City of god

Discuss some of the techniques used in your chosen films to provoke audiences into taking a particular point of view towards characters and key events.

Within the Urban Stories that I have studied there a number of techniques used to to help provoke audiences into responding in various ways and take a particular point of view towards individual characters and certain key events in the narrative. 

The first shot that the audience can see in city of god is a knife being sharpened and then a cut to black. This shows how immediately that the film is set in violent place. The knife is shown in a close up and the only noise is the diegetic sound of the knife as it is sharpened. then as the shot cuts to black we hear diegetic music of a Brazilian band playing this highlights the setting of film making the audience make a link between Brazil and violence. Also the shot constantly changes with a fast pace of editing which causes the audience to feel confused and disorientated. In amongst the series of shot we can chickens being slaughtered this represents what happens to people who live there, which is another way that the film causes the audience to take a certain view of Rio De Janeiro in the opening scene.
La haine - gun 

After one of the chickens escapes from the roof of the building where the chickens are being killed it is chased by a group of armed kids through the narrow alleyways of the slums. The use of fast editing and handheld tracking shots give the audience the interpretation that Rio is a barbaric, hostile place. This use of camera work makes the kids look like a pack of animals rather than a groups of children. However it is shown that the children learn their behavior from other the older "hoods" in the film by how Lil' Ze orders them to chase the chicken. This is also shown in the scene in City of God where Lil' Ze forces Steak n' Fries to shoot a child of a similar age to himself. Also in the film La Haine we see a child intimating Vinz smoking and shooting in the cinema scene. 

One of the themes of the urban stories that I have studied is that the characters are trapped by there environment and can not escape to start a new life. This is shown in City of God where .... tries to escape with his girlfriend but is instead gunned down by the police. This also an example of how characters in urban stories cannot sustain a romantic relationship. Both these themes are also present in La Haine, In the character Hubert. He talks to his mother about leaving but in the end he ends up shooting a police man, and he tries to chat up a girl but instead his friends ruin his chances with her entirely. 

Useful notes for my script

I have chosen these Films to focus on because they are all from different Genres and they all show an idea of a controlling higher power and characters struggling to cope. My main focus film is Full Metal Jacket, this is because of the extensive highlighting of corrupt authority figures and the theme of hierarchy.

Kubrick chooses to make films films where there is a higher power

The complete Kubrick by David Hughes
comments on "an insane US air force general who orders an unprovoked nuclear attack against Russia"
- mad with power / relates to full metal jacket and a clockwork orange

Auteur Theory Book
this helps explain 'the auteur theory' which can help me to explain how Kubrick is an auteur helps me show my evidence for how he is one.

Websites
http://auteurcast.com/2012/06/04/episode-104-stanley-kubricks-full-metal-jacket/ < this helps express the loss of identity in FMJ and how it contrasts with apocalypse now and how the names of the characters are forced on them by the gunnery sergeant

http://www.film4.com/special-features/5-min-guides/stanley-kubrick 
This website states how kubricks work is philosophically based hinting that he may convey his personal ideological and political views and messages in his films.
'Whilst his films were philosophically based, they also presented moviegoers with some of cinema's most abiding images'
this pages also touches on Clockwork orange as being 'Part social satire, part discourse on the nature of free will' this re-enforces the idea that the characters are controlled by higher powers.
also highlights a possible motif across his films 'His movies almost all contain scenes set in a bathroom.'

Useful paragraph -
In terms of the characters Kubrick chose to film, the most predominant type was that of the psychopath. General Ripper (Dr. Strangelove), HAL (2001) Alex (A Clockwork Orange), Jack Torrance (The Shining) were all psychopaths, while Full Metal Jacket was concerned with how society tries to create psychopaths (and values them) in times of war. This is no doubt in part due to Kubrick's seemingly pessimistic view of man and society and how thin the veneer of civility can be.
This site also says that his films are viewed as being 'Cold'


http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/237-facts-about-stanley-kubricks-the-shining-20130326

this video explains the room 237 scene

in this video it states how Danny does not/ can not speak of what happens in the room which relates to how kubrick is forced to keep quiet about his opinions of the moon landing hoax which is an example of how higher power/the Government is controlling freedom of speech and the film industry (Stanley Kubrick

http://staticmass.net/deconstructing-cinema/2001-a-space-odyssey/
this resource may not be so good because it is about my rejected film and does not talk about higher power.

http://staticmass.net/the-directors-chair/stanley-kubrick/
this source is not so good but does however state that 'Stanley Kubrick’s films are cold, soulless, disconnected and indifferent.' This could be a possible/characteristic of kubrick films  motif

http://sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/kubrick//
This site is useful because it shows how Kubricks work shows authority.
Useful quote about Dr. Strangelove - 'The film, which depicted mad murderous war generals, was not looked upon fondly by the Pentagon as it made fun of them, their generals and their various war plans.
It’s from here Weidner goes on to claim the Pentagon contacted Kubrick with an offers the filmmaker simply couldn’t refuse, making him a deal with an occult society that ruled the world that would give him the freedom to make the films he wanted.
It’s at this point many of us watching would ask ourselves “How could such a thing be covered up?” and “How could Kubrick go along with such a plan?” Weidner explains that filmmaker would go on to use his future films to tell us how he faked the footage and photographs and also what effect this deal with The Powers That Be would have on his life. For this, he points to The Shining as the film where Kubrick lays bare his entire story with an elaborate set of clues, having altered King’s original story to enable this.

This shows how Kubrick was personally effected by higher power.

http://everything2.com/title/Stanley+Kubrick
not useful because it is not relevant to my question.

Useful paragraph -
In terms of the characters Kubrick chose to film, the most predominant type was that of the psychopath. General Ripper (Dr. Strangelove), HAL (2001) Alex (A Clockwork Orange), Jack Torrance (The Shining) were all psychopaths, while Full Metal Jacket was concerned with how society tries to create psychopaths (and values them) in times of war. This is no doubt in part due to Kubrick's seemingly pessimistic view of man and society and how thin the veneer of civility can be.

http://www.shmoop.com/clockwork-orange/pr-deltoid.html 

Catalogue

Focus films 

1 Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick 1987)
this film focuses on the US soldiers of the Vietnam war.
This is my focus film and is great for my question because of the key relevance to my question.
This film highlights the corruption of the hierarchy in the US army during the War in Vietnam, and how higher power forces the protagonists to kill. The film is set in 1960s America and Vietnam and shows the slow, hard struggle of training with the Gunnery Sergeant and the gradual decline of humanity during conflict spurred by the American army. Also the film is split into 3 chapters which are indicated by 3 separate fades to black the first chapter is the training, the second chapter is Joker's time as a field photographer and the third chapter is the fight to kill the girl sniper.

2 A Clockwork Orange (1971)
This film is good for showing how Kubrick conveys his ideology and opinions on authority and is a very useful source because it shares many of the themes that are shown in Full Metal Jacket. The film follows the life of a young thug called Alex. However A Clockwork Orange is set in an alternate time in an obscure British society where the authority is brutal and stern. Much like Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange is also split into three chapters Alex's gang life, his prison life/treatment and after his treatment. 

3 The Shining (1980)
The shining is a useful source because the themes of higher power that it contains are not as obvious as in my other focus films but they are still there and instead are paranormal. The shining is a horror film and focuses of the lives of the Torrance family who are left to look after a hotel during the winter and are tormented by possessive spirits. The owner of the hotel however is very similar to the way the government is shown at the end of A Clockwork Orange by how kind he is when he is getting what he wants. Furthermore I can write about how Danny is Controlled by Tony These are all examples of higher power, making this a useful source.

Texts

4 The complete Kubrick by David Hughes
This book is useful for highlighting key themes and characteristics of his films.
comments on "an insane US air force general who orders an unprovoked nuclear attack against Russia" this shows how Kubrick represents authority across his other films.
- mad with power / relates to Full Metal Jacket and A Clockwork Orange


5 Auteur Theory Book
This helps explain 'the auteur theory' which can help me to explain how Kubrick is an auteur and helps me show my evidence for how he is one. This could be very useful for my question because it gives a precise clear definition of what an auteur is and I can use this to so if Stanley Kubrick meets the criteria.


6 Media Magazine Issue 13 2005 Article title - a shining odyssey the work of auteur Stanley Kubrick.
This magazine contains a useful article on Stanley Kubricks The shining and other films such as Eyes Wide Shut and 2001 A Space Odyssey. The article touches on how Kubrick is an auteur and various techniques and themes that are contained in three of his films which all convey that he has his own style and ideologies that he puts into his films

7 Adventures in the screen trade
This article argues that auteurs don't exists because of the fact that it takes many people to create a film so therefore the idea that one person controls the style of the film is flawed. This article is useful for creating a discussion in my script because although it is true that many people make a film, with Stanley Kubrick he often took charge and supervised everyone working on the film so that he was fully satisfied with the end result.


Websites

8 The Auteur cast Episode 104: Stanley Kubrick
http://auteurcast.com/2012/06/04/episode-104-stanley-kubricks-full-metal-jacket/
This source is very useful for my research as it helps express the loss of identity in Full Metal Jacket and how it contrasts with apocalypse now which is another Vietnam war film and how the names of the characters are forced on them by the gunnery sergeant during the first part of the film. This helps convey how the protagonists are controlled by higher power just by how they are stripped of there names, it also conveys their worthlessness in the film.


9 Film 4 - Stanley Kubrick

http://www.film4.com/special-features/5-min-guides/stanley-kubrick 

This website states how Kubrick's work is philosophically based, hinting that he may convey his personal ideological and political views and messages in his films. This is very relevant to my investigation and helps enforce my argument.
This page also touches on Clockwork Orange as being 'Part social satire, part discourse on the nature of free will' this re-enforces the idea that the characters are controlled by higher powers.
Also highlights a possible motif across his films 'His movies almost all contain scenes set in a bathroom.' and this site also says that his films are viewed as being 'Cold'



10  Senses Of Cinema - Stanley Kubrick
http://sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/kubrick/
This source is great for my investigation and gives a detailed overview of the three focus films and my rejected item. It gives a breakdown of his other films and a brief overview of his life. This webpage also comments on how Kubrick is more than willing to change parts of other people work, For example The Shining by Stephen King, to convey his own views and ideas through his films.
Furthermore it Highlights how the soldiers in Full Metal jacket are faceless silhouettes at the end of the film as the walk of singing.


11  Static Mass - The Directors chair - Stanley Kubrick
http://staticmass.net/the-directors-chair/stanley-kubrick/
This source is not so good but does however state that 'Stanley Kubrick’s films are cold, soulless, disconnected and indifferent.' This could be a possible/characteristic of kubrick films motif. This helps give evidence to the idea that he is an auteur.

12 Static Mass - Kubrick's Odyssey
http://staticmass.net/documentary/kubricks-odyssey-documentary-2011-review/
This site is useful because it shows how Kubricks work shows authority.
Useful quote about Dr. Strangelove - 'The film, which depicted mad murderous war generals, was not looked upon fondly by the Pentagon as it made fun of them, their generals and their various war plans.
It’s from here Weidner goes on to claim the Pentagon contacted Kubrick with an offers the filmmaker simply couldn’t refuse, making him a deal with an occult society that ruled the world that would give him the freedom to make the films he wanted.
It’s at this point many of us watching would ask ourselves “How could such a thing be covered up?” and “How could Kubrick go along with such a plan?” Weidner explains that filmmaker would go on to use his future films to tell us how he faked the footage and photographs and also what effect this deal with The Powers That Be would have on his life. For this, he points to The Shining as the film where Kubrick lays bare his entire story with an elaborate set of clues, having altered King’s original story to enable this.
This shows how Kubrick was personally effected by higher power.



Videos

13 Stanley Kubrick a life in picture
this is very useful for my question because it gives an overview of Kubrick and helps explain the reason behind many of his film making decisions.

This documentary touches on how Kubrick was threatened by the FBI that they would begin an investigation into the set designs of Dr Strangelove which relates to how Kubrick's personal interactions with the government. This relates to how he may use protagonists to show the oppression of higher power in his films.

14 Faked Moon Landing Hidden Subliminal Messages in Stanley Kubrick's Movie "The Shining"

This video explains the room 237 scene.

In this video it states how Danny does not/ can not speak of what happens in the room which relates to how kubrick is forced to keep quiet about his opinions of the moon landing hoax which is an example of how higher power/the Government is controlling freedom of speech and the film industry.

Rejected items

Rejected Texts
Static Mass - 2001 A Space Odyssey

http://staticmass.net/deconstructing-cinema/2001-a-space-odyssey/

This resource may not be so good because it is about my rejected film and does not talk about higher power which my other films focus on. Therefore this article lacks relevance.

Everything 2 - Stanley Kubrick
http://everything2.com/title/Stanley+Kubrick
Not useful because it is not relevant to my question. This article gives an overview of his life and career instead on conveying his key ideologies and views of higher power or how it controls society.

23.7 facts about Stanley Kubrick
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/237-facts-about-stanley-kubricks-the-shining-20130326
This webpage does not show Kubricks views or opinions on authority or higher power or reference how he is an auteur. It only gives interesting facts about the making of the shining and who it influenced after its release. This does not make this a very valuable source for my research.

2001 A Space Odyssey
This is my rejected film because I find that it is too similar to full metal jacket and a clockwork orange with the way the higher power is represented, so I decided to use the shining instead because the element of higher power is the force that possesses jack and torments the family in the hotel rather than hierarchy like in my other focus films