Film Language

This lecture was about Peter Greenaway and his films, our lecturer made a list of his films from his short films up to more recent films such as Rembrandt’s J’Accuse (2008). After we  had discussed the films, our lecturer played two clips from Peter’s short films; A Walk Through H which, Dear Phone both films were released in the 70s. We then moved onto who is Tulse Luper the character. After discussing the character we then started to watch a clip from The Tulse Luper Suitcases (2003). After a short break from the lecture we then moved onto watching clips from; The Draughtsman’s Contract, A Zed & Two Noughts, The Cook The Thief His Wife and her Lover, Pillow Book. 

After watching all the clips we then moved onto discussing about the motifs  and themes used in Peter Greenaways films. 

Motifs

• Games/Play 
• Violent Death
• Sex and Nudity
• Writing/Textuality 
• Painting
• Music
• Water
• Power in Relationships
• Taxonomy/Categorisation
• Clothes/Masks
• Coincidence/Chance
• Frame/Tableaux

Themes

• Nature/Culture
• Greed and Perversity
• Communication and Language
• Sexuality and Desire
• Art and Aesthetics
• Civilisation and History
• Crime
• Knowledge
• Ambition
• Mortality
• Fate
• Mind/Body Duality
• Consumption/Destruction

At the end of the lecture our lecturer explained what we needed to do for our film language essay which is due for Monday 23rd April. Pointers we were given were; 

• When writing the essay we should focus more on the film and not on the filmmaker. 
• If you put a still image into your essay, you have to make sure you talk about whats going on in the still. 
• When you use a quote from a book or online, you have to explain what you think the quote means or how it fits into your argument.
• A 2000 word essay has to have at least 3 to 5 references.
• Make sure you have at least two drafts before handing your final draft in. Hand write the first draft, type up the essay which would be you second draft. Print off your second draft have someone read over, to make sure there is no spelling mistakes and then adjust the mistakes and hand the final draft in. 

I am looking forward to starting and completing my essay, as I believe it will be a great way to finish the module and also the semester.