Category: Cinematography

Posted on in Cinematography, Mise-en-Scene, Textual Analysis

Batman Final Essay

Task – A textual analysis essay.

Essay title

Complete a textual analysis of the denouement of The Dark Knight and answer the following question.

‘Analyse and evaluate the representation of Batman in the final sequence of the The Dark Knight (2008) Nolan.’ You should use specific examples of mise-en-scene and cinematography to discuss how Nolan highlights the messages and themes in the film.

Advice and Guidance
  • The essay will be assessed in how it shows your ability to demonstrate…
    1. …an understanding of the cultural context.
    2. … an understanding of how the extract makes use of film elements to create meaning.
    3. …an understanding of the ways in which the cultural context of the film and the identified film elements relate to each other, as well as to the chosen film text as a whole
  • The essay should be approx 750 words long (+/- 10%). 
  • You should use screen shots of key moments from the sequence that are the subject of your close textual analysis.
Research & Context
    • You should refer explicitly to the Crash Course YouTube video on, ‘The War on Terror’.
    • Quote from the article we discussed in class, Dark Knight, Dark Ideas by Chris Turner. 
      • This article and the Crash Course YouTube Video should be credited and referenced at the end of the essay.

Structure

  1. Introduce the Film and the important contexts
  2. Introduce the themes and ideas evident at the end of the film
    • How do these diverge from the narrative / themes of the hero’s journey?
  3. Explore three examples of mise-en-scene and how these are important in reflecting the themes and ideas in the film
  4. Explore three examples of cinematography and how these are important in revealing the themes and ideas in the film
  5. Sum up the essay and the evolution of Batman
Posted on in Cinematographer, Cinematography

Advanced Cinematography

INQUIRY

The Rules of Composition in Cinematography are described and exemplified in this video:

Class Presentation on Composition in Film

Use this link to edit

Reflective journal

Embed this slideshow in your reflective journal as a new post called Advanced Cinematography.

Select 3 frames from one or more of the cinematographers in the video below and describe the composition in those selected frames:

Great Cinematographers

Example

Cinematographer (Freddie Young)

The frame uses the rule of thirds and lead space. Places the dead soldier on the point of interest and the expanse of frozen desolation ahead of him. The barbed wire acts as leading lines and the angles posts serve to frame shot.