Comparative Essay Notes

Comparative Essays and Arguments

Thesis Statements

• Analysis of Thesis Statement 1:

  • Essay argues that the films "In the Mood for Love" and "Sweet Country" utilize sound in significantly different ways.
  • "In the Mood for Love" employs a longing musical score with repeated musical motifs to highlight the longing between characters.
    • Example scenes might include slow-motion sequences with a prominent string score, such as scenes of characters passing on steps.
    • Analysis would consider how the score works with slow motion, character movement, and lighting.
  • "Sweet Country"'s approach using natural diegetic sound emphasizes the brutality of the environment.
    • Example scenes include the opening scene, where natural sounds underscore the harsh setting.
    • Analysis concentrates on the natural lighting, minimal camera movement, and realism conveyed through sound.
  • Critique: The comparison might be too much of an "apples and oranges" scenario, focusing solely on differences rather than exploring underlying similarities, like the use of sound to connect with the environment.

• Analysis of Thesis Statement 2:

  • Essay argues that "In the Mood for Love" and "Sweet Country" use sound in significantly different ways to evoke feelings of intimacy.
  • "In the Mood for Love" uses a longing score and repeated musical motifs to create intimacy.
  • "Sweet Country" uses natural diegetic sound, which may not immediately convey intimacy, requiring a focus on the role of silence.
    • Silence emphasizes small, expressive motions and nuanced performances of attachment.
    • Absence of prominent scores in scenes may highlight subtle emotional cues.
    • A scene in the desert could exemplify this use of silence and small gestures to convey intimacy.
  • Evaluation: This thesis is stronger by connecting the films through the theme of intimacy, despite their different approaches to sound.

• Analysis of Thesis Statement 3:

  • Essay argues that "In the Mood for Love" and "Music Desire" both use music to create a sense of belonging.
  • "In the Mood for Love" employs a walking score of repeated musical motifs for mid-century artists to emphasize unfulfilled longing.
  • Critique: The specificity might limit the scope, especially regarding the Nick Cave scene. However, it aligns with the assignment's analytical focus.
  • The central question is whether the shared goal of creating a sense of belonging is enough of a basis for comparison.
  • The use of a soundtrack which incorporates diegetic music is relevant.

• Improved Thesis Statement:

  • Music creates a sense of belonging.
  • Analysis should explore how the music works in specific scenes and its effect on the narrative.
  • A more complex takeaway involves the type of music used and its intervention in the narrative.
  • The Nick Cave example is where Danielle and Meriden first meet.
    • Lyrics or the addition of lyrics and words in the soundscape may be important.
    • Scenes may imply perspective. The Wings of Desire scene shifts the perspective of Casiel.
  • Rock music establishes a communal atmosphere that highlights character interactions.

Academic Sources

• Definition: Peer-reviewed publications reviewed by scholars in respective fields to ensure reliability and validity and that the authors have adequately and accurately responded to the reviewer's recommendations.
  • Academic articles are more reliable because they are reviewed by experts and cite other academic pieces of work, and are interventions in some field.

Finding Academic Sources

• Use UQ Library Search or Google Scholar.

  • If using Google Scholar, access through the library to avoid paywalls.

• Ensure the source is from a relevant discipline, such as film studies or cultural studies.

  • Avoid sources from unrelated fields like psychology when analyzing film.

• Search Techniques:

  • Use keywords and quotation marks.
  • Include film titles, dates, and director names to refine searches.
    • If the search term is too broad, such as "ex machina", you may need to specify "film" in the search.

Reputable Sources

• Academic Presses:
  • Cambridge University Press, university presses, Gruntledge and Wound Care Academic, and nearly any other university press.
  • Exception: University of Queensland Press (UQP), which publishes fiction.

Using Sources Substantively

• Engage with the Central Argument:

  • Use sources to support your central topic and ideas.

• Avoid Cherry-Picking:

  • Do not cite sources for minor details unrelated to your main argument.
  • Ensure the source's main argument is directly relevant to your topic.

Film Discussion: Ex Machina

• Themes:

  • AI, humanity, playing God.

• Character Perspectives:

  • Caleb (programmer) views Nathan (CEO/creator) as playing God.
  • Early perceptions of Ada (AI) may shift as the film progresses.

• Ada's Consciousness:

  • The extent of her consciousness and feelings is a central question.
  • Her actions at the end, including deception and manipulation, raise questions about her humanity.
  • Her relationship with the other AI, Kyoko, underscores the unknowable aspects of AI consciousness.

• Visual Smoothness:

  • The film's aesthetic smoothness, especially in the architecture and the stabbing scene, creates an unreal quality.
  • The ease with which the knife slips in during the stabbing is unrealistic but intentional, highlighting Ada's calculated actions and the AI's precise knowledge of human anatomy.
  • The lack of a visceral, bloody reaction to the stabbing desensitizes the audience to Nathan's humanity and emphasizes the sterile, calculated nature of the AI.

• Uncanniness:

  • Nathan's interest in his AI's bodies with skin creates unease for the viewer.
  • The first viewing of Ada exhibits an internal system, showcasing a spinal thing that mirrors stuff that would be in her body.