Basic to an understanding of media is an awareness of how we interact with media texts. When we look at any media text, each of us finds meaning through a wide variety of factors: personal needs and anxieties, the pleasures or trouble of the day, racial and sexual attitudes, family and cultural background. All of these have a bearing on how we process information. For example, the way in which two students respond to a film depends on what each brings to that text. In short, each of us finds or "negotiates" meaning in different ways.
For example, The short animated film "The Cat Came Back" is linked with the following description: "This hilarious Oscar®-nominated animation is based on the century-old folk song of the same name. Old Mr. Johnson makes increasingly manic attempts to rid himself of a little yellow cat that just won't stay away... Also won the 1989 Genie Award for best animated short film. " It is an award winner, and heralded as a Canadian classic....watch it and decide for yourself.
Do you agree with the above description? http://www.nfb.ca/film/the-cat-came-back/
One of my favourites is called "The Sand Castle" http://www.nfb.ca/film/sand_castle/
Do we have similar tastes?
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NOW, Watch a series (3-6) short films found on the NFB of Canada website:
main site: http://www.nfb.ca/
Playlists: http://www.nfb.ca//playlists/
Animated Shorts: http://search.nfb.ca/search?q=animated+films&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&client=beta_onfb&ud=1&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=beta_onfb&proxyreload=1&hl=en&lr=lang_en&site=beta_onfb
Documentaries:
http://search.nfb.ca/search?q=documentaries&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&lr=lang_en&client=beta_onfb&ud=1&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=beta_onfb&hl=en&proxyreload=1&site=beta_onfb
Short Films: http://search.nfb.ca/search?q=short+films&entqr=0&output=xml_no_dtd&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&lr=lang_en&client=beta_onfb&ud=1&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&proxystylesheet=beta_onfb&hl=en&proxyreload=1&site=beta_onfb
1. Embed the video of or add a link to the films you watched to your own blog.
2. Then write a post or series of posts where you identify films you liked, films you didn't and provide reasons for each. Try to really identify why you did or didn't like the films you chose. Think about what you are bringing to the analysis (your gender, age, family or cultural background, personal interests) and how these might impact your perception and enjoyment of the films.
3. If you did not enjoy the film, comment on who you think the preferred audience might be for the film.
I do agree with the above description of 'The Cat Came Back'. I love it. It's probably my 2nd favourite NFB Film (Second to 'Evolution').
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny in the way the cat is devious and innocent at the same time, and while you're laughing, you can't help but feel bad for the old man.
Now, The sandcastle is another favourite, but I find it so sad. The music has a lot to do with it, I think. When they're building the sandcastle, the music is happy and all, and then when the wind cmoes, it somteimes fades out all together.
My friends and I would always 'dibs' the creature we would be. My personal favourite is the elephant-like one who draws in the sand.