FLM201 Analyzing Genre and Themes in Música & Godzilla Minus One, TMA-01 & TMA-02, Singapore

Some Advice

For question 1a, you should take note of the following:

1. Choose movie posters that will allow you to discuss similarities and differences in an interesting and insightful manner.
2. Present those arguments effectively in one document.
3. Identify the genre(s) clearly and correctly. For instance, if you use a musical hybrid film, you must state and discuss the other genre(s) in relation to the core musical genre.
4. In order to ensure that the posters are clear enough, you may use one A4 page per poster. You are free to use arrows to identify and discuss the elements in the posters.

Here is an example:

For question 1b, you should take note of the following:

1. The idea of love can be examined in countless ways in storytelling—whether it be on film or television—to convey different themes. Themes are most effective if conveyed in a meaningful and emotionally impactful way, and genre is part of this process. In other words, theme and genre go hand in hand.
2. Here are some guiding questions and pointers to help your brainstorming process:
   • Preliminary film-level brainstorming: What are the various forms of love (e.g., acceptance, romantic love, materialistic love, artistic passion, etc.) depicted in the film? What social and cultural norms clash with certain forms of love? How are these conflicts resolved? Ultimately, what does the film have to say about love?
   • Once you have thought about the entire film, you should narrow down to the scenes in the question.
   • Scene-level brainstorming (for your answer): How do the scenes develop/modify your responses to the questions above? At what stages of the overall thematic development—in relation to the idea of love—are the scenes?
   • Linking back to genre: How do the scenes present the idea of love through the lens of genre? How do they portray Rudy’s relationships with Isabella, Haley, and himself? What do they have to say about love and acceptance? How do the “non-musical musical” sequences reflect Rudy’s interior world and shape your understanding of these relationships? What cinematic techniques, such as sound, setting, props, costume, figure behaviour, camerawork, etc. are used to evoke powerful emotions and convey meaning?
   • If the scenes have more than one genre, how does the interaction between genres help to present the idea of love in a meaningful and emotionally impactful way?
     

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3. Choose no more than 10 stills in total from the two given scenes and the optional third scene of your own choice. To avoid an incomplete reading, try to use a good spread of evidence, rather than focusing on a tiny aspect of the scene.
   • You may analyse the stills one by one, though you are strongly encouraged to group a few together to discuss their links. You must engage with every still.
   • If you are grouping stills, you do not have to follow the chronology of the scene. For example, you may choose a still from the start and another from the end of the scene to make a point through comparison and contrast. For the latter purpose, you may also group stills from different scenes.
   • For each point of analysis, whether it comprises just one still or a group of stills, ensure that you apply the 3-step approach thoroughly—that is, include all C1, C2, and C3 components.
   • Pay attention to the finer details of the chosen stills, such as the use of character types, frame composition, props, sound, camera angles, dialogue, editing, etc., in relation to genre and the idea of love.

Some Advice

Be sure to correctly identify the genre(s) in Godzilla Minus One. Incorrect genres will be unconvincing and will not do well.

Brainstorm before you write.

1. Film-level brainstorming: The idea of “trauma” is a broad topic, so you must unpack it. Do not simply parrot the term without showing what it means in the film’s context. For example, what does trauma mean within the historical post-war context of the film? How does the film title reflect the idea of trauma? How do the various characters respond to this national trauma? How does the film make a distinction between mere surviving and living as a coping mechanism? What is the importance of this distinction? What is the significance of Kōichi Shikishima’s character development, particularly in his role as a fighter pilot? What is the film’s overall tone and message regarding trauma?
2. Scene-level brainstorming (for your answer): How do the scenes develop or illuminate or add layers to the idea of trauma? Remember to consider your scenes in relation to each other, as they all contribute to the film’s meaning.
3. Linking back to genre: How do your scenes/moments present the idea of “trauma” through the lens of genre? For example, what trauma does Godzilla represent? How does the portrayal of Godzilla’s invasion of Ginza evoke trauma? How is Godzilla subdued and why is this symbolically significant? Also, what are the genre character archetypes present in the film and what do they have to say about national trauma and Japan?

Other films such as Arrival and District 9 present the idea of trauma, too; what is so special about how Godzilla Minus One deals with it?

Similar to question 1b in TMA 01, you should pay attention to the finer details of the chosen stills, such as the use of character types, mise-en-scène, camera movement and angles, sound, dialogue, editing, etc.

(100 marks)