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
Category: Talk of the Lobby
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
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)
Cosmos and Kairos: A Rhetorical Journey
Here’s my latest vlog post, this one on Carl Sagan’s 13 part television series, Cosmos and his use of kairos as a rhetorical technique in the famous program. Continue reading Cosmos and Kairos: A Rhetorical Journey
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.
Ten films with “F**k you and the horse you rode in on” speeches
There’s all kinds of movie speeches–the inspirational speech, the redemption speech, the condemnatory speech, and the romantic plea for love speech. But one of my favorites is what you might call the “F**k you and the horse you rode in on” speech. The most typical version of this speech happens towards the end of the film. The protagonist looks to be completely finished, his or … Continue reading Ten films with “F**k you and the horse you rode in on” speeches
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
Footnotes for Film Buffs 