I want to
study Pulp Fiction, if we can use this classroom. If we change classrooms, we
will start with another film.
My name is
Patrick. We will start with the grades. If you come to every class, you will
get a high grade. If you miss a lot of classes, you will fail. You have to
watch the films.
20% Homework
10% Attendance (1% will be deducted for every hour of class students are
absent from)
If you miss
nine hours, you fail.
30% Midterm Exam
40% Final Exam
If we study
Pulp Fiction, here are some things to think about.
Genre:
comedy (funny)
Every movie
we do will be a different genre.
Genre:
drama, science fiction, horror, documentary, cartoon, coming of age, tragedy,
etc.
Pulp Fiction
was produced in 1994.
It is
Tarantino’s second movie. Tarantino is the director.
The
structure of the film is not in chronological order. First, then, later,
finally. 1, 2, 3, 4.
The order of
the movie is a little bit crazy.
3, 6, 2, 1
Why did he
do this? What is the director trying to say. The watch is quite important.
What does
Pulp Fiction mean?
It is a
story without a lot of meaning. People just read it to waste time or relax when
they are tired.
It was
popular in the 1940s, before we had TV. They are violent.
Subtitles
We are going
We are going
to watch another Tarantino movie about WWII. This genre is war.
WWII takes
place from 1941 to 1945. During this time the Nazis (Germans) killed 7,000,000
Jews. This movie focuses on that.
He is the
secret police. SS. They have to catch political complainers. In Taiwan before,
from 1950 to 1987, there was a secret police.
When he
smokes the pipe, what does it mean (represent)?
Rat is a
slang in English. If we say “He is a rat,” it means “He is a snitch.”
Brad Pitt
says he is related Jim Bridger, who was a famous cowboy and gunfighter.
The
government in the wild west would pay Indians to kill their enemies. The
Indians had to prove it. So after they killed an enemies, the would cut off the
top of the head to prove they had killed the enemy. This is called scalping.
Technicolor.
Sounds of
Music dance scene.
Why do they
take the boots off and throw them away? Being shoeless is the symbol of poor or
having nothing.
“Paying
homage to” is when one director copies another director’s scene to show
respect.
When he was
a boy, he really loved to watch Cowboy and Gunfighter movies.
Here are the words you need to remember for the Final Exam: paragraph, reality show, awful, repair, misogyny, misanthrope, come out of the closet, filial piety, foreshadow, colony, caravan, wagon, trailer, gypsy, thieving, hide, hint, jewels, Western, traditional, genre, twist of fate, criminal, outcast person, novel, society, chronological order, is, watch
I need three homework assignments. I gave a free 20/20. So, the total is 80 divided by 4 = 20% of your grade.
Here’s the deal. The test is next week. I will do it the same as the midterm. You have to remember some vocabulary (which I will send by tomorrow at the latest). If you watched all the movies, you can answer the comprehension questions. You have to write a couple of paragraphs too. Remember a paragraph is five or more sentences. To develop a paragraph, use:
2.Transition words: furthermore, however, therefore, etc.
3.W5: who, what, when, where, why
4.Most importantly, simply explain what you are talking about.
You have to hand in three homework assignments. I gave you a free 20/20 for the fourth.
Sorry about the mangled homework.
Foreshadow: give a hint about what will happen later
“When my father passed (died), I wanted nothing more than my mother’s happiness. For what kind of man would I be if I didn’t help my mother? If I did not save her?”
I promise to post the notes tonight. You have to turn in three homework assignments.
If you have only done two, I will give you some more questions on The Power of the Dog.
Phil, the misanthrope, keeps talking about Bronco Henry. Three times, his brother ignores him. Why? Did Phil and Bronco Henry have a gay affair? Is Bronco Henry a real person? They will tell you later Phil went to Yale University and was the number one student in Classics: ancient Greek and Roman history. Both cultures used myths (stories about gods) to explain things. Remember all the incredible stories Phil tells about Bronco Henry. Is he just an imaginary Greek God.
1925. It’s a misogynist world. Men have all the power over women and can be cruel and bullies.
If you have only written two homework assignments, you can answer the questions below:
a. Why does Phil start being kind the boy?
b. The boy Peter kills the rabbit so easily? Why?
c. Why does the mother become an alcoholic?
d. Is Phil a misogynist?
e. Why might Bronco Henry be a figment of Phil's imagination?
This is a kind of foreshadowing, maybe. We get the hint of the future.
We have done three homework assignments thus far.
1.Pulp Fiction
2.The Sixth Sense
3.I gave you a free 20/20
4. Some of you have done The Last of the Mohicans. If you
don’t want to do that, I will give another assignment.
The important thing is that you have four homework assignments completed because. 4X20=80
80/4=20 for homework
Western: (capital W) is not Asia or Africa
western: (lower case w) is a cowboy
This week’s genre is cowboy or western.
I want to start with the Coen brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. The movie is six short stories.
Let’s just do the first story. It is about the idea of misanthrope
Misanthrope is someone who hates other people for no reason other than they are stupid.
The Coen brothers are Jewish directors from Minnesota.
We are doing Coen Brothers for 15 minutes. Then we are going to do The Power of the Dog. The director is female. She won the Oscar / Academy award for best director.
Radiohead won the Oscar for best music. We call music in a movie “soundtrack.”
The land in the West of America is empty. Lots of desert and nothing much grows. Not a lot of trees. We call this empty land stark.
Stark landscape. I think the music is stark
Opening monologue:
“When my father passed, I wanted nothing more than my mother’s happiness. For what kind of man would I be if I did not help my mother? If I did not save her?”
Who does his mother need to be saved from?
Foreshadow: Hint about what is going to happen later in the story or movie.
Filial piety: great respect for your parents
This camera shot is like a reel of film with the frames.
Gay themes. We call that homoerotic. Why do the two grown brothers sleep in the same room?
This is the first time Phil talked about Bronco Henry. You will see his brother does not say anything or seem to want to talk about Bronco Henry.
I was talking about gypsies or a pikey last class. They are a culture of poor, homeless people in Europe. Many have come to America.
The movie is about gypsies and Jews. Both were killed by Hitler’s Nazis in World War.
“Throw the fight” is to lose on purpose for gambling reasons. We learned that in Pulp Fiction.
Can you hear Boris’ Russian accent?
The writer and director, Guy Ritchie, used to be married to Madonna.
Russian accent, gypsy accent (pikey) and Cockney accent (low class uneducated English)
The next genre is gangster.
American gangster meets British
Gangster. There are two important ideas also.
The position of gypsies and Jewish culture in Western culture and art. The Jewish people at the start of the film are orthodox or traditional Jewish.
Snatch means to steal.
Guy Ritchie, the writer and director, was married to Madonna. So there are lots of hints about Madonna in the movie.
Gypsie, Pikey, Romani, Irish Traveler: these are some ways to call this group of people
The gypsies came to Europe about1000 years ago from India. At that time, immigration was not really an idea. So, they just moved around in caravans living for free secretly.
They are treated very badly because Europeans think they are outsiders and thieves. There is a prejudice against them. Stereotype.
They are famous for being good fighters, especially boxers.
OK. I did not post the notes online.
But I still haven’t assigned a new homework. I think we should do two more homework assignments, so there is no hurry. I gave you a free week for attendance last week. This week, I won’t. Sometimes I just forget.
Two things to think about.
1.What is the twist of fate at the end of The Last of the Mohicans? We think the son is the last of the Mohicans. Actually, the father becomes the last of the Mohicans.
2.In the novel, Hawkeye is twenty years older than the female protagonist Cora. Why did the director Michael Mann make them the same age for the movie?
3.I said Michael Mann started out as a director for music videos on MTV. How is the end of the movie like a music video more than a movie? Hint: How much talking or dialogue is there?
I forgot to send the homework assignment last week. So, you don’t need to do it. Do NOT write about Roy’s soliloquy. I will give everyone 20/20.
This week’s genre is historic set film and literature. It is also a romance I suppose.
The Last of the Mohicans is one of the first great American novels. A Mohican is an Indian or First Nations’ tribe in America.
The movie is about war and colonies.
First, Taiwan was never a colony of Holland. Holland’s richest company had a fort in Tainan. 1683 to 1885: Taiwan was a colony of China. 1885 to 1895: Taiwan was a province of China. 1895 to 1945: Taiwan was a colony of Janan.
The last of the Mohicans is set during the Seven Years’ War between France and Britain: 1756 to 1763. So they were fighting in Europe. But they were also fighting in America and Canada. Some of the Indian tribes were allies to Britain. Some Indian tribes were allies to France.
The director is very stylish in film. The reason is he started as a music director for MTV. You will see in this movie that sometimes it feels like a music video. Lots of powerful background music.
Daniel Day Lewis, the main actor, is the only actor ever to win three Oscar Awards or Academy Awards for Best Actor.
This is before 1776 and American independence. They don’t think they are American people. They think they are British. That is why the soldier is talking about King George. He is still the leader of America.
Lacrosse is a very old Indian sport, over 1000 years old.
The midterm is 30% percent of your final grade; therefore, the exam was /90 (not /100).
I can divide 90 by three. 90/3
The test is out of 90. /90
If I added the score wrong, please tell me.
There was a prejudice in Russia and the Middle East against Armenians.
Bookends.
1.Why was the watch important to Butch, the boxer, in Pulp Fiction?
Of course it is a family heirloom from his grandpa. Also his dad died. The watch is chronological in a nonchronological story. It is stable, 1, 2, 3 . . . in chaos 3,6,1, …
2.Why does the psychiatrist almost always wear blue?
Calm, relaxing. But he died wearing a blue shirt. Ghosts don’t change clothes.
I
Homework:
Genre: now we will do a documentary. Let us set up the homework. Explain Roy the replica’s soliloquy. The speech comes from an actor, not narrator. Use a few sentences to explain. Remember I thought the bird was his soul.
The Last Repair Shop takes in L.A. It won the Oscar last year for best documentary.
The first guy talks about “coming out.” The expression actually is “coming out of the closet.” That is when gay people decide not to hide and tell everyone they are gay. It is not a secret anymore.
America is a country of immigrants. You will see this in this doc.
The piano fixer is from Armenia. It is not really a country. It’s an area or culture in the Middle East. In WWII, Germany killed 6,000,000 Jews. In World War I, Turkey killed about 1,000,000 Armenians. We call this holocaust.
The position of gypsies and Jewish culture in Western culture and art. The Jewish people at the start of the film are orthodox or traditional Jewish.
Snatch means to steal.
Guy Ritchie, the writer and director, was married to Madonna. So there are lots of hints about Madonna in the movie.
Gypsie, Pikey, Romani, Irish Traveler: these are some ways to call this group of people
The gypsies came to Europe about1000 years ago from India. At that time, immigration was not really an idea. So, they just moved around in caravans living for free secretly.
They are treated very badly because Europeans think they are outsiders and thieves. There is a prejudice against them. Stereotype.
They are famous for being good fighters, especially boxers.
OK. I did not post the notes online.
But I still haven’t assigned a new homework. I think we should do two more homework assignments, so there is no hurry. I gave you a free week for attendance last week. This week, I won’t. Sometimes I just forget.
Two things to think about.
1.What is the twist of fate at the end of The Last of the Mohicans? We think the son is the last of the Mohicans. Actually, the father becomes the last of the Mohicans.
2.In the novel, Hawkeye is twenty years older than the female protagonist Cora. Why did the director Michael Mann make them the same age for the movie?
3.I said Michael Mann started out as a director for music videos on MTV. How is the end of the movie like a music video more than a movie? Hint: How much talking or dialogue is there?
I forgot to send the homework assignment last week. So, you don’t need to do it. Do NOT write about Roy’s soliloquy. I will give everyone 20/20.
This week’s genre is historic set film and literature. It is also a romance I suppose.
The Last of the Mohicans is one of the first great American novels. A Mohican is an Indian or First Nations’ tribe in America.
The movie is about war and colonies.
First, Taiwan was never a colony of Holland. Holland’s richest company had a fort in Tainan. 1683 to 1885: Taiwan was a colony of China. 1885 to 1895: Taiwan was a province of China. 1895 to 1945: Taiwan was a colony of Janan.
The last of the Mohicans is set during the Seven Years’ War between France and Britain: 1756 to 1763. So they were fighting in Europe. But they were also fighting in America and Canada. Some of the Indian tribes were allies to Britain. Some Indian tribes were allies to France.
The director is very stylish in film. The reason is he started as a music director for MTV. You will see in this movie that sometimes it feels like a music video. Lots of powerful background music.
Daniel Day Lewis, the main actor, is the only actor ever to win three Oscar Awards or Academy Awards for Best Actor.
This is before 1776 and American independence. They don’t think they are American people. They think they are British. That is why the soldier is talking about King George. He is still the leader of America.
Lacrosse is a very old Indian sport, over 1000 years old.
The midterm is 30% percent of your final grade; therefore, the exam was /90 (not /100).
I can divide 90 by three. 90/3
The test is out of 90. /90
If I added the score wrong, please tell me.
There was a prejudice in Russia and the Middle East against Armenians.
Bookends.
1.Why was the watch important to Butch, the boxer, in Pulp Fiction?
Of course it is a family heirloom from his grandpa. Also his dad died. The watch is chronological in a nonchronological story. It is stable, 1, 2, 3 . . . in chaos 3,6,1, …
2.Why does the psychiatrist almost always wear blue?
Calm, relaxing. But he died wearing a blue shirt. Ghosts don’t change clothes.
I
Homework:
Genre: now we will do a documentary. Let us set up the homework. Explain Roy the replica’s soliloquy. The speech comes from an actor, not narrator. Use a few sentences to explain. Remember I thought the bird was his soul.
The Last Repair Shop takes in L.A. It won the Oscar last year for best documentary.
The first guy talks about “coming out.” The expression actually is “coming out of the closet.” That is when gay people decide not to hide and tell everyone they are gay. It is not a secret anymore.
America is a country of immigrants. You will see this in this doc.
The piano fixer is from Armenia. It is not really a country. It’s an area or culture in the Middle East. In WWII, Germany killed 6,000,000 Jews. In World War I, Turkey killed about 1,000,000 Armenians. We call this holocaust.
You also need to answer some questions about the three movies we watched.
Ringo
We have the
midterm exam next week. I will email you with the words to study for the test.
Also the watch in Pulp Fiction is first a family heirloom from his dad and
grandpa. The movie is not in chronological order because the director is
talking about the chaos of life. The watch represents order in the chaos or
craziness. It goes forward. It is chronological or linear.
I think the
bird is his soul going to heaven.
**************************
The
replicants (robots) do not have memories when they are made (except the woman
who has Tyrell’s niece’s memories). That is why the photographs (that they have
stolen / found) are important. They use photographs of family members instead
of memories.
But the
replicants after a few years get their own memories. That is what makes them
become human. That is why they are programmed to die after four years.
Theme:
photographs
Last time I
talked about a totalitarian government where the people can’t vote, have few
human rights, and the police control everything.
Ray Bradbury
wrote a book about this called Fahrenheit 451, where the government was burning
all the books.
What does
the unicorn represent? Some people say innocence. Other people: a person who is
so special and unlike others. Extinct. Lost. The unicorn did not get on Noah’s
Ark in the Bible.
Misogyny:
hatred and violence toward women from men
Here are today's notes. The homework questions are there:
Genre: we
are still doing The Sixth Sense
I did not
post the notes last week. I will post last week’s and this week’s notes after
class. I will also give a
homework assignment. I gave everyone 100 percent for attendance last
week because I was too busy. I will NOT do that this week.
I think the
psychiatrist feels guilty about not saving the Freak. That is why this little
boy is so important to him. It can be redemption for him. I think this is also
a religious story and God is giving him redemption. I think God is blocking
that basement door too; He is telling the psychiatrist he does not have to feel
guilty now. Redemption.
Twist of
fate: surprise ending to a story (plot is the story in a drama)
Script
Homework:
1. Write a paragraph explaining the twist of fate in The Sixth Sense. Remember a
paragraph is five or more sentences. We cannot develop an idea in a couple of
sentences.
2. Write a sentence to explain why the psychiatrist almost always wears a blue shirt.
Trailer: is
a two minute advertisement for a movie
Genre:
science fiction, UFO
It was made
in 1982 and set in 2019. This movie is also dystopia.
A story
about the future when the world is worse than now. Like a movie about global
warming and asteroids.
Background:
WWII in Asia. Japan (and Taiwan) fought America. Japan lost the war while
America won. 1941-1945. Taiwan was a colony of Japan. 200,000 Taiwanese people
fought in WWII. 30,000 died.
In Blade
Runner, Japan won WWII
The studio
made the director put in a narrator (voice over) to explain the movie. This is
the director’s cut. The narrator is gone.
If you have
a totalitarian government, you will need a lot of police officers to control
the people. This is when the people cannot vote or have human rights. “If you
are not a cop, then you’re little people.” No power. Origami.
************************
Below, please find last week's notes:
Genre: horror or I suppose
mystery
Basement represents hell.
Why does the psychiatrist
always seem to wear a blue shirt?
Religious themes: hell,
guilt, church
Remember the patient that
shot himself was also called “freak.”
Camera shot going down
represents heaven. “The bird’s eye view” camera shot.
They are both so similar. Who
is he comparing Cole, the little boy, to? Was the man that committed suicide
his father?
You have to add some twists
to make the story interesting. Twist of fate is a surprise ending to a story.
Cameo: the director makes a
cameo as the doctor and later as the guy buying a ring
Who is helping whom? Does the
little boy help the psychiatrist deal with his guilt, especially if the dead
man is his father?
1. The plot line of Pulp Fiction is jumbled up. Write one
sentence to describe each scene and put the sentences into chronological or
sequential order.
2. What is the significance of Butch the boxer’s wristwatch?
Write a couple of sentences to explain.
Cameo: when a famous person or the director goes into the
film for a short time.
3. Why does Jules call the robber Ringo? Please give two
possible reasons.
We are back
at the start of the movie. Remember he called the waitress “garcon.” This is a
bookends’ technique.
The
subtitles. Are you simply reading them or are you trying to listen. They do not
seem so great for this movie. They miss a lot of the translation.
The basement
scene: Marcellus called Zed a hillbilly. That is not translated in the
subtitles. A hillbilly is white trash: poor, uneducated white people.
They look
like dorks. You give that f(*&ing nimrod 1500…
We will be
cool like Fonzie.
I said we
would do a different genre of movie each time.
1.Pulp
Fiction is comedy and film noir.
2.The
Sixth Sense is horror (maybe mystery).
The five
senses:
1. See
2. Taste
3. Touch
4. Hear
5. Smell
6. Intuition
(funny feeling).
This director,
Shyamalan, is a first generation American. That means his parents are
immigrants or come from a different country. Growing up, you will notice your
parents are little different from your friends’ parents. That should cause you
to think more about who you are (existential and identity).
For example,
Taiwan’s four great directors are all first generation Taiwanese.
The Sixth
Sense is set in Philadelphia. This is one of America’s two oldest cities (with
Boston). Shyamalan’s father chose to live there when he immigrated because he
loved history.
The movie
takes place in fall / autumn. All the leaves have fallen off the trees and the
sky is overcast / cloudy. How does this affect your mood? Does the director do
this on purpose?
I think
themes or ideas from the Bible, especially God and Satan (the devil) control
the plot. She was in the basement = hell. We will feel cold when there are
ghosts around or near.
He is a
child psychiatrist. She says “you sound like Dr. Seuss when you’re drunk.”
We should
hang [this award] in the bathroom. He is being ironic. It is bullsh&^. This
is BS.
“Some people
call me freak.”
Pay
attention to the blue shirt in this movie.
Are you a
good doctor? I used to be. Before but now. He feels guilty because he could not
help the “freak” who committed suicide. Guilt is part Christian psychology.
