QUEER CINEMA- BILLY HOLLYWOOD SCREEN KISS

Queer cinema also known as Queer theory. Queer theory actually is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1991s. Explores and challenges the way in which heterosexuality is constructed as normal and the way in which the media has limited the representations of gay men and women. Challenges the traditionally held assumptions that there is an op-positional divide between gay and heterosexual. Suggest sexual identity is more fluid. 

SYNOPSIS 

Billy is a photographer who yearns to reproduce classic Hollywood Screen Kisses with gay male couples dressed for the part. Spurned by his lover Fernando, he goes out in search of his friends for his re-creation shots. At a party he finds the face he has been looking for, Gabriel. Billy's affection turns to infatuation and his seemingly ambiguous sexuality. Surrounded, urged, cajoled and consoled on by his friends Perry and George, Billy goes in search of the truth of Gabriel's sexuality, his own screen kiss and happiness with the right man.

ANALYSIS

The first theory of queer that can find in this film is re-evaluates subjectivity and takes pride in difference. This films is considered romance but is re-appropriating romance. It is because usually a normal romance film created a love story is between a girl and a guy, which is heterosexual. On the other hand, the homosexual is relating to or sexual activity between persons of the same sex.In this romance film, there are including heterosexual film and homosexual film. However, the homosexual romance was the dominant while the heterosexual romance was the minority in this film. 

Besides that, there is also the feminist theory in this film. For example, there was a pinky lady who performance and singing a song on the stage. This women's voice was a women voice and her sound was pleasant to the ear but her face doesn't seem like a women at all. All the man will stereotype the characteristics of women are slim body, long hair, heavily make-up and so on. Therefore, this scene was obviously show the feminist theory. 

Lastly, we can observed that the last scene in this film was Billy and another guy were standing inside the photography exhibition and the position of their standing was bright whereas out of their standing position was very dark. It was meaning that the filmmaker was wanted to show that the dark side was do not share the homosexual as you can observed that the dark side was bigger than the bright side. Therefore, it was try to show that the dark side is the dominant whereas the bright side is the minority.  

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, 'Gender trouble' is evident everywhere in mainstream media. Queer theorists suggest this is the evidence of a move towards increasing tolerance of sexual diversity. Others argue that these representations simply present alternatives to the 'norm' of heterosexuality.

FEMINIST FILM THEORY- EASY A

INTRODUCTION

What is feminist film? Feminist film theory is theoretical film criticism derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. Feminist have many approaches to cinema a analysis, regarding the film elements analysis and their theoretical underpinnings. In early film theory and criticism was directed at the stereotype representation of women in classic Hollywood film. This stereotyped image of women in classic Hollywood had a negative effect on female spectators. Therefore, their was a call for more positive representations of women in Hollywood. In classic Hollywood film is derived towards more positive representations of women but is till not enough. But the main problems is that classic cinema narrative is constructed by men. Therefore, representing women from a male perspective. In classic cinema the representation of women was how men viewed women. 

SYNOPSIS

Olive, a quirky, assertive, and yet unnoticed high school, played by Emma Stone, makes up a story for her best friend, Rihannon, about losing her virginity. In the process, her fake story is overheard by a gossipy "Jesus freak" who spreads the rumor. Her lie becomes the talk of the school and a reputation is created. Olive, somewhat enticed by her new found notoriety, decides to play into the "slut" persona. In fact, inspired by her class assignment reading of "The Scarlet Letter," she sews a red A on all of her clothes.Her gay friend, Brandon, who has been incessantly physically and socially bullied asks her to fake having sex with him to give him some peace. Their plan works and other boys begin giving Olive gift cards to have her say they did sexual things together in order to look cooler.Olive continues to play into the slut persona, at first much to her amusement. However, with the passing of time she realizes the web of lies she has weaved is actually causing her more problems than she had anticipated. And with a series of twists, that would include spoilers if I go into them, Olive decides to reveal the truth to everyone.

ANALYSIS

The first theory can be found is Olive was being discriminated in the movie. It is because the character of Olive is a kind and sympathetic women as she paid by the guys and in willing to help them so that the guys had a opportunity to lie them about having an matter with Olive. As this rumors about Olive had been spread out so everyone who were around Olive started to discuss her. 

Besides that, Olive was enjoyed getting the attention although she was being looked in a wrong manner even had been discrimination from other people. Actually the film are reflection of society. Therefore, Easy A was a patriarchal society. For example, one of the scene is have a guy asked Olive foe help by the pool, in the beginning Olive was reject it. However, when Olive notice the guy emotional after the rejection, she went back to help him. Thus, due to the character of Olive is sympathetic so you can see that how she help the guys. Adding on, Olive's best friend which are Rhi and Marianne help Olive protested when everyone given her a bad name. Another scene can be related this scene is Olive helped Mrs Griffith by telling everyone about she was the person who cause the Marianne's boyfriend obtain a disease. Even though Mrs Griffith had married, but she thought everything done by her is correct as she is at the legal age. 

Lastly, the character of Mrs Penderghast who is Olive's mother is a liberal women and open-minded parents. It is because she was understand her children's thoughts. As you can see the scene about Olive was telling her mother about Brandon and everything that had happened is school. We can obviously observe that Mrs Penderghast was showing some support to Olive by giving her some advice and sharing her past story to Olive so that Olive would not be depressions. 

Moreover, the next character is called Marianne. She is a fanatic women because she always judgement a person by her own religion and believe that everything has happened according to God. She was hate Olive because she can't accept that Olive sex with many partners before marriage. As she was religious in Christian so everything issue that she talking was related to Bible. 

CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, the movie of Easy A was showing various of representation of females including bad portray and good portray. Therefore, film nowadays was not only negative portray of female and also positive portray of females.  

DOCUMENTARY- THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

INTRODUCTION

What is documentary? Documentary is a type of film that is based on the real world and real people, depicting things as they are or telling about historical events in a supposedly truthful or objective manner. Motion picture that shapes and interprets factual material for purposes of education or entertainment. Therefore, there are biggest differences between fiction film and non-fiction film. Fiction film is refers to literature created from the imagination whereas nonfiction is refers to literature based in fact. However,  the truthiness of documentary lose its reliability because every techniques, equipment, angles, footage and other technical decisions are based on the filmmaker. 

THEORIES

There are 6 types of modes represented documentary such as Poetic, expository, observational, participatory, reflexive and performative. Firstly, poetic documentary is instead of using traditional linear continuity to create story structure, the poetic documentary filmmaker arrives at its point by arranging footage in an order to evoke an audience association through tone, rhythm, or spatial juxtaposition. 

Besides that, the expository of documentary is constructs a specific argument or a point of view for the audience. Generally, the formula is a resonating, authoritative voice that tells you something with corresponding footage proving that it is, indeed, true.

Moreover, the observational of documentary is exactly what they sound like and they aim to simply observe the world around them. This mode is also made audiences to observe themselves and let them come out with their own conclusion on it.

Furthermore, the participatory of documentary is include the filmmaker within the narrative. This could be as minor as the filmmaker’s voice being heard behind the camera, prodding subjects with questions or cues, usually by being interviewed. 

In addition, the reflexive documentaries are similar to Participatory in that they often include the filmmaker within the film. However, unlike Participatory, they make no attempts to explore an outside subject. Rather, they focus solely on themselves and the act of them making the film. 

Lastly, the performative of documentary is an experimental combination of styles used to stress subject experience and share an emotional response to the world. They often connect personal accounts or experience juxtaposed with larger political or historical issues. The performative documentary also emphasizes truth as relative, favoring a personal take over the objective lens. 

SYNOPSIS

The Blair Witch Project, co-writer/director/editors Eduardo Sanchez and Dan Myrick's faux documentary about an urban legend, has created its own mythology.  They had interviewed a local folks about this incident. After this interview, they set on a trip into the woods to collect this documentary footage for their project. Unfortunately, this project takes a frightening turn because the students were losing their way in the woods. Thus, this project begin horrific. 


ANALYSIS

In this documentary, there are three modes of representation which are the reflexive, interactive and performative. Besides that, the techniques of this documentary to shoot by interactive and reflexive and overall of this film was used the performative representation. 

First of the mode can be found in the film is reflective representation. It is because at the beginning 15 minutes of the film, there are three main cast were talking about what type of camera and equipment would be prepared to shoot this documentary. On the other hand, the camera's footage had been constantly exposed by the three main cast and they also showing their camera to the audience through the mirror. Besides that, there are many shaky footage shot in the film. It is because they wanted to remind audience that they are watching a documentary as well as nonfiction film. The handheld camera cause the film become more horror because it makes the film seem more real and it was happened in real time. 

In addition, performative representation also can be found in the film. As you can see that in the beginning the students are passionate and excited for shooting their documentary. Before enter the woods, they were happy to buy foods, introduced their camera and having fun. However, when they start to occur some horrible incident such as unknown stone graves build around their tent, entering the voodoo ground, child's voices at night, as you can see that they show their suffering and afraid through expression and action in this film. Adding on, when they started to feel depression and misfortune because they had losing their way in the woods. Therefore, they shows the conflict happened between the students in the film. 


Lastly, another mode had been used in this film is the interactive representation. They went to town and interview a person who had encounter this incident before. Adding on, during this interview was including the students' voice and even showing their body parts. Therefore, this effect enhance the authenticity between the interaction of the interviewer and the students and audience will think this was real and overall activities was supernatural. 


CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, I think the Blair Witch Project was better then other documentary because it can made the audiences fell into the filmmaker's trap and think this documentary was real and happened in real time in spite of this documentary was fake. 

FILM NOIR : The Maltese Falcon

First and foremost, what is film Noir? Film Noir means was coined by French film critics who noticed the trend of how 'dark', downbeat and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France to theaters following the war. Film Noir is unlike classic Hollywood comedies and musicals , film Noir is crime film. The features of film style is a dark and violent criminal world. Besides that, the motive of characters in the film are greed, lust, ambition and drown in fear. Film Noir is developed during and after World War II, taking advantage of the post-war- effects. The post-war- effects are present in Hollywood in the 1940s that resulted in Film Noir and that the post-war- effects can also describe or define the topic.  In Film Noir, it is a battle between the male protagonist(anti-hero) and the femme fatale. 

SYNOPSIS

Maltese Falcon is a film Noir. The story actually is talk about how Sam Spade is on a quest to find the Maltese Falcon. Ms Wonderly is a beautiful but secretive woman. When Ms Wonderly was brought the case to Sam Spade, he was accepted and gets more than he has bargained for. The most coincidentally, when Ms Wonderly shows up, trouble will follow like Sam's partner is murdered and a man was demanded Sam Spade to locate a valuable statuette.

Sam had fall into the trap of danger and crime. Thus, Sam realizes that he must immediately find the things they all are also find it. This things is the bejeweled Maltese Falcon.


ANALYSIS

First of the theories that Maltese Falcon used is low-key lighting. Low-key lighting is a technique used in film and television to create mood or set the tone of a scene. Often associated with the dark look of film noir.

For example, Sam Spade had been followed by a man that he does not know when he was walking out of the alley. In addition, there are distortions in this film which is low-angle shots.the visual language of a low-angle shot is to convey to the audience that the character is either heroic, strong, or dominating.

For example, when Sam Spade was met with Mr Gutman at his hotel room,  Mr Gutman was holding a cigar on his hand. This scene was shot with low angle. Thus, it was not only shows that the dominate in the scene is the cigar in Mr Gutman's hand, and also the dominating character is Mr Gutman in that scene.



Moreover, there are also the mise-en-scene in this film which is several scene were set is cramped areas.

For example, the cramped areas in this film are Sam Spade's office and his apartment. They were set in those rooms seem very cramped to shot for the scenes such as Sam Spade placed his bed in the room where he confronted people at his apartment.

Adding on, the whole film are setting with city bound. It was only set in San Francisco.   



Furthermore, the characters had the trait of being corrupted in this film.

For example, when Sam Spade visited Ms O'Shauneesy at her hotel room, Sam Spade asked 500 dollars from Ms O'Shauneesy. 

Another example is when Ms O'Shauneesy request Sam Spade to help her in the case, Sam Spade's partner, Miles told that he can help Ms O'Shauneesy. It was showed that Miles was lecherous because he was corrupted in a way.




CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, The Maltese Falcon is a good example of film Noir. The film is includes used of low key lighting, low angle shot of distortions, mise-en-scene was set with cramped areas, city bound and trait of being corrupted. These few theories made this film was perfect and entertaining no matter it was a black and white film.