How has your study of the Auteur theory enhanced your understanding of 'Memento'?
or
"Christopher Nolan can be considered an 'Auteur Director'"
How far do you agree with this statement?
or
"Christopher Nolan can be considered an 'Auteur Director'"
How far do you agree with this statement?
The Auteur (French term for 'Author') theory was developed in the 1950's & 60's by a group of French 'New Wave' filmmakers led by Francois Truffaut. The film makers attempted to apply a scientific methodology to film making by studying the work of (among others) Alfred Hitchcock, and created a criteria for the 'Auteur' director. Truffaut stated
" film is a medium for expressing the personal ideas of the director, much like how an artist uses canvas and a paintbrush"
His argument stated that an 'Auteur' filmmakers oeuvre (body of work) is linked by the directors own 'personal creative vision' and that their films contains reoccurring thematic, symbolic and technical qualities.
Andrew Sarris, American filmmaker and professor went on to say
“The strong director imposes his own personality on a film” and that “over a group of films a director must exhibit certain recurrent characteristics of style, which serve as his signature".
This idea is exhibited through many directors and actors throughout the history of film.
Before we can analyse the film we need to understand a bit about more the 'Auteur Theory'.
To write this essay you will complete the following tasks...
1. Read and makes notes on an essay about Auteur film theory.
2. Watch the film and make notes using your research as a guide
3. Apply the research from your essay to the film by selecting a sequence of clips from the film
4. Use an additional piece of research to add to your findings.
5. Write several paragraphs (totalling no more than 1000 words) answering the question above.
Task 1.
The essay below will be your main piece of Secondary research. It is from a collection of essays about Auteur Theory taken from Cahiers Du Cinema; Theories on Authorship (edited: John Caughie) Task 1.
- Read through the chapter
- Whilst reading, highlight key points
- Annotate the pages to put points into your own words
- Write out a dozen key quotations from throughout the chapter - each one should go on a separate Research Log sheet - found below the chapter.
- Summarise what the chapter has been about in your own words
Part 1
Part 2
Here is the research log - you are going to need LOTS of these!
Task 2.
Watch Memento - but you must keep notes, these should be based on the things that you have read about from the chapter on narrative.- Keep your summary of the chapter in front of you, as well as the quotations you've copied out. (have these written out separately from your research logs).
- Write very (very) brief summary of each scene as it appears in the movie
- Whenever something happens that either reinforces or challenges the points you've written down, make a note of it
- Throughout the movie write down anything that happens that you feel answers the question in any small way
- As soon as the film is finished, write down your immediate response to the film in relation to the question you are trying to answer
Task 3.
From your notes on the film AND the notes you've made from the chapter - think about any key sequences that would be worth analysis in answering the question. Find clips from the film on YouTube that you can look at again.For the auteur task you are also required to include sequences from other Christopher Nolan films.
Use these clips as a starting point: (You will also need to use Youtube and your own knowledge of Nolan's films)
Opening Sequences
'Symbols'
Endings
Male Leads
Task 4.
Search for another piece of research relating your topic area - it can even be specifically about the film itself, a review of the film, an interview with Nolan, an essay or an article - write down some quotations that are interesting, even if you disagree with them.
You don't have to search too far to find Secondary research specifically written about Memento - however this isn't always useful for every research project.
Without a new angle or a new perspective the question will always remain:
Why write something if it's already been written?
For our purposes this is just a practice so it's fine, but the point made is important for you to remember - don't worry if you can't find the exact academic writing that answers your question, find the writings on the subject you are investigating and use it - that's where you get the marks in this essay.
Once you have read some different sources you can write them up on a research log like the one you have in your coursework booklet.
Task 5.
This is the hardest part but the most essential. Putting everything together. In no more than 1000 words you are going to write the essay at the top of this page. Using all of the elements that you've collected together in Tasks 1-4.
This should be as simple as fitting together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle - follow these steps and you should be able to answer the question:
How has your study of the Auteur theory enhanced your understanding of 'Memento
- Choose one of the sequences you thought would be interesting to discuss and provide a short textual analysis.
- Find a quotation from your academic research that either proves or is at odds with the point your textual analysis makes.
- Explain the quotation and why it either proves or challenges your textual analysis.
- Give your own opinions
...alternatively...
- Find a quotation from your academics research that makes a statement about the representation of women in film or the media, or summarises a theory
- Write a textual analysis from a section of the film which either proves or disproves your point
- Explain what your own thoughts are on this area.You MUST include quotations from your research - whichever way you do this!
Either of these two options are useful and may be combined when writing the paragraphs of your own essay. The second option might require you to do additional textual analysis. The first option might require you to do extra reading. However, if both your Textual Analyses and Academic research is thorough then you should be fine.
If you want to see some examples of how essays have been written well then click here.
