Inquiry – Pan’s Labyrinth (Context)

In order to understand and appreciate a film more fully we need to study the context….

OK…so…what is context then?


Historical Contexts

These are the historical events which surround a film’s production. The film itself might also be a response to a specific historical event (as in Pan’s Labyrinth). In that sense there may be two sets of historical contexts.

In this case though we are going to explore the historical context which is the subject matter of the film, The Spanish Civil War and it’s aftermath.


Cultural & Artistic Contexts

These are the cultural references made within the film. No artistic endeavour is made in a bubble. We need to recognise that an artist (film maker) is drawing on his/her cultural experiences and using those to underline certain ideas and themes that they wish to explore.

Religious & Mythology – Academic Journal


Critical Reception

We must accept that people will have differing responses to a film. It is always helpful to engage with other responses that might reinforces our own view or give us alternative perspectives:


Institutional Contexts

Who financed the film? What are the rules of distribution (such as certificate)? Was it profitable?


Research Task:
  1. Read / study the materials you have been allocated above.
  2. Summarise the content of the material.
  3. Find quotes / information that is useful to helping you understand the Film.
  4. Make a reference (use Harvard reference) of your sources.
  5. Contribute to a shared research presentation on the contexts which surround and inform the production of Pan’s Labyrinth.

Here is the summarised research from 12B.

Representation in Film

Think: Does film reflect the world we live in or shape the way we view it?
Task:

Consider the ideas and messages communicated by these two versions of the same character. Use this document to analyse one of the two characters.

Character 1
Character 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key questions to ask about film / media representations:

  • Who, or what, is being represented?
  • How are they, or it, being represented?
    • Using what film language?
    • Within which genre?
    • How does the narrative resolve for the character?
  • What ideas, values and opinions seem to be reflected in the representation?

The film + the ideas & messages communicated in it are collectively called ‘representation‘, put more simply:

Representation = an image + an idea.

So, when you’re asked to analyse representation, you are being asked to ‘read’ what films, through the way they show the world, tell you about the values attitudes & beliefs of society we live in. 

Think: ‘Why might the concept of representation in films be problematic?’

Welcome to your IB Film Blog

Welcome to a brand new adventure in Film Studies.

It is a totally new course which we are running this year and we think it is a course that you will find exciting. We will give you the opportunity to learn about the key roles in film production in a hands on way. Together we will  explore film in a variety of ways and will encourage you to study films that you love.

Here is a rough outline of the course.

The IB is an international course and at its heart is a desire, ‘to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.’ Film is a wonderful way to give you a window into the wider world and to learn about other cultures and perspectives. So, whilst we will be looking at some British & American films we will be also exploring films made in other countries.

So the first film we will be working on together is a Spanish Film called Pan’s Labyrinth.

You need to watch this film in it’s entirety over the next two weeks (it’s on Netflix and we have several DVD copies in the library, which you can borrow for 24 hours). We will be exploring this film in lots of different ways and there are bound to be spoilers, so please make sure you have watched it by next Friday. (There may be a test to check you have watched…)