We’re getting started this week with “The Witch” (2015), a debut feature film both written and directed by Robert Eggers, who previously worked primarily as a set and costume designer. His attention to historical design details serves him well in this period piece set in 1630. The dialogue is spot on for the era andContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “The Witch””
Tag Archives: professor chuck
Intro to Media Studies, Round Two
I’m preparing to launch my next two media studies series later this week. Over the next month or so, I’ll be posting several items on the blog each week to guide you through two different courses of exploration. I hope you’ll join me. The first series is called “Teens in the Twenty-Teens,” where we’ll beContinue reading “Intro to Media Studies, Round Two”
Media Studies: Current Trends in Horror Movies
The past decade has witnessed a renaissance of sorts in the genre of horror films. Gone are the days of schlocky gore-fests, slasher franchises, and torture-porn. Not only have “elevated horror” films served to infuse new life into the genre, but they have also signaled a newfound respectability with larger audiences, wider acknowledgement from filmContinue reading “Media Studies: Current Trends in Horror Movies”
Media Studies: Teens in the Twenty-Teens
The popularity of Teen and Young Adult (YA) books and movies has exploded over the last few decades as young people have become increasingly active participants in this brave new digital world we inhabit. In this five-week media studies series, we will watch some representative examples of films made about the teen experience in theContinue reading “Media Studies: Teens in the Twenty-Teens”
Wrap Up of “Shakespeare in Love”
Thanks to all of you who joined our five-week exploration of “Secret Shakespeare: Covert Classics, vol. 1.” We’ve seen a nice range of movies, and I hope you’ve managed to learn a fair amount about Shakespeare’s enduring cultural influence. As you’ve discovered, without the frustration of having to actually read much Elizabethan English, the playsContinue reading “Wrap Up of “Shakespeare in Love””
Discussion Questions for “Shakespeare in Love”
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts: Let’s start with the title, “Shakespeare in Love.” How does this movie portray Shakespeare? What sort of a person is he? What are his strengths and weaknesses? What are his hopes and desires? What are his darkest fears? Let’s continue with theContinue reading “Discussion Questions for “Shakespeare in Love””
Read This Before You Watch “Shakespeare in Love”
For our final week of “Secret Shakespeare: Covert Classics, vol. 1” we’re watching “Shakespeare in Love” (1998), a charming romantic comedy that imagines the setting and circumstances that might have caused Shakespeare to write Romeo & Juliet (1595-97). The story is partly inspired by the plot of that play, but in a backward, art-imitating-life sortContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Shakespeare in Love””
Wrap Up of “O”
I trust you enjoyed the grim fatalism of “O.” It’s not a cheery film but it’s an amazing update of Shakespeare’s Othello and perhaps the most faithful adaptation we’ve seen thus far in our “Secret Shakespeare” media studies series. Once again the setting of the play was transposed to a contemporary high school, and onceContinue reading “Wrap Up of “O””
Discussion Questions for “Princess Mononoke”
Write a paragraph or two in response to each of the following prompts. The extra credit questions are hard ones, but I’d love to see how you can answer them. What is the Call to Adventure? What are Ashitaki’s heroic traits and what makes him uniquely qualified for this hero’s quest? How does Ashitaki describeContinue reading “Discussion Questions for “Princess Mononoke””
Read This Before You Watch “Princess Mononoke”
Welcome back to another weekend adventure with our hero’s quest media series. This week we’re watching an anime film by Hayao Miyazaki called “Princess Mononoke” (1997). Anime combines elements of traditional Japanese art with more modern influences such as comic books. If you like this movie, and I think you will, Miyazaki made quite aContinue reading “Read This Before You Watch “Princess Mononoke””
Professor Chuck 