Certain filmmakers have managed to make films both entertaining and thoughtful. Many of these films have become classic cinema and their directors are acknowledged as artists. One current filmmaker that falls into that category is Spike Lee. Over his career, starting with Sheâs Gotta Have It, Lee has made critically acclaimed films that address the issue of racism in todayâs America with great films such as Do The Right Thing and Malcom X. His film BlackKklansmancontinues that tradition. Watch the film and consider how the film uses the past to reflect on today.
After watching BlackKklansman and thinking about how it reflects on our culture and society, watch one of the classic films and think about how it reflects elements of American Culture and if and how it is relevant to modern viewers.
Film Two:
Watch one of the films in the list of classic films.
Over the last hundred years there is a consensus of great films, spread across many genres. Watch one of these films, keeping in mind the elements of a great film. Do you think the film you watched is âgreat?â Why or why not? Think about how it reflects the American Culture of its time and if and how it is relevant to modern viewers. This should start your critical thinking about films; considering the direction, acting, screenplay, post-production – all the elements we will examine fuller later in the course.
Classic Films:
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o Citizen Kane (1941)
o Casablanca (1942)
o The Third Man (1949)
o Rashomon (1950)
o Singing in the Rain (1952)
o Tokyo Story (1953)
o The Searchers (1956)
o Vertigo (1958)
o Some Like It Hot (1959)
o The Apartment (1960)
o 8 ½ (1963)
o 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
o Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
o The Godfather (1972)
o Taxi Driver (1976)
o The Shining (1980)
o Do the Right Thing (1989)
o Beau Travail (1998)
o Mulholland Drive (2001)
o Get Out (2017)
Discuss the similarities and differences between BlackKklansman and the film you selected.
⢠Into what genres would you place the films?
o Do the films adhere to or subvert genre conventions? How does this affect the viewer’s expectations and experience?
⢠How would you describe the tone of the film? Consider:
o The Emotional Quality: the emotions that dominate the films.
o The Atmosphere: Describe the atmosphere or mood the films create. Are they light-hearted, tense, dark, dreamy, or somber?
o The Visual Style: Consider the visual elements. Are the films visually bright and colorful, or are they more muted and subdued? Do they have a gritty, realistic look, or are they stylized and fantastical?
o Dialogue: Consider the dialogue in the films. Is it witty and humorous, serious, and philosophical, or filled with tension and conflict?
o Soundtrack: Reflect on the filmsâ soundtracks and music. Does the music contribute to the tone? Is it melodic, suspenseful, or dissonant?
o Narrative Style: Think about the way the stories are told. Are they straightforward and linear, or do they use non-linear storytelling techniques that affect the tone?
o Themes: Consider the underlying themes of the films. Do they contribute to the overall tone? For example, a film exploring themes of hope and redemption may have an uplifting tone.
⢠Are the two films relevant to modern views? Is so, how, and if not, why not?
Sample Answer
After watching Spike Lee’s BlackKklansman and Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), here’s a comparative analysis:
Similarities and Differences Between BlackKklansman and Vertigo
- Addressing Underlying Societal Issues: Both films, in their own ways, delve into disturbing aspects of society. BlackKklansman directly confronts the insidious nature of racism in America, both historically and its contemporary resurgence. Vertigo, while seemingly a psychological thriller, explores themes of obsession, the construction of identity, and the manipulation of reality, which can be seen as reflections of societal anxieties and power dynamics.
- Protagonists with Flaws and Obsessions: Both films feature protagonists grappling with significant internal conflicts and obsessions. Ron Stallworth in BlackKklansman navigates the dangerous world of the KKK while maintaining his secret and dealing with the inherent contradictions of his mission. Scottie Ferguson in Vertigo becomes consumed by his idealized image of Madeleine and later Judy, showcasing a destructive obsession.
Full Answer Section
- Use of Deception and Illusion: Deception is a central element in both narratives. Ron and Flip’s infiltration of the KKK relies entirely on deception. Vertigo hinges on the elaborate deception orchestrated by Gavin Elster involving Madeleine and Judy.
- Critique of Power Structures: BlackKklansman directly critiques white supremacist power structures and the institutions that can enable them. Vertigo, in a more subtle way, critiques the power men exert over women, shaping their identities and controlling their destinies.
However, there are significant differences:
- Directness of Social Commentary: BlackKklansman is a very direct and explicit commentary on racism, drawing clear parallels between the past and the present. Vertigo‘s social commentary is more implicit, focusing on individual psychology and interpersonal power dynamics, though these can be interpreted through a societal lens.
- Genre and Tone: BlackKklansman blends elements of crime thriller, comedy (satire), and historical drama to deliver its message. Vertigo is primarily a psychological thriller with a pervasive sense of unease, mystery, and ultimately, tragedy.
- Resolution: BlackKklansman ends with a stark and unsettling reminder of ongoing racial injustice through real-life footage. Vertigo concludes with a tragic and somewhat ambiguous resolution centered on Scottie’s psychological breakdown.
Genres:
- BlackKklansman: Crime Thriller, Historical Drama, Satire. It adheres to some crime thriller conventions (undercover operation, suspense) but subverts them with comedic elements and a strong historical and social message. The satirical tone is crucial in highlighting the absurdity and danger of racism. This affects the viewer’s expectations by making them laugh and feel tense simultaneously, ultimately landing a powerful emotional punch.
- Vertigo: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Romance (with a dark twist). It largely adheres to the conventions of a Hitchcockian thriller, building suspense through mystery, unreliable narration, and visual storytelling. However, it subverts the typical romantic elements by revealing a manipulative and ultimately tragic relationship. This can leave the viewer feeling deeply unsettled and questioning the nature of reality and desire.
Tone:
- BlackKklansman:
- Emotional Quality: Anger, frustration, outrage, but also moments of camaraderie, humor, and hope in the face of adversity. The ending evokes a strong sense of unease and a call to action.
- Atmosphere: Often tense and suspenseful, particularly during the undercover operations. However, it is also punctuated by moments of sharp satire and dark humor, creating a complex and engaging atmosphere. The ending shifts to a stark and somber mood.
- Visual Style: Visually bright and often employing dynamic camerawork. While grounded in a realistic setting, there are moments of stylized presentation to emphasize certain points.
- Dialogue: Witty, often confrontational, and infused with both humor and biting social commentary. The dialogue between Ron and the KKK members is often darkly comedic in its absurdity.
- Soundtrack: Features a blend of funk, soul, and contemporary music that underscores the energy and the historical period. The score also becomes more tense and dramatic during suspenseful moments.
- Narrative Style: Primarily linear but incorporates real historical footage at the end, directly impacting the tone by grounding the fictional narrative in a stark reality.
- Themes: Racism, identity, power, justice, and the cyclical nature of history contribute to a tone that is both engaging and deeply serious.
- Vertigo:
- Emotional Quality: Obsession, longing, unease, mystery, and ultimately, tragedy and despair.
- Atmosphere: Pervasively tense, dreamlike, and unsettling. There’s a constant feeling of something being amiss, and the atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic and psychologically charged as Scottie’s obsession intensifies.
- Visual Style: More muted and subdued, with a stylized and often disorienting visual language (e.g., the famous “Vertigo effect”). The use of color and shadow contributes significantly to the film’s mood.
- Dialogue: Often serious and filled with a sense of underlying tension and unspoken desires. The dialogue between Scottie and Madeleine/Judy is often melancholic and probing.
- Soundtrack: Features a haunting and suspenseful score by Bernard Herrmann that is integral to creating the film’s atmosphere of unease and obsession. The music often foreshadows dramatic events and amplifies the emotional intensity.
- Narrative Style: Primarily linear but employs elements of mystery and unreliable narration, which contribute to the feeling of disorientation and the film’s overall tone.
- Themes: Obsession, identity, memory, the past, and the manipulation of reality create a tone that is deeply psychological and ultimately tragic.
Relevance to Modern Views:
- BlackKklansman: Absolutely relevant to modern views. The film’s explicit exploration of racism and its parallels to contemporary white supremacist movements, police brutality, and political rhetoric make it a powerful and timely commentary on ongoing societal issues in the United States and globally. The film’s ending, with the Charlottesville footage, serves as a stark reminder that the issues it addresses are far from being resolved.
- Vertigo: While not directly addressing contemporary social issues in the same way as BlackKklansman, Vertigo remains relevant to modern viewers through its exploration of psychological themes that persist today. Issues of obsession, the construction of identity (especially in the age of social media), the power dynamics in relationships, and the potential for manipulation are all themes that resonate with contemporary audiences. The film’s exploration of how we idealize and try to recreate the past also has modern relevance.
In conclusion, while BlackKklansman tackles a specific social issue with directness and contemporary resonance, Vertigo explores timeless psychological themes that continue to hold relevance for modern viewers, albeit in a more nuanced and metaphorical way. Both films, through their distinct genres, tones, and narrative styles, offer compelling reflections on aspects of human nature and societal structures.
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