Shane [1953]

Work due on Friday 29th January.

No excuses! If you missed a lesson and didn't see all of the film then come to me with a memory stick and get it copied. You have plenty of time to research the questions.

Following on from our watching of the classic Western, 'Shane', please complete these tasks:

1. How does 'Shane' fit into the picture of the western genre that you're starting to get?

2. Compile a list of the elements which make it clear to you that 'Shane' is a western.

Do not focus solely on iconography in this task - consider characters, gender roles and narrative expectations. When we have our next lesson we will compare lists with other members of the class to see whether our ideas match up and whether there are any particular elements we may have missed.

3. How is the hero presented?

Try to identify particular scenes you believe are critical to an understanding of his character. Analyse the ways in which these scenes are being constructed in order to give the audience a particular understanding of his character.

4. Does this film seem to you to, in any way, reflect the period in which it was made?

This question will require some research on your part. Research how it might differ from Westerns that came both earlier and later than 'Shane' did in 1953.

You might also find it interesting to read this website: http://compassrosebooks.blogspot.com/2009/07/shane-enigma-at-heart-of-western.html

Year 13 - Work for Mrs Quoroll's Class w/c 05.01.10

Hello busy bees! This is the work set for you by Mrs Quoroll. Please make sure it is completed for your lessons on Tuesday 12th January.

1. Ensure your Reflective Analysis (1000 Words) is complete. (Use the Mark scheme, pages 65-67 to help you and the check list I have created. Remember, you must reflect on your Screenplay and evaluate your practical application of learning.) Thank you Ryan for emailing your work – I will look at it and get back to you.

2. Take time to read through and look at each others' Reflective Analyses; try and give feedback and support.

3. In pairs ensure that you have selected four scenes from each film which can be compared and contrasted. Select scenes that show similar or opposing messages and values and those that deal with the issues of power, poverty and conflict. You could even explore characters from both films. (If this was not completed over the holidays, and it should have been, then this is your chance).

4. Ensure that your notes on the Social, Historical and Political contexts and key scenes from both films are detailed and complete pp254-267. During period five I would like you to prepare short ppt on the key information you have found out. Please use other sources to supplement your research; you will have access to the computers in room 110. Remember, that you have to write about these films in detail during the exam.

Christmas Presents

As I sit here the sky looks full of snow so fingers crossed for a white Christmas. I wanted to update both Year 12 and Year 13 as to what is expected from you, over Christmas, with regards to Film Studies.

You need to be very aware that after Christmas we only have five months until your AS and A2 exams; with that in mind it is imperative that deadlines are adhered to and focused study is carried out especially during the holidays.

Year 13

1. Complete your Reflective Analysis (1000 Words). Use the Mark scheme, pages 65-67 to help you and the check list I have created. Remember, you must reflect on your Screenplay and evaluate your practical application of learning.
2. Re- watch News from a Private War and make detailed notes in your book; you must focus on the different viewpoints of the dealers, the police and the slum dwellers. This will help you place the film in context and understand the social background.
3. Re-watch both films and select four scenes from each film which can be compared and contrasted. Select scenes that show similar or opposing messages and values and those that deal with the issues of power, poverty and conflict. You could even explore characters from both films. Please ensure that your notes are supported with the relevant screenshots.
4. Ensure all of your folders and class notes are up-to-date.

Year 12

1. Complete your reflective analysis for your storyboard (750 words). Use the mark scheme, the relevant text book pages and the check list. These will be handed out tomorrow.
2. Ensure that the storyboard is completed with the accompanying information
3. Ensure all of your folders and class notes are up-to-date as they will be checked during the first week back.

Merry Christmas,

Mrs Q

Picking Your Brains

Hello all,

I have many questions... How are you finding using this blog? How often do you check for new content? How useful have the posts been in helping with your work? What has been the most useful blog post so far? Is the blog written in language that you understand and can access easily? What suggestions can you make about how you can you use your individual blogs? Have you used the gadgets on the side of the page?

Please post a comment below so that I can use your feedback to help the blog evolve.

Miss R x

Finding Your Way Around... A Book!

This is the FRONT COVER of a book. As the age old adage states, one must never judge a book by its cover. Still, there is often a lot to be learnt. Such as... the title of the book, the author, the publisher...

The CONTENTS page of a book will list, in the order that they appear in the book, the different chapters or sections of the book with, often, a short synopsis of what is included in the section. There will be page references so that you know where to turn in the book.

The INDEX of a book is found at the back and can make it easy to find information that might otherwise be difficult to locate. The index is organised alphabetically.

Think of the key word (such as, for example, a film genre, a film director etc) and search for it in the index. When you find the key word, it will have a list of numbers after it - these are the pages on which the topic is mentioned.

Remember, an index is not an exhaustive source and will not have every word you can think of. If you cannot locate your topic or key word in the index check, firstly, that you have spelt it correctly; if this doesn't get you any more success, try to think of another word associated with the topic and search for that.

The GLOSSARY is also usually found at the back of a book. It will contain terminology specific to the content of the book it is in. If, when you are reading the book, you don't understand some of the words used, search for them in the glossary and you will find their definition there.