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”
Category: Comedy
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
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)
Monsters, Inc., (2001) Monsters, and Commonplaces
I’ve created my second vlog, this one over the 2001 film, Monsters, Inc., directed by Pete Docter. You can find it below. I hope you enjoy. If you do, please share! Continue reading Monsters, Inc., (2001) Monsters, and Commonplaces
Meet the Parents and Cinematography
I’ve made my first video blog, or vlog, as they say. It’s over the film, Meet the Parents, from 2000, directed by Jay Roach. I hope you’ll watch my short movie and tell me your thoughts, either about cinematography or Meet the Parents! Continue reading Meet the Parents and Cinematography
Abraham Lincoln, “a natural born piggy-backer”: Why “It Happened One Night” is a classic.
I recently learned that a pun I came up with was already well established in the puniverse. You see, my pun went something like Frank Capricorn; it was going to involve a film director, someone born between December 21st and January 20th, a hot dog, and candy corn. But to my chagrin, the term capricorn has been around quite a while, and it refers to … Continue reading Abraham Lincoln, “a natural born piggy-backer”: Why “It Happened One Night” is a classic.
Election: Ambition, it’s a blessing . . . and a curse
Warning: Spoilers!!!!!!!!!! Warning: Spoilers!!!!!!!!! Warning: Spoilers!!!!!!!! Tracy Flick is one of those characters whose notoriety exceeds the boundaries of the story they are a part of. There are so many characters who fit this description, including The Artful Dodger, Scarlett O’Hara, Big Bird, Archie Bunker, The Fonze, and The Dude. These are figures who seem to break free of their narrative landscapes. We remember them, … Continue reading Election: Ambition, it’s a blessing . . . and a curse
The Brady Bunch Movie: Those Were The Days Then and Now, and Jan Finally Gets Her Due
The television show, The Brady Bunch seems anachronistic even for its time. Even in the late 60s, the type of wholesome American family of shows like Make Room for Daddy or Father Knows Best seemed passé. The Brady Bunch debuted in 1969, and consider some of the other programs that were on that year that were far edgier. The most popular show was Rowan & … Continue reading The Brady Bunch Movie: Those Were The Days Then and Now, and Jan Finally Gets Her Due
Footnotes for Film Buffs 