differently, or reacted to differently if you were the character in the film? Explain. 7. Do you find any of the film’s characters to be underdogs? Are there any particular groups of people in the film that you think should have been portrayed differently? Why/why not? 8. Think about a minority group in your own country as if you were to be the director of a film about them. Do you think portraying this group in a purely positive way would make society better? Why/why not? How could you portray them in an exclusively positive light? How about portraying them negatively; would this be only negative? Why/why not? How could the group be portrayed as negative? How would YOU actually portray the group? 9. Do you think perfect harmony is obtainable – or even desirable? Explain. 10. How do you think the director would like us to perceive this film? Do you think the film holds a “hidden message” beneath the surface of the story? Explain.
Characters 1. Are there any characters that you like more than the others? a. Who did you like, and why? b. Who did you dislike, and why? 2. Do any of the characters develop during the film? Are they “rounded”, complex figures with ups and downs, good qualities and bad qualities – or are they “flat” characters with one or two qualities only? Explain. a. The policeman (Matt Dillon)? b. The policeman’s father? c. The young rookie policeman? d. The Chinese? e. The television director and his wife (the couple that were abused by the police)? f. The lonely wife of the District Attorney (Sandra Bullock)? 3. Are there other characters that changed in an important way?
Technical Aspects 1. Structure: How is the film composed? Is the film linear (chronological)? Is it circular (starts and ends in the same way or at the same place/situation)? Or is it fragmental (“chopped up”) – not chronological? Can you mention other films that are composed in a similar way? Give examples. 2. Music: How does the music or soundtrack affect the film’s plot? Explain. 3. Pictures: How do the pictures and the clipping help the film’s theme? Explain. 4. Take a look at the Power Point presentation (link) on film analysis in the blog and find yourself a topic to discuss.
1 comment:
Crash Tasks
Write - in English - what you find when answering the questions underneath, and post it in the blog (provide instructions). If you work in a group and do not agree, try to explain how the disagreement came about, and whether you found some aspects to agree on.
Themes for discussion
The Title
1. In good films, the title is always important. Why do you think the film is called Crash? What kind of “crash” do you think the film is about? Explain.
2. Do you find any intense dramatic peaks in the film where the title comes through as important? In more than one sense? Explain.
3. Do you find “crash” to be a positive or a negative word? Explain.
Racism – Prejudice
1. Does the theme of racism apply to this film? Do you find Crash to be a racist film? Explain.
2. The themes “hatred” and “prejudice” are important in this film. How? Give examples and explain.
Intercultural Dialogue - Minority / Majority
1. Do you find the film positive or negative? Explain.
2. Are there any pessimistic aspects about the film? Explain.
3. Are there any optimistic aspects about the film? Explain.
4. Do you find any similarities between conflicts shown in the film and conflicts in your own country? Explain.
5. Do you find the question of being different important in this film? How does it show? Explain.
6. Are there any conflicts in the film that you would have solved differently, or reacted to differently if you were the character in the film? Explain.
7. Do you find any of the film’s characters to be underdogs? Are there any particular groups of people in the film that you think should have been portrayed differently? Why/why not?
8. Think about a minority group in your own country as if you were to be the director of a film about them. Do you think portraying this group in a purely positive way would make society better? Why/why not? How could you portray them in an exclusively positive light? How about portraying them negatively; would this be only negative? Why/why not? How could the group be portrayed as negative? How would YOU actually portray the group?
9. Do you think perfect harmony is obtainable – or even desirable? Explain.
10. How do you think the director would like us to perceive this film? Do you think the film holds a “hidden message” beneath the surface of the story? Explain.
Characters
1. Are there any characters that you like more than the others?
a. Who did you like, and why?
b. Who did you dislike, and why?
2. Do any of the characters develop during the film? Are they “rounded”, complex figures with ups and downs, good qualities and bad qualities – or are they “flat” characters with one or two qualities only? Explain.
a. The policeman (Matt Dillon)?
b. The policeman’s father?
c. The young rookie policeman?
d. The Chinese?
e. The television director and his wife (the couple that were abused by the police)?
f. The lonely wife of the District Attorney (Sandra Bullock)?
3. Are there other characters that changed in an important way?
Technical Aspects
1. Structure: How is the film composed? Is the film linear (chronological)? Is it circular (starts and ends in the same way or at the same place/situation)? Or is it fragmental (“chopped up”) – not chronological? Can you mention other films that are composed in a similar way? Give examples.
2. Music: How does the music or soundtrack affect the film’s plot? Explain.
3. Pictures: How do the pictures and the clipping help the film’s theme? Explain.
4. Take a look at the Power Point presentation (link) on film analysis in the blog and find yourself a topic to discuss.
Post a Comment