Contemporary Design Issues Task:
Analyse and compare staging tricks and effects of Michel Gondry and Busby Berkeley.
Context:
On Wednesday in Week 6 we are watching a documentary about Michel Gondry which shows his enthusiasm for old-fashioned magic, in-camera effects and staging tricks. In class we are discussing a chapter of Rubin's book about the work of Busby Berkeley who may have influenced Gondry. The author argues that Berkeley was an innovator in cinema but that many of the elements he used were already well-established in live theatre.
In this task you will analyse a scene from a contemporary music clip, trailor or advertisement by Gondry. Please select one from the list below (List 2) and explain how his work has used one or more of the following staging effects. Please explain how one or more from List 1 were employed in your selected scene.
List 1 -
- Glow-in the dark effects, (radium numbers) p.61
- Instruments as props, pp.61-63
- Gigantism, pp.63-64
- Transformations, pp.64-65
- Placards, pp.65-66
- Water spectacles, pp.67-68
- Objectification of the feminine, pp.70-71
- Part of a pattern, pp.71-72
- The kaleidoscope, pp.72-74
Steps to complete the assignment:
1. View the screening. You should have attended the screening of the documentary Part 2 'I've Been Twelve Forever' from the 'A' Side of the DVD The Work of the Director Michel Gondry, or arranged to view a copy, in the library or from another source.
2. Read the Week 6 reading in the Learning Materials tab.
3. Choose a scene from a contemporary music clip, trailer or advertisement by Gondry. Please select from List 2.
4. Choose one or more of Berkeley's staging effects from List 1.
5. Analyse:
a) Write about Gondry's use of staging effects in your example referring to at least one specific scene.
b) Compare it to a similar effect or trick used in a particular film by Berkeley.
Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar