Film History - Unit 2: Film Genres and the Golden Era of Hollywood Film
| Author: | Alyssa Rock |
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| Summary: | Students will learn about the rise of the studio system during the Golden Era of Hollywood Film (specifically, Hollywood film from the thirties and forties) until the decline of the studio system (the fifties and sixties). In this unit, students will learn about the codification of genres and will specifically study three genres and how these genres reflected the spirit of the times: screwball comedy (of the thirties), film noir (of the forties), and science fiction (of the fifties). We will also view how film reflected the societal changes that occurred during the sixties. The unit will end with a debate over the pros and cons of censorship of the media. |
| Subject: | |
| Objective: | Students will be able to explain how film is a reflection of society. |
| Main Concepts: | film as a business, film as history, censorship and the Production Code, film history: the Golden Era of Hollywood, genres: screwball, film noir, science-fiction. |
| Curricular Goals: | My Personal Curricular Goal #1: Students will develop the fundamental tools of film literacy which will enable them to more critically "read" or analyze the films they view and to enjoy the films they view on a more complex level. My Personal Curricular Goal #2: Students will gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical roots of today's movie industry. My Personal Curricular Goal #3: Students will learn how film is simultaneously a reflection of and influence upon societal values. My Personal Curricular Goal #4: Students will get exposure to a variety of films from different time periods, countries, and genres that they wouldn't normally be able to see. |
Lesson Plans
In order to teach the ways that music is used to enhance the meaning of the visuals in film, students will view a series of film clips and analyze how the images and the music combine together to make meaning.
Students will view Zhang Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern to apply the principles learned in the lesson the day before about sound and music design. Afterwards, the class will have a large-group discussion about the film.
Students will split into jigsaw groups to read an article about the history of Hollywood during the Golden Era. They will then reform groups and teach the other students about the most important points in their articles.
Students read a brief outline of what the term "genre" means. They will apply this concept to both music and film by outlining the specific style, form, and content of specific genres, working in groups. Afterwards, students will watch a brief documentary outlining the elements of the screwball comedy genre.
Students will view the film It Happened One Night and write a response paper in which they identify how this film fits the screwball comedy genre in style, form, and content.
After learning about the requirements for the final project for this unit, the students will fill out a comparison and contrast matrix in which they analyze the style, form, and content of the screwball comedy genre, working individually or in groups. As the students view Double Indemnity, they will compare and contrast the style, form, and content of this film to the screwball comedy genre and make predictions/observations about how this film may represent the film noir genre. Following a large-group discussion on student observations and percetions about film noir, the students will watch a brief portion of the American Cinema documentary about Film Noir. NOTE: this lesson plan could easily cover 2-3 days of instruction.
Using the Know-What-Learned (K-W-L) strategy, students identify what they already know about the 1950s American culture. Working in groups, students then generate a list of questions that they have about the 1950s. Students will then view a portion of the documentary Atomic Café. During or after the documentary, students write down what things they learned about the 1950s culture. See the note in Curricular Goals below.
Students view a brief parody of the science-fiction genre and identify the generic conventions which are being made parodied. The students will then view Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the film will be followed by a large-group discussion in which the classmates apply what they know about the 1950s Cold War culture to the film.
Projects
Working in groups or individually, students will choose from a list of Hollywood directors and view three films by that director. Applying their knowledge about generic conventions, students will analyze the artistic style, narrative form, and thematic content of these three films and will write a final paper indicating what elements are indicative of that director's cinematic "signature." Students will have the option of giving an in-class presentation for extra credit.