Jaap’s Recitation 5/1

Last week during lecture and section, we discussed how new technologies change the way films are made, distributed and seen.  We looked at the innovations that digital filmmaking created and how it was different from using analogue film.

During lecture, we looked at the final race of the grand prix in the movie Speedracer.  We then watched the film Zodiac which offers a different take on filmmaking and the question of reality.  The entire film was shot using digital technology, and no actual film was use.  This was done to create “a more real kind of film.”

During section, Jaap discussed handing in our papers in his faculty mailbox.  We then watched a clip from the original Tron (1983, created by Disney).  It was important to watch this film because it was the first film that contains CGI.  We also looked at this film in relation to Speedracer and how the film presents this idea of immersion into a virtual reality.  This led us to discuss the positive and negative effects of using 3D in films.  Natasha then gave her presentation on the Stephen Prince article.  After the presentation we discussed Zodiac.  At the end of class we did an informal evaluation as well as formal evaluation.  The informal evaluation was where we went around the room and discussed our favorite film, least favorite film, and most interesting topic of the class during the semester.

Jaap’s recitation 3/21 (9:30)

We started class by watching a clip from Rocky.  It was the scene at the end when Rocky fights Apollo Creed.  This sparked a discussion of white and black representation in films and the changing role of the white American male hero that we would continue throughout the class.  We then moved on to a student presentation on Ross’ article “Ballots, Bullets, or Batman: can cultural studies do the right thing?”  The presenter discussed key points from the article, such as the shift in America from the soft liberal hero (like in Easy Rider) to a tougher hero that takes the law into his own hands.  He also mentioned that in the late eighties and early nineties, there was a lot of racial tension, yet it was rarely talked about.  He also put a large emphasis on the idea of the symbol.  Many African-Americans were wearing African necklaces and Batman paraphernalia.  This adoption of the Batman symbol into African-American culture was ironic since the film has a condescending undertone towards black culture.  Although there is only one black character in the film, it is believed that white characters are representational of black characters.  Ross believes that the Joker is one of these white stand-in characters.  By wanting to be on the dollar bill, the Joker creates the ultimate white fear: that black people will replace white people in American history.

While using the Ross article to aid us in our discussion, we talked about the similarities between Batman and Rocky.  Both Rocky and Batman are iconic white heroes.  There was a shift at this time in America from the soft liberal hero to the ultimate manly hero in an attempt at masculinization of American men after the Vietnam War.  We discussed symbolism as it pertains to these two films.  Apollo Creed is shrouded in red white and blue.  When he enters the arena he hands out dollar bills (parallel to the Joker’s desire to be on the dollar bill).  Previous to this scene black people had been excluded from American symbols like this.  It had always been white people who represented America as a whole.  We went on to talk about the history of racial discussions in America.  During the Reagan era, race was invisible.  It was never explicitly talked about in the government (despite all the racial tension) until Obama took office and gave a speech on U.S. race relations.

We then discussed the destruction of white property in Do the Right Thing and tried to come up with answers to the questions of what is private and what is public.  Buggin Out’s anger that there are no black people on the “Wall of Fame” in Sal’s Pizzeria stems from the frustration among black people that they have always been excluded from the American identity.  But perhaps the “Wall of Fame” is merely a symbol to Sal of the Italian’s long awaited acceptance into the American identity.

We then watched a clip from the beginning of Malcolm X.  This film shifts the perspective on American culture.  Previously in film, black characters had been integrated into white society (like in buddy movies).  But the beginning scenes of this film portray the white characters as being out of place in black society.

We ended class by discussing Mookie’s role in Do the Right Thing and whether or not he did the right thing.  Despite the fact that he was the catalyst in the destruction of Sal’s Pizzeria, at the same time his actions probably saved the lives of Sal and his sons.  He showed how the two quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were not as opposed to each other as we would at first think.