Final Blog!!

#1 As we watch progress through the film, "The Hurt Locker", how is the idea of realism being used for this movie? What kind of effects do you think this has on the viewers?
I
 believe this movie to be very realistic. They do a good preview of what it was actually like during the Iraq War. There have been many reviews saying is it almost so close to reality that it is scary. People who fought in the war actually get flashbacks when watching the movie. They feel like they are there again according to reviews. I think it leaves a major effect on the viewers. Especially for the people that did fight in the Iraq War. If it weren't realistic I believe it would make those people mad because Hollywood would be showing false information. Since it is so real, I think its a good thing and people can feel and be more thankful for the people who have fought for our country.

#2 What do you think is your biggest take away from this class? What would be a suggestion to make the class better for next year?

I think my biggest take away is definitely how I look at movies now. Before this class I never really thought of the small details and how hard it would actually be to act/direct different films. Now every time I watch a movie I find myself thinking about how "that would be so unrealistic" or "I wonder how they did that". I sit there and critique every little thing without even really realizing. A suggestion for next year is definitely make them read parts of the book again because it really opens up your eyes and makes you realize movie making isn't as easy as it seems to be. Which brings up my next suggestion, I think it would be cool for them to make a documentary or a small movie. So they can get the perspective of how hard it really is to act/direct. They will realize how long movie making actually takes and its not as easy as pushing record on a camera.

Blog 4!!

Nichols writes, "The fact that there is more than one mode of documentary film strongly suggests that the representation of reality is not an objective, cut-and-dried affair. Although there may be only one historical world, and even if certain facts about it can be agreed upon as objectively true, the ways of seeing and representing that world, like the ways of interpreting it, vary considerably."

I believe that by this, Nichols is telling the reader that there is more than one way to view things. There are actually many ways in which one can view something, which brings the 6 modes of documentary into it. The six modes are basically different ways to make documentaries. People can have a different look on things in many different ways. For example, in documentaries, the director can be a part of the movie, play no part in the movie, or even be the main actor in the movie. Also people can take one thing and turn it into meaning multiple things even though history states it. Things may not always be cut and dry, they may have different ways to be looked at and have different meanings. I believe the sic modes of documentary really show that.

Blog Entry #3

In our book, Nichols writes, "An attentive viewer must also be familiar with the repertoire of choices a director faces to recognize her decisions as choices rather than as simply the product of the camera's mechanical ability to record images". What do you think Nichols is trying to say in this statement and what are your thoughts?
I think that Nichols is saying that a film is more than just setting up a camera and hitting record. It takes a lot more than that. The director has to make a lot of decisions such as lighting, the angle of the shot, what clothes the people are going to wear, etc. As viewers, we need to recognize how much time and thought the director actually has to go through in order to make a movie for us. We need to be able to realize that the movie is based on the directors choices of he/she wants the movie to be like. It his/her choice on what edits will be made and how many times things will be re-shot to make it the best. They choose to do the movie the way they want it.

Blog Number 2!

After reading the introduction chapter of engaging cinemas, what are your initial thoughts as to studying the subject of film?
After I read the introduction chapter, it made me realize how much I actually want to study the subject of film. It made me realize how much fun and interesting the subject is. There are so many different parts of film and it will be very interesting and educational to learn about them. I think studying the subject of film will be a great opportunity and I will learn a lot.
Are movies a social danger or a social benefit?
I believe that movies are both a social danger and a social benefit. Movies are a benefit because some can give people a true aspect of what really happened in our history. Also they make very educational movies that people are able to learn a lot from. Movie are a danger because some have violence which can lead people into doing violent things also. They can also make a corruption because of how people view things differently. 

First Blog!

I think that the History through Film is going to be a fantastic experience for me and all of the other students taking this class. It will be a enjoyable way to learn about our history. It is going to be very interesting and different. I am super excited to see where this goes.
   
I hope that I will get more knowledge out of this class beings I am going to be able to actually see what went on instead of reading about it. I feel as if I will be able to understand the things that happened in history, better.

I believe that my strength I will bring to this class is that I am a better visual learner. If they don't understand something, I am able to be there and explain to them so they can get a better understanding. This means that the whole class will be able to better understand our history if we understand the movie.