PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY!
Purpose
Our discussion for this Module focuses on the realism associated with the no-budget style of Barbara Loden’s Wanda. How does its unique style offer something different from the more well-known classics of the Hollywood Renaissance?
Instructions
For your Initial Discussion Post due by Sunday 11/20 at 11:59pm, please respond to the following prompt below in a post of at least 300 words. You do not have to address every detail of the prompt, but your post should contribute to the discussion and not merely repeat what has already been posted by your classmates. While I encourage you to offer your personal views of the films in this Module, please refrain from unproductive summaries of story or plot and/or why a film is “good” or “bad.” Assume that everyone in the discussion group has completed the viewing assignment. I suggest that you draft your post in Word first and assume that something may go wrong in Canvas when you hit ‘Post Reply.’
For your Response Post to one classmate due by Sunday 11/20 at 11:59pm, expand the discussion by replying in 75 words or more to at least one classmate’s post. Responses may include describing your own insight related to the post, providing additional information from assigned or outside content, disagreeing respectfully by describing your own interpretation, proposing a new idea, or asking a question. I cannot give full points to posts that merely “like” another post; the response post must demonstrate substantial effort.
N ADDITION TO WRITING MY POST: (I WILL ADD A CLASSMATE’S POST HERE SO YOU CAN RESPOND) FOR THE RESPONSE POST. THIS IS MY CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION POST. (PLEASE RESPOND TO HER POST BY USING THE PROFFORS INSTRUCTIONS) CLASSMATE’S POST. (PLEASE RESPOND TO THEIR POST BY USING THE PROFFORS INSTRUCTIONS) RESPOND TO CLASSMATE’S POST!
(Write like you’re talking to her.) Classmate Ethan’s Post:
The scene I choose from the film happens at around 6:24. The scene is of Wanda walking. Despite being the main character and the namesake of the film, Wanda is quite insignificant in the film which is portrayed in this scene by having her appear very tiny on the screen. You could not even tell she was a person if she were not moving. This scene sets the tone for the rest of the movie and how the viewer will follow quietly along with Wanda as she walks through life. This scene conveys a sense of realism because it is all one take. The scene is extremely simple yet powerful. The camera tracks Wanda from the same angle throughout the entire scene as she walks. The camera is a bit shaky and rarely stops moving. It is as if the viewer is looking through a spyglass telescope and watching her. The scene is very neutral. The colors that make up the scene are natural and easy on the eyes. There is no visible editing at all on the scene. The lighting is also not intense nor is it too dark. Everything that is relevant to the plot, Wanda, is clearly visible. The sound adds to the realism of this scene because there is no soundtrack to make the scene feel artificial. The sound is natural and consists of birds chirping, a dog barking, and other ambient noises. At the beginning of the film where this scene is from, Wanda is alone and somewhat independent. I think that this film’s style advances feminist perspectives because it shows that women can be independent of men and that they have control over their own lives. Throughout the film, we see that Wanda does what she wants. She is a woman who makes her own decisions.
Your analyses should refer to course materials and reflect on how film style and history function. A post that earns full points will not merely agree with course materials, but will visually illustrate ideas in the reading. Do not forget to include embedded media (YouTube clip or images) that visualizes the example(s) in your post. Please make sure that you read all of the posts in your discussion group before posting. I cannot give full points to posts that duplicate examples or YouTube clips. Please limit your posts to no more than 400 words and 1-2 examples to give others a chance to write about key scenes/shots. I suggest that you resize your screenshots and images to ‘Large’ in the ‘Image Options.’ The ‘Image Options’ tag appears above or below an image when you click on it while editing in the Rich Content Editor. Please limit your posts to no more than 400 words and 1-2 examples to give others a chance to write about key scenes/shots. I suggest that you resize your screenshots and images to ‘Large’ in the ‘Image Options.’ The ‘Image Options’ tag appears above or below an image when you click on it while editing in the Rich Content Editor.
In the reading, Lewis examines how George Lucas uses handheld cameras to produce a documentary like style in American Graffiti. Barbara Loden’s Wanda takes realism even further to produce a film unlike anything we have studied in the course thus far. Please choose one shot/scene from Wanda and embed a screenshot(s) or YouTube clip into your post. Describe how the scene/shot’s style communicates a sense of realism. You may wish to address camera movement, framing, blocking, editing, sound, and/or dialogue. Please refer to Lewis’s readings of American Graffiti (and Halloween) as guides for your analysis. You also may wish to address how the film’s style advances a female or feminist perspective of events in the film.
Discussion Rubric
To view the grading rubric for this discussion, click on the “more options” icon (3 vertical dots at the top) and then select “show rubric”.a red arrow pointing to 3 vertical dots
Mobile App users: Click Grades, then click into the Discussion. The rubric can then be found on the Grades tab.
Aim for excellence! These are the criteria for what comprises an “Excellent” rating for a discussion post:
Addresses each part of the discussion prompt(s).
Postings demonstrate reflective and critical thinking, not just recitation of information from textbook.
Makes connections to previous or current course content, or to real-life situations.
Contains insightful and thoughtful ideas, connections, or applications.
Makes reference to textbook or other sources when required.
Well-written and free of spelling and grammatical errors.
Includes well-written, thoughtful response(s) to classmates.