4/29/20 Class

CMN 201

4/29/20

Topic: The Blair Witch Project and 28 Days Later

Note: I will be in our class live chat room during our scheduled class for questions/comments/issues

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Zoom Virtual Office Hour 

Tuesdays 1:45-2:45 or by appointment

https://zoom.us/j/7028190433

Meeting ID: 702-819-0433

Class Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84uUE0mtI1I

The Blair Witch Project

--- Started found footage movement (meta: movie about a movie)

---Method acting for faux documentary

---Similar to slasher films: isolate characters and eliminate by dehumanizing force

---Shaky camera creates physical audience discomfort

--- Independent movie/shoe string budget ($60,000 / 250 million (+) 

---1990’s: birth of Internet 

---Genius marketing : (www.BlairWitch.com : newsreel footage and interviews – 3 rural filmmakers shooting film on urban legend.  Curse of Blair Witch Documentary on Sci Fi Channel (1999). Internet Movie Database listed actors as deceased.

--- Fear of unknown

--- Wilderness vs civilization

---What is reality? Movie techniques  try to mimic reality, characters are unsure of what is reality, technology records but also distorts reality (technological uncanny)

---Misunderstandings/solitude brought by technology – filtered film reality is only thing Heather has left 

--- subtle/ambiguous/suggestive

--- Does victim empower monster by seeking it out?

---Sanity/insanity

28 Days Later

---Projected Fears thought film would achieve a cultural status that it hasn’t

--- Updated Zombie tale?

---British

--- Rage virus

---Destruction of current society (Apocalyptic 2000’s)

---Critique of media/government/consumerism

---importance of community (Hello)

---Creation of new family/society

Watch 28 Days Later (2002) (See Amazon link in previous post)

Nightmares: Chap 8 & 9 ( Postmodern Horror I & II)

Horror Film: (Digital Horrors)

Projected Fears: Conclusion

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Attendance Question: (please submit vis email with name and class)

What mistake did I discuss that I made?

4/22/20 Class

CMN 201

4/21/20

Topic: Halloween (1978/1980’s) and The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Note: I will be in our class live chat room during our scheduled class for questions/comments/issues

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Zoom Virtual Office Hour 

Tuesdays 1:45-2:45 or by appointment

https://zoom.us/j/7028190433

Meeting ID: 702-819-0433

--- Movie links in previous post

--- 28 Days Later (2000’s)

---Final Project

Projected Fears: Chap 5 (Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Chap 6 (Halloween)

Horror Film: Chap 3 (1974-present)

Nightmares: Chap 7 (Shrinking Man) Chap 15 (Carpenter)

The Exorcist – collapse of religion

Nominated for numerous academy awards

Class Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyY_BO_yONM

Halloween

---Continued collapse of family 

--- Halloween director John Carpenter (USC grad)influenced by Psycho (looking/gazing, iconic soundtrack, Dr. Sam Loomis, Janet Leigh/Jamie Lee Curtis)

---Released independently/regionally, first in Kansas City ($320,000 budget, over $55 million in sales: one of highest grossing films of all times)

---Panagilde (Steadycam). murderer’s view

--- Slasher films (President Reagan: conservative era)

---Punish sexual promiscuity, smoking marijuana, etc. (appearance vs. reality – what is under mask)

---Critique of suburbia

---Knife as  phallic image (sexual frustration/repression)

--- Final girl

---Teens

---Absent parents

---Serial killers (boogyman)

---Supernatural possibilities

---Trivia: William Shatner mask

Watch The Blair Witch Project, 1999 (See Amazon link in previous post)

Nightmares: Chap 8 & 9 ( Postmodern Horror I & II)

Horror Film: (Digital Horrors)

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Attendance Question: (please submit vis email with name and class)

What movie did I almost assign instead of Halloween?

Pass/Fail Grade Option

Please check your student email dated 4/17/20 for a GCC detailed communication about Pass/Fail grade options:

"As we continue to adapt our policies and practices to be responsive to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions that have impacted your education this semester we have made some adjustment to two of our academic policies.  Both are outlined in detail in the attached documents. The first is our Pass/Fail policy.  We have extended the time to declare this option to the last day of classes on May 12, 2020.  In addition, we have lowered the threshold for a PA notation to a C-.  Before considering this option it is imperative that you read the attached document thoroughly and that you discuss it with your advisor."  

4/15/20 Class

CMN 201

4/15/20

Topic: The Exorcist (1973) and Halloween (1978/1980’s)

Note: I will be in our class live chat room during our scheduled class for questions/comments/issues

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Zoom Virtual Office Hour 

Tuesdays 1:45-2:45 or by appointment

https://zoom.us/j/7028190433

Meeting ID: 702-819-0433

--- Movie links in previous post

--- 28 Days Later (2000’s)?

---Registration

---Final Project

Projected Fears: Chap 5 (Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Chap 6 (Halloween)

Horror Film: Chap 3 (1974-present)

Nightmares: Chap 7 (Shrinking Man) Chap 15 (Carpenter)

Class Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv2QeY7Xw6Q

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--- The Exorcist 1973

---Blockbuster film/mass hysteria (violated cultural taboos, subliminal techniques with sounds and images)

---Iconic Musical Score (Tubular Bells)

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkIqFK3KoZ4

--- Based on NY times best selling novel

--- Loosely based on documented exorcisms

--- Focus on gross out: Regan McNeil as possessed child (violation of taboos). X rating in Boston

--- Real focus on Exorcist(s): Father Karras and Father Merrin (inner demons). Hero is Christianity.

--- Chris (Christ): inner demon -   actress lies for living, near a Church in Washington DC, atheist, divorced, Ouija board in house.

--- Dennings: inner demon -  alcohol

--- Turmoil of 1970’s: scene of campus protests, drugs, Vietnam,  youth as monsters, world going to hell

--- symbolism of doors (entryways)

--- Psychological (poltergeist) vs. Supernatural Explanations (Opening: Demon Pazuzu -Iraq)

Deleted Scenes: 

Real purpose of possession is tormenting  others. Faith is evidenced in action/not belief: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMM7gejRXg

Spider Walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To24MqBNTyM

Watch Halloween 1978 (see Amazon link in previous post)

--- Halloween director John Carpenter influenced by Psycho

---Prelude to 1980’s (President Reagan)

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Attendance Question: (please submit vis email with name and class)

What two classes am I teaching in the fall that are listed as Staff?

4/8/20 Class

CMN 201

4/9/20

Topic: Night of the Living Dead and The Exorcist

Note: I will be in our class live chat room during our scheduled class for questions/comments/issues

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Zoom Virtual Office Hour 

Tuesdays 1:45-2:45 or by appointment

https://zoom.us/j/7028190433

Meeting ID: 702-819-0433

--- Movie links in previous post

--- 28 Days Later (2000’s)?

Class Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABcNkdz0_eM

--- Last class (Projected Fears: Chap. 3 Psycho and Nightmares: Chap 5. California Gothic, Chap 6 Hitchcock) 

--- This class (Projected Fears: Chap 4 Night of the Living Dead and Nightmares: Chap 6 Apocalypse, Chapter 14 Romero)

--- Night of Living Dead  (also from 1960’s, decade of conflict/fear)

--- Director George Romero reinvented the zombie (Haitian: film White Zombie, 1932)

---Shoestring budget/Black and White film with copyright error

---Commentary on 1960’s – a film of revolution (Rosemary’s Baby: “God id dead”), Apocalyptic

--- American flag/Time change

---World gone mad

---We are the monsters

---Masses uprising (zombie hordes)

---Collapse of nuclear family (Harry and Helen Cooper, daughter Karen), young love (Tom and Judy), siblings (Barbara and Johnny)

---Inability to work together

---Ineffective  institutions of authority

--- Lead  (Ben) is  African American

---Self-referential: They’re coming to get you Barbara”

---Dark Ending

---Gender commentary?

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--- The Exorcist 1973(see Amazon link in previous post)

---Mass hysteria

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Attendance Question: (please submit vis email with name and class)

What famous person did George Romero work with?

Class Films

 

Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: 

Dracula: https://vimeo.com/138583645

Cat People: https://ok.ru/video/273688234638

Invasion of the Body Snatchers: http://www.zappinternet.com/video/CoKmFezCin/Invasion+of+the+body+Snatchers+(1956)/

Psycho: https://vimeo.com/231413951

Night of the Living Dead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=yA5kk8LB7BQ&feature=emb_logo

If you do not have access to any of the remaining films:

The Exorcist

Halloween

The Blair Witch Project

28 Days Later

Get Out

Go to www.amazon.com and sign in by following the directions below:

Amazon Sign In: 

email - ruiz@gcc.mass.edu

password - GCCCMN201

Note: You will likely be told Authentification Required.  If so, contact me for the code. Then proceed with Sign In and enter code when prompted.

Click on -  Accounts and Lists (at the top right of the screen) 

Click on - Your Video Purchases & Rentals

Click on - Film Title