Film: The General (Keaton and Bruckman, 1926, 79m)
Readings: Film History, Ch. 7: The Late Silent Era in Hollywood; Max Winter, “Slapstick Last: Why a Modern-day Harold Lloyd is Unthinkable”; Richard Brody, “The Demise of Physical Comedy”
Write a 700 to 800-word analysis of the film. You must incorporate at least ONE READING. Your response should demonstrate your understanding of the reading and the film, including its historical significance. Do not simply summarize the film. Rather, discuss how that film has contributed to the aesthetic and/or technical innovations in film history. Also, consider how each film reflects and influences its socio-political context. You must use proper citations for all sources in your response. Below are some questions to serve as prompts for reflection. You do not have to address all of these questions in your response.
What are the central arguments made by the films and/or the texts and how do they relate to each other?
What social, cultural, political, or historical issues are brought into focus in the films and how?
What themes emerge from the films or texts and how do they relate to the historical context?
Describe the aesthetics of the film and discuss how they contribute to the development of film language.
What role does this film play in the history of film in terms of its aesthetic, technological, and or socio-political contributions?
