大学英语专业影视欣赏复习资料

Appreciating Cinema

Part One:Categorization of genres

Genre Social Drama Romance Gangster War film

Science fiction Fantasy Western Disaster Crime Epic Action

Musical

_____________________________________________________________________Blockbuster

Film noir

Comedy intended togeneratelaughter Horror intended to horrify Thriller intended to thrill

Part Two: The basic stories

There are a limited number of stories that form the basis for all fictional narratives.

·AchillesExample: Superman ·CandideExample:ForrestGump

·Cinderella Example:Pretty Woman ·Circe Example:FatalAttraction ·Faust Example:Wall Street

·Orpheus Example: Born on the Fourth of July

·Romeo and JulietExample: Shakespeare in Love, Ghost ·TristanThe Graduate

·The Wandering Jew Example: The English Patient

Part Three:The Classic Three-Act Linear Structure（经典三幕式直线结构）

The majority of Hollywood films employs the classic three-act linear structure(or a variation of it). The three-act structure implies that the film can be divided into three acts.Act 1 would normally be expected to occupy the first quarter of the film; Act 2 would occupy the next half; and Act 3 would occupy the final quarter. Each act has a different function. For a typical two—hour Hollywood film, the act divisions would be as follows.

Act Time Function

Act 1 0-30 minutes set-up

Act 2 30-90 minutes development (conflictandconfrontation) Act 3 90-120 minutes resolution and denouncement(结局)

Part Four: Alternative Narrative Structures

·Episodic Structure章回式结构

Episodic narratives follow the protagonist through a series of potentially unrelated adventures. As in the

three-act structure, there are definite turning points at which the fortunes of the protagonist turn from good to bad or vice versa; however, unlike the three-act structure, the number of such turning points is not limited. ·Hero’s Journey Structure英雄旅程结构

The hero’s journey narrative forms the underlying narrative structure of many myths and legends; and it is also to be found in many successful Hollywood films. The narrative occurs in a number of stages, which can be simplified as follows: 1. Call to adventure

2. Journey through unfamiliar World 3. Supreme ordeal 4. Reward

5. Return and reintegration into society

Part Five: Subplot

Most Hollywood films have one or more subplots. Subplots are additional stories(secondary plots) that are linked to the main plot and have an influence upon it;they don’t require separate protagonists, but they do require separate actions.

The relationship between the main plot and the subplots

can take any one of four forms. These are: ·Complementary ·Contradictory ·Setup ·Complicating

Part Six: Symbols and Motifs

A symbol is something that stands for or suggests

something else, usually on account of a relationship, association, convention or resemblance. A motif is a recurring feature or idea related to the theme of the film; frequently it will be a recurring symbol.

Question:Symbols may have different meanings in China and the West. List some of the differences

Different symbolic values of colors, animals, and number symbols used in the Western cultural tradition alongside their possible meanings and their different symbolic values in the Chinese cultural tradition.

Symbol Meaning in the West Meaning in China

Red anger, sexuality, passion good fortune, happiness,

prosperity

White purity death

Green envy, inexperience;the peace; the environment environment

Yellow royal power and authority Owl wisdom bad luck Lion majesty, strength, bravery

Dragon evil majesty, success,good

fortune

Phoenix rebirth, resurrection good fortune,precious Turtle slowness longevity Peacock arrogance, vanity good fortune 3 13

the Trinity( God, Christ, the Holy Ghost) Bad luck

666 the Devil good luck 8 wealth 4 death

PartSeven: Identifying Theme

In practical terms, how does one identify and interpret the theme of the film? Since theme is a complicated and variable phenomenonand can be expressed in so many forms, it is