ch 5 notes egl 380

Language and Writing in Film Criticism

• Concrete Language

  • Essential for film critics to recreate films vividly through language.
  • Concreteness strengthens writing because readers depend on visualization of scenes.
  • Example:
    • Weak description: "There was a series of strange shots, with crazy dialogue and odd characters."
    • Stronger restatement: A catastrophic metaphor of hell on earth with emotionally vacant performers.

• Denotation and Connotation

  • Denotation: Literal meaning of a word (e.g., film vs. movie have the same denotation).
  • Connotation: Implied associations of a word (e.g., film - sophistication, movie - mass entertainment).
  • Importance of precise language use to avoid ambiguity.

• Tone

  • Tone greatly affects the effectiveness of an argument in writing.
  • Varies from sarcasm to formal critiques.
  • Example of tone shift:
    • Poor tone: "This so-called art film could never appeal to a normal audience."
    • Better tone: "The problem with art films is that they may alienate a public used to a more accessible story."
  • Maintain a consistent tone throughout the essay; avoid forced cleverness or sarcasm.

• Word Usage

  • Avoid repetitions and clichés to keep writing fresh and engaging.
  • Use varied diction; repetitive terms can make writing tedious.
  • Example of bad practice: using “thing” or “aspect.”

• Economy of Language

  • Key goals: be economical and interesting.
  • Avoid unnecessary verbosity. E.g.,
    • Original: "There are many spectacular, overwhelming scenes in…"
    • Revised: "Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s The Revenant (2015) is a spectacular, operatic film."
  • Look out for redundancies and prepositional phrases that can make sentences longer inefficiently.

• Varied Sentence Structures

  • Use varied structures to maintain interest and clarity.
  • Techniques to enhance sentence variety:
    • Parallels: Draw parallels between ideas (e.g., purposes of Hollywood movies).
    • Coordination: Use conjunctions to create compound sentences.
    • Subordination: Emphasize important ideas through complex sentences.

• Coherent Paragraphs

  • Good paragraphs should develop a single central idea, usually stated in a topic sentence.
  • Length and number of sentences vary according to the complexity of ideas.
  • Transitions between paragraphs should improve clarity and flow.
  • Example of effective transition and coherence: Discussing sound quality improvements in mid-forties films, contrasting past and present technologies.

• Introductory Paragraphs

  • Crucial for capturing reader interest; should outline topic clearly.
  • Effective opening: it should not be mundane; it should offer a specific thesis.
  • Example of a strong intro setting the context of cultural myths with a historical basis.

• Concluding Paragraphs

  • Should not just restate the thesis but reflect on broader implications.
  • Effective conclusions connect points and suggest future questions or considerations.
  • Example shows how a conclusion can summarize yet also expand the significance of the topic.

• Revisions and Proofreading

  • Writing is a process; drafts allow for revision and refinement.
  • Important steps: Check your logic, structure, transitions, specificity in language and examples.
  • Final proofreading: watch for grammar and precision in word choice, as it affects final presentation and clarity.