Film Analysis
Essential Vocabulary and Citation Guidelines for Writing a Film Analysis
Feb 9, 2024
By
Avinash Prabhakaran
Writing a film analysis can be enjoyable and insightful for cinephiles and students. Whether dissecting a classic film's intricacies or critically examining the latest blockbuster, a solid understanding of film-related vocabulary and proper citation practices is crucial.
This blog post will explore the essential vocabulary and citation guidelines you need to know to write a compelling and academically sound film analysis.
Part 1: Film Analysis Vocabulary
Cinematography
Shot Types: Understanding various shot types, such as close-ups, long shots, tracking shots, and aerial shots, helps you analyze how the camera work influences the storytelling.
Editing
Cut: Familiarize yourself with different types of cuts like jump cuts, match cuts, and cross-cuts to analyze how the editing affects the pacing and narrative flow.
Sound Design
Diegetic vs. Non-Diegetic Sound: Learn to distinguish between sounds that exist within the film's world (diegetic) and those added in post-production (non-diegetic) to assess their impact on the viewer's experience.
Narrative Elements
Plot vs. Story: Understand the difference between the chronological events (story) and how they are presented in the film (plot).
Flashback/Flashforward: Recognize narrative techniques that can provide insight into character development and plot structure.
Character Analysis
Protagonist vs. Antagonist: Explore the roles of these central characters and how they drive the story's conflict.
Character Arc: Assess how characters evolve or change throughout the film.
Themes and Motifs
Symbolism: Identify recurring symbols or motifs contributing to the film's deeper meaning.
Themes: Analyze the central ideas or messages the film conveys.
Genre-specific Terms
Familiarize yourself with genre-specific vocabulary, whether it's film noir, science fiction, or romantic comedy, to understand the conventions and tropes that might be at play.
Auteur Theory
Understand the concept of auteur theory, which posits that the director is the film's " author, " and how it applies to the analysis of a director's body of work.
Part 2: Citation Guidelines
When writing a film analysis, it's essential to cite your sources to maintain academic integrity properly. Here are some guidelines:
Film Title: Always italicize or underline the film's title in your text.
Director's Name: Include the director's name in your analysis, especially when discussing the director's style or intentions.
Publication Date: If applicable, mention the film's release year.
Quotations: If you directly quote dialogue from the film, use quotation marks and include the name of the character who said the line.
Secondary Sources: If you reference scholarly articles, books, or other sources in your analysis, provide proper citations following a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
Filmography: If discussing a director's body of work, list their filmography and include publication years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, writing a film analysis is rewarding and requires a solid grasp of film-related vocabulary and citation practices. You can analyze a film's intricacies effectively by understanding cinematography, editing, sound design, narrative elements, and character analysis.
Moreover, adhering to proper citation guidelines ensures that your analysis is credible and respectful of the work of others.
So, the next time you are captivated by a film, put your analytical skills to work and start writing your film analysis using the vocabulary and citation guidelines outlined in this post.
