Shining Essay

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• Shining Essay!

The Shining Analysis

As we continue our study of The Shining, and going through the viewing guide, we'll also be watching, reading, and discussing some interesting and compelling analyses. There are hundreds of theories and and ideas about what the film truly means, and we'll sift through them and discuss their validity. There's a neat documentary, Room 237, that showcases a few of these crazy analyses--like The Shining is actually about the moon landing being staged by Kubrick, or the film being about the US Government's genocide of Native Americans. Sounds crazy, right? Interesting ideas...and fun!

The Shining

"Masterpiece of Modern Horror"

Typewriter from The Shining' Stanley Kubrick exhibit at EYE Filminstitut Netherlands, AmsterdamMarcel Oosterwijk from Amsterdam, The Netherlands - All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (The Shining)

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is not only one of the scariest films of all time, but also a prime example of what is meant by "Kubrickian." As we watch this film, we'll look at how tension and fear are built, as well as what makes Kubrick...Kubrick.

Check out some full notes on the film, which is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name. The viewing guide is comprehensive...Stay focused!

Just to give you an idea of where we are headed, your assessment of this unit will be an essay, so really pay attention to film techniques, and how these aid in the themes of the film--isolation, madness, alcoholism, abuse...

Psycho Assessment

Our assessment for Psycho involves watching four scenes from the film; your task is to write a paragraph on three. Remember what makes a solid analysis paragraph: Topic sentence, evidence, concluding sentence. This will be graded using the adapted (film-specific) school-wide writing rubric. I have also provided a solid example of an analysis paragraph.

You may use the viewing guide and any notes you have taken for the film.

After we do this, we will do a fun comparison of the terrible, useless shot-for-shot remake of Psycho, directed by Gus Van Sant.

"Psycho Logo" by Universal Pictures - cloudfront.net. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Psycho_Logo.png#mediaviewer/File:Psycho_Logo.png

Psycho Analysis

As we continue to go through the viewing guide for Psycho, we will also look at excerpts from a famous interview with Hitchcock. This interview was conducted by the French filmmaker Francois Truffaut (who ushered in what is called the “French New Wave” with his first film The 400 Blows).

"François truffaut" by Kroon, Ron / Anefo - http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ab11dc40-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 nl via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fran%C3%A7ois_truffaut.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Fran%C3%A7ois_truffaut.jpg

Psycho

"Psycho 1960 film (Madame Tussauds)" by Max Langenbeck from Germany - Madame Tussauds. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Psycho_1960_film_(Madame_Tussauds).JPG#mediaviewer/File:Psycho_1960_film_(Madame_Tussauds).JPG

We are ready to dive into our first feature-length film. As will be the case with all the films in this class, there is a viewing guide for the film. Think of a viewing guide as "guided note-taking." It forces you to look at the film with a critical eye. Watch and listen closely! Sleeping, putting your head down, or looking at your cell phone while the film is playing is not looking at a film critically!