Stories in “Charlie Bit My Finger”
In this video, I explain how the famous video “Charlie Bit My Finger” has stories in it.” Continue reading Stories in “Charlie Bit My Finger”
“Where Can We Find Stories?”
This video montage asks, “Where Can We Find Stories?” as part of the 2023-2024 Common Question for UW-EC-BC, “What is the Power of Stories?” Continue reading “Where Can We Find Stories?”
An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump
In this video, we’ll look at this year’s Common Question for UW-EC-BC. To approach these questions, we’ll look at one painting in particular, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. Continue reading An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump
Colin Mochrie’s Thoughts on Comedy
I asked Colin Mochrie to give my students his thoughts on comedy and film. Continue reading Colin Mochrie’s Thoughts on Comedy
Leah O’Rourke’s Thoughts on Comedy
Below is a video on Leah O’Rourke’s thoughts on comedy to my film class. Continue reading Leah O’Rourke’s Thoughts on Comedy
Everybody Wants to be “In the Loop”
What is the film satirizing? In the Loop (2009) is a satire about the lead-up to the Iraq War, gender politics, and International cultural differences, among other things. One way to think about the film is that it is satirizing the idea that those in a position of power act based on noble motivations, or that those in elite positions (in this case, high level … Continue reading Everybody Wants to be “In the Loop”
The Succession Poem, a cinematic montage of “Dream Song 29”
This is a cinematic montage of the poem “Dream Song 29” by John Berryman (1914-1972). The poem is associated with the television show “Succession” on HBO. Continue reading The Succession Poem, a cinematic montage of “Dream Song 29”
Succession (HBO) and Aristotle’s Characteristics of a Tragedy (The Poetics)
In this video, I explain how Aristotle’s ideas of what makes a tragedy help to explain the enormous success of HBO’s hit series, “Succession.” Continue reading Succession (HBO) and Aristotle’s Characteristics of a Tragedy (The Poetics)
The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and the Movies that Should Come From Them
I recently finished the book, The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England, by Dan Jones. I’m now reading his follow-up book on The War of the Roses. Jones is an engaging writer, who mixes a type of informal academic content with a informal narrative style. This combination of formality and informality makes for an informative and engaging read. I’d recommend this book. … Continue reading The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England and the Movies that Should Come From Them
Inside Out: Why Can’t We Be Friends and Why Should We Read Medieval Literature?
Warning: Spoilers!!! Warning: Spoilers!!! Warning: Spoilers!!! Inside Out, a 2015 film that is both allegorical and naturalistic, dives into the consciousness of its main character, in ways both innovative and drawing on a 500 years old dramatic tradition. Let’s start with the film’s Emotion characters, who are embodiments of feelings–in other words, concepts depicted as characters. When I first started watching Inside Out, I was … Continue reading Inside Out: Why Can’t We Be Friends and Why Should We Read Medieval Literature?
Footnotes for Film Buffs 